Minerals Institute of Western Australia

Miner

Underground miners may perform the following tasks:

• cut drives into the ore body using pneumatic equipment;
• drill holes with hand or machine mounted pneumatic or hydraulic drills after estimating the position and force of explosion required to dislodge material as well as the amount of explosives needed;
• load ore into mine cars or on to conveyors and transport to entrance of mine;
• load trucks to transport material to the surface in a decline shaft or load skips to transport material to the surface in vertical shafts;
• support the walls and roof in underground mines with rock bolts and erect wooden or steel props, pillars and arches where necessary;
• install vertical shafts and ventilation rises for air circulation in underground mines.

Underground miners may specialise as airleg miners, jumbo and longhole drill operators, continuous mining machine operators, longwall miner operators, development machine miners, mechanical bogger operators and underground truck operators.

Open cut mining plant operators - refer to next entry

Mine shift bosses observe activities in underground and open cut mines to check that safety regulations are met with regard to:

• electrical and mechanical equipment;
• the storage and use of explosives; 
• the support structure of the mine.

Mine shift bosses may perform the following tasks:

• regularly inspect mine sites both above and below ground;
• ensure that roadways and machinery are in safe condition;
• supervise shotfiring; conduct tests to detect the presence of gas and ensure underground ventilation is adequate; 
• ensure mine personnel know and are complying with safety regulations and emergency procedures.

Related Jobs:

REQUIRING A DEGREE

Mining engineer

REQUIRING TRAINING/EXPERIENCE

Driller
Mineral processing operator
Shot firer

Education and Training:

NSW
There are no firm educational requirements, but increasingly companies are requiring a reasonable knowledge of Maths and English. On-the-job training is given under supervision of an engineer or experienced miner. Most mining companies provide formal instruction as well.

Entry usually requires obtaining employment as a mine worker level 1 and gaining on-the-job training and experience in the operation of mining machinery.

Trainee underground coal miners must complete a 5 day induction program which emphasises safety procedures. This is followed by on-the-job experience together with completion of a further training program prepared by the colliery and approved by the Joint Coal Board. The length of training varies between 5 and 10 weeks where trainees are provided with practical demonstrations and instruction in the correct method of carrying out specific tasks. Trainees work under close supervision and are not allowed to undertake certain duties; proficiency in any one skill usually takes at least 1 year. For training and safety purposes, mining companies maintain a minimum ratio of experienced to inexperienced workers.

Training for hardrock mining is similar to coal mining - induction and training programs are specifically designed for the hardrock mining field.

NT
Skills required are usually gained by experience in other positions, or through training programs conducted by mining companies. Increasingly companies are requiring a reasonable knowledge of Maths and English. A number of mining occupations require miners to hold an appropriate licence.

QLD
Certificate Courses
TAFE - Central Queensland Institute, Mt Isa Institute

Diploma Courses
TAFE - Central Queensland Institute, Mt Isa Institute

SA
No particular level of education is required for employment as a miner, but increasingly companies are requiring a reasonable knowledge of Maths and English. The skills required are usually gained by experience in other positions, or training programs conducted by mining companies.

TAS 
There are no firm educational requirements, but increasingly companies are requiring a reasonable knowledge of Maths and English. On-the-job training is given under supervision of an engineer or experienced miner. Most mining companies provide formal instruction as well.

WA
Most trainee miners start as labourers and may be initially involved in a wide range of semi-skilled activities. On-the-job training is then provided for specialist positions.

There are no specified educational prerequisites for people who wish to work as underground miners. In Western Australia, the minimum age to work underground as a miner is 18 years. Underground miners must be able to read, write and understand English. Workers are usually recruited locally, but for specialised positions some are hired from throughout Australia. Training is provided on the job. It takes approximately 2 years to learn the necessary skills. However, basic mining work and practices can be learnt in a few months.

Underground workers usually become machine miners such as airleg miners or jumbo operators after a considerable period of working underground on various jobs. These can include: platelayer, mechanical bogger driver, scraper operator, pipe fitter, locomotive driver and other general labouring duties.