Profession underground heavy equipment operator

Underground heavy equipment operators control heavy-duty mining equipment such as cutting and loading equipment to excavate and load ore and raw mineral at underground mines.

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

Knowledge

  • Impact of geological factors on mining operations

    Be aware of the impact of geological factors, such as faults and rock movements, on mining operations.

  • Health and safety hazards underground

    The rules and risks affecting health and safety when working underground. 

  • Mechanics

    Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

  • Electricity

    Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.

Skills

  • Troubleshoot

    Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

  • Communicate mine equipment information

    Communicate transparently and efficiently with mine production management and machine operators. Pass on any relevant information such as outages, efficiency and productivity of the equipment.

  • Perform minor repairs to equipment

    Conduct routine maintenance on equipment. Recognise and identify minor defects in equipment and make repairs if appropriate.

  • Address problems critically

    Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and alternative methods of tackling the situation.

  • Conduct inter-shift communication

    Communicate relevant information about the conditions in the workplace, progress, events, and potential problems to the workers in the next shift.

  • Make independent operating decisions

    Make immediate operating decisions as necessary without reference to others, taking into account the circumstances and any relevant procedures and legislation. Determine alone which option is the best for a particular situation.

  • React to events in time-critical environments

    Monitor the situation around you and anticipate. Be ready to take quick and appropriate action in case of unexpected events.

  • Deal with pressure from unexpected circumstances

    Strive to achieve objectives despite the pressures arising from unexpected factors outside of your control.

  • Inspect heavy underground mining machinery

    Inspect heavy-duty surface mining machinery and equipment. Identify and report defects and abnormalities.

  • Operate mining tools

    Operate and maintain a wide range of hand-held and powered mining tools and equipment.

Optional knowledge and skills

operate scaler operate drilling jumbo operate continuous miner operate roof bolter operate longwall mining equipment ensure compliance with safety legislation operate tunnelling machine operate shotcreter operate lhd operate production drilling machine operate hydraulic pumps operate drilling equipment operate a range of underground mining equipment operate shuttle car operate powered roof support

Source: Sisyphus ODB