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.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Investigative
• Realistic / Conventional
• Realistic / Enterprising

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

Source: Sisyphus ODB