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Underground Mine Service and Support Workers (8411)

Job titles

  • assembler, extensible conveyor belt - underground mining
  • backfill plant operator - underground mining
  • backfiller
  • View all job titles

Nature of work

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.

Fields of interest

  • Developing and working with natural resources
  • Making or building things, constructing, doing repairs, and performing installations
  • Working in transportation and maintenance

Main duties

  • Underground mine service and support workers perform 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 service
  • - 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.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Underground Mine Service and Support Workers (8411)

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.

Skill type

  • Occupations unique to primary industry

Skill level

  • Intermediate

More 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.

Job titles - Classified elsewhere