Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Underground Laborer

🎯 Role Definition

The Underground Laborer performs essential, physically demanding tasks in underground environments—mines, tunnels and utility corridors—working under the direction of site supervisors to support excavation, ground control, ventilation, dewatering, material handling and site housekeeping. This role requires strict compliance with safety protocols (MSHA/OSHA), the correct use of PPE, and the ability to operate and maintain common underground hand and power tools.

Primary focus areas:

Excavation support, mucking and material removal
Ground support installation (timbering, rock bolting, mesh)
Ventilation and water control (pumping/dewatering)
Confined-space entry, pre-entry inspections and emergency response support
Routine equipment assistance and site housekeeping

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

General construction laborer or site laborer
Surface mining or quarry worker seeking underground experience
Vocational or trade school graduate (construction/mining technology)

Advancement To:

Underground Miner / Tunneling Machine Operator
Shotcrete Operator / Rock Bolting Technician
Foreman or Crew Lead (Underground)
Safety Representative / Mine Safety Technician
Heavy Equipment Operator (Underground/Surface)

Lateral Moves:

Surface Construction Laborer
Utility/Service Excavation Technician
Equipment Maintenance Technician (shop or site)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Execute safe excavation and trenching tasks in underground settings, following engineered plans, shoring requirements and supervisor direction to remove material and prepare working faces for production or installation.
Perform mucking and material handling operations: load, transport and dispose of spoil using hand tools, skid loaders, muck cars or conveyors while maintaining a clean and efficient workface.
Install and maintain ground support systems including timbering, bolting, mesh, lagging and shotcrete preparation—ensuring structural stability and minimizing rockfall hazards at the face and access drifts.
Conduct pre-shift and continuous workplace inspections for hazards (loose rock, water ingress, ventilation issues) and report findings to the shift supervisor to support hazard abatement and safe work planning.
Carry out confined-space entry procedures and support rescue readiness by performing atmospheric monitoring, maintaining continuous communication and staging retrieval equipment as required.
Operate portable pneumatic and hydraulic tools (rock drills, scaling bars, jackhammers, riveters) safely and perform basic troubleshooting, cleaning and daily maintenance tasks to keep tools serviceable.
Assist equipment operators during muck removal, drilling and blasting cycles by establishing exclusion zones, signaling machine operators and ensuring personnel are clear of moving equipment.
Support blasting operations with charge hole preparation under direct supervision, by measuring, priming support tasks and implementing post-blast inspections consistent with site explosives protocols and regulatory rules.
Set up, monitor and maintain temporary ventilation systems (fans, ducting) and conduct airflow checks to ensure adequate airflow and remove diesel fumes, dust and noxious gases from occupied areas.
Deploy and maintain dewatering and pumping equipment, clear sumps and maintain drainage channels to control water levels and protect equipment and personnel from standing water hazards.
Perform scaling and loose rock removal from roof and walls with scaling bars and other hand tools to eliminate rockfall risk and prepare surfaces for ground support installation.
Install, test and torque rock bolts and cable bolts to design specifications using bolting machines or hand tools; ensure pattern and anchorage meet engineering and safety requirements.
Prepare and maintain access ways, ramps, walkways and ladders to permit safe and efficient movement of personnel and materials; ensure walkways are free of debris and adequately lit.
Read and interpret simple underground site drawings, plan sheets and signage to follow work instructions and correctly place support and utilities according to design.
Conduct routine equipment and utility inspections (pumps, hoses, ventilation ducts, lights) and report defects, execute minor repairs such as replacing couplings, fittings or filters under supervision.
Perform housekeeping duties including cleaning work areas, removing combustible debris, labeling and storing materials, and ensuring emergency exits and egress routes are accessible at all times.
Assist tradespeople (electricians, pipefitters, welders) by preparing work areas, holding lights, carrying materials and securing temporary supports to help complete installations efficiently and safely.
Operate and maintain portable lighting systems and temporary electrical connections in compliance with lockout/tagout and electrical safety requirements; change bulbs and replace fixtures when needed.
Provide accurate production and incident documentation: record daily production quantities, note safety observations, complete pre-shift checklists and assist with job-site safety reporting.
Participate in pre-shift meetings, toolbox talks and safety briefings; contribute observations about site conditions and suggest improvements to reduce risk and increase productivity.
Support emergency response and evacuation procedures, act as a line of communication during incidents and assist in first-aid and extraction efforts until trained rescue personnel arrive.
Maintain strict compliance with all site-specific policies, MSHA/OSHA regulations and client requirements, including PPE usage, drug and alcohol policies and permitted tool lists.

Secondary Functions

Assist with material inventory tracking, staging and basic logistics to ensure supplies (bolts, mesh, grout) are available when needed.
Support junior crew members through on-the-job training and mentorship regarding safe tool use, site navigation and basic ground control techniques.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by offering practical feedback on workflows, tool performance and safety systems to reduce delays and lower costs.
Operate basic hand-held electronic devices or tablets to capture work logs, incident reports and sign-off checklists per company data-capture practices.
Contribute to environmental protection efforts by following sediment control plans, minimizing waste and adhering to spill-prevention procedures when handling fuels and lubricants.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Underground excavation and tunneling support (mucking, shoring, scaling, benching)
Ground support installation (rock bolting, mesh, timbering, shotcrete preparation)
Operation and basic maintenance of pneumatic/hydraulic hand tools (jackhammers, rock drills, bolters)
Confined-space entry and atmospheric monitoring (use of gas detectors and ventilation assessment)
Dewatering and pump operation, sump maintenance and water management techniques
Basic rigging, signaling and assistance for heavy equipment movements in constrained underground spaces
Blasting support procedures (hole preparation, exclusion zone control, post-blast inspection) — under supervision and per site policy
Use and maintenance of temporary ventilation systems, ducting and forced-air fans
Competency with hand tools, portable lighting, ladders and basic electrical disconnect procedures
Ability to read and follow simple engineering drawings, work orders and safety checklists
Basic first aid and emergency response awareness relevant to underground incidents
Familiarity with regulatory frameworks and site policies (MSHA and OSHA basics where applicable)

Soft Skills

Strong safety mindset with situational awareness and hazard recognition
Excellent teamwork and ability to follow direction from multiple supervisors and trades
Clear communication skills for effective signaling, reporting and participation in pre-shift briefings
Physical stamina, endurance and dexterity for repetitive manual tasks in confined and variable environments
Reliability and punctuality, with the ability to maintain performance on rotating shifts or extended hours
Problem-solving and adaptability in fast-changing underground conditions
Attention to detail for accurate installation of ground support and completion of compliance documentation
Willingness to learn, accept coaching and obtain required certifications or training

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED, or equivalent practical experience in construction, mining or utilities.

Preferred Education:

Vocational or trade school coursework in mining technology, heavy equipment technical training, or relevant certificate programs.
Certifications such as MSHA New Miner / Experienced Miner, OSHA 10/30, confined space entry/rescue and first aid/CPR are preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Mining Technology or Underground Operations
Construction Trades (carpentry, concrete, general labor)
Heavy Equipment/Mechanic vocational programs

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

Entry-level to 3 years (many roles accept 0–12 months with training); median hires often have 1–2 years of construction or surface mining experience.

Preferred:

1–3 years of underground mining, tunneling or utility/pipe-jacking experience.
Demonstrated experience with ground control installation, mucking operations, confined-space work and adherence to safety programs.
Prior completion of MSHA or equivalent regulatory training, and experience working on shift schedules or in remote/rotational work settings.