8411 – Underground mine service and support workers

Underground mine service and support workers perform a range of duties related to the operation of orepasses, chutes and conveyor systems, the construction and support of underground structures, passages and roadways, and the supply of materials and supplies to support underground mining. They are employed by coal, metal and non-metallic mineral mines.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Backfill plant operator – underground mining

Backfiller – underground mining

Blaster helper – underground mining

Bottom cager – underground mining

Brattice builder – underground mining

Bridge operator – underground mining

Brusher – underground mining

Cage tender

Cage tender – underground mining

Chute gate operator – underground mining

Chute loader – underground mining

Chute operator – underground mining

Coal hauler – underground mining

Construction worker – mines

Conveyor operator – underground mining

Conveyorman/woman – underground mining

Crusher operator – underground mining

Crusherman/woman – underground mining

Deckman/woman – underground mining

Diamond driller helper – underground mining

Drill carriage operator helper – underground mining

Driller helper – underground mining

Dryman/woman – underground mining

Extensible conveyor belt assembler – underground mining

Footman/woman – underground mining

Haulage truck driver – underground mining

Haulageman/woman – underground mining

Headman/woman – underground mining

In-hole driller helper – underground mining

Jack operator – underground mining

Jumbo drill operator helper – underground mining

Jumbo operator helper – underground mining

Lamp keeper – underground mining

Loading head operator – underground mining

Loading pocket operator – underground mining

Materialman/woman – underground mining

Mine attendant

Mine construction worker

Mine motorman/woman

Mine timberman/woman

Miner helper – raise mining

Motorman/woman – mines

Motorman/woman – underground mining

Nipper – underground mining

Ore handling operator – underground mining

Orepass tender – underground mining

Pipe turner – trackman/woman

Pipeworker – underground mining

Raise borer helper – underground mining

Raise miner helper

Roadmaker – underground mining

Rotary driller helper – raise mining

Rotary raise driller helper

Sand fill man/woman

Sand fill man/woman – hydraulic stowing

Service crew worker – underground mining

Shaft conveyance operator

Shuttle car operator

Skip loader – underground mining

Skip tender

Skip tender – underground mining

Sludge pump operator – underground mining

Steel form setter – underground mining

Steelwork erector – underground mining

Support miner

Timberman/woman – mines

Timberman/woman – underground mining

Top cager – underground mining

Track equipment operator – underground mining

Trackman/woman – underground mining

Trackperson – underground mining

Trainman/woman – underground mining

Trammerman/woman

Transfer hoist operator

Ventilation man/woman – underground mining

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Operate and maintain ore chutes or conveyor systems to control flow of ore or coal in underground mine

Operate construction equipment such as bulldozer, grader or backhoe to build and maintain underground passages and haulageways

Construct and repair wood or metal supports and structures such as bulkheads, platforms, drift doors and chutes using construction and mining tools

Attach and extend ventilation and water pipes and related mine services

Assist miners in setting up and operating various drills and other mining machinery

Supply and maintain backfill distribution of sand, rock or other materials

Operate diesel or electric track haulage equipment such as ore trains to distribute personnel and supplies and to convey ore from orepass to primary crusher or skip

Maintain supply storage areas and maintain equipment and supplies such as explosives, drill bits, fire extinguishers, lamps and batteries

Perform routine maintenance of machinery.

Employment requirements

Completion of secondary school is usually required.

Previous formal training of up to six weeks followed by periods of on-the-job training as a helper or in support occupations is usually required.

Previous experience as a mine labourer is usually required.

May be certified in the basic common core program in Ontario.

Company licensing or certification is often required for occupations in this unit group.

Additional information

Mobility is possible to other occupational groups in underground mining.

There is mobility between employers within each of the three following sectors: underground coal mining, underground hard rock mining and underground potash, salt or soft rock mining.

Mobility between these sectors is somewhat limited by differences in production technologies.

Exclusions

Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction (7372)

Mine labourers (8614)

Underground production and development miners (8231)