Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Underground Miner

🎯 Role Definition

An Underground Miner is responsible for safely extracting ore and maintaining underground mine workings by operating heavy equipment (LHDs, bolters, jumbos, longhole drills), installing ground support, supporting drilling and blasting operations, maintaining ventilation and services, and ensuring strict compliance with mine safety regulations (MSHA, site-specific standards). This role demands strong technical skill in underground production methods, a safety-first mindset, solid mechanical aptitude for basic maintenance and troubleshooting, and the ability to read mine plans and follow stope/bench designs. Ideal candidates have practical underground experience, certifications (e.g., MSHA/First Aid/confined space), and a demonstrated track record of safe, efficient production and teamwork.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Surface mining operator or heavy equipment operator transitioning to underground operations
Entry-level miner / utility person (e.g., mine helper, miner trainee)
Maintenance technician or mechanic with mining exposure

Advancement To:

Senior Underground Miner / Shift Boss
Shotfirer / Certified Blaster (with qualification)
Mine Supervisor / Mine Foreman
Production Superintendent / Underground Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Ventilation Technologist / Ventilation Officer
Supervisor in Surface Operations / Open Pit
Mining Maintenance Technician / Fitter

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate underground production equipment such as LHDs (load–haul–dump machines), scooptrams, manriders, bolting rigs, jumbo drills and longhole drills to load, haul and place ore and development rock while maintaining continuous production targets and following site-specific safety and production procedures.
Conduct pre-shift and post-shift equipment inspections, document defects, and perform routine servicing (greasing, fluid checks, battery maintenance), coordinating repairs with maintenance teams to minimize downtime and maximize equipment availability.
Install and maintain ground support systems including roof bolts, cable bolts, resin/anchor systems, steel mesh, shotcrete placement and timbering according to ground control plans and geotechnical recommendations to ensure stope and development stability.
Assist in drilling and blasting operations by preparing, marking and cleaning out blast holes, stemming/plugging holes (where permitted), loading or assisting certified shotfirers, and implementing blast exclusion zones in accordance with explosives regulations and site procedures.
Monitor and manage underground ventilation by operating regulators, doors and fans, performing airflow checks, using anemometers and gas monitors, and escalating gas or ventilation issues immediately to ventilation officers to maintain statutory airflow and acceptable gas levels.
Perform underground mucking and ore handling tasks, including spotting and loading ore/concentrate into LHDs or haulage systems, managing conveyor interfaces, and transferring material to crushing or surface stockpile points while ensuring safe access and egress.
Read, interpret and follow mine plans, stope designs, development drawings, cross-sections and survey marks; set up and follow line and grade when developing headings and drives to meet engineering tolerances and production schedules.
Conduct routine gas monitoring, use multi-gas detectors and methane monitors, and respond to alarm conditions by isolating affected areas, initiating ventilation adjustments and following emergency response procedures.
Maintain clear and accurate production, maintenance and safety records including shift logs, pre-start checklists, incident reports and permit forms to support operational transparency and regulatory compliance.
Perform basic mechanical troubleshooting and repairs on underground equipment (electrical panels, hydraulics, pumps, fans) and carry out planned maintenance tasks (filter changes, hose replacements, brake adjustments) within the scope of trade competencies or under supervision of fitters.
Implement and enforce site safety systems such as Tag & Test/Lockout-Tagout, confined space entry procedures, fall-protection measures, and emergency evacuation routes; participate in pre-shift safety briefings and hazard identification programs.
Provide training, mentoring and on-the-job instruction for junior miners and new hires on safe operation of equipment, correct installation of ground support and adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Coordinate with surveyors, geologists and production planners to locate ore boundaries, control dilution, record face positions and ensure accurate extraction consistent with grade control requirements.
Operate and maintain underground services including compressed air lines, water pumps, dewatering systems and electrical distribution, troubleshooting service interruptions and coordinating service maintenance with utilities technicians.
Carry out housekeeping and roadway maintenance: scale loose rock, clear fallen materials, maintain ramps and walkways, remove obstructions and ensure traffic management is enforced to keep haulageways safe and compliant.
Comply with environmental and waste management protocols underground — manage water inflows, handle tailings interface (if applicable), report spills and support remediation or containment actions to minimize environmental impact.
Participate in emergency response teams and rescue drills, including Coffman stretcher handling, self-rescuer usage, breathing apparatus drills and surface-to-underground communication protocols to respond effectively to incidents.
Follow quality control procedures for sampling, tagging and logging ore or waste material, supporting laboratory and metallurgical objectives by preserving sample integrity and proper chain-of-custody practices.
Use mine radios, leaky feeder communications and digital data-entry devices to maintain real-time communication with control rooms, supervisors and crew members and to report production rates, equipment status and safety issues.
Support contractor management underground by coordinating work scope, ensuring contractor compliance with site safety rules, verifying permits, and monitoring contractor performance and housekeeping.
Carry out continuous improvement recommendations by identifying bottlenecks, suggesting process improvements (bolting patterns, support schedules, mucking cycles), and participating in kaizen or site improvement teams to increase productivity and safety.
Ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) usage at all times — helmets, lamps, miner belts, self-rescuers, respiratory protection and high-visibility clothing — and verify PPE condition and compliance across crew members.
Perform specialized duties as required by site operations such as shotcrete nozzle operation, scaling, wire-rope rigging and safe use of powered hand tools (rock drills, scalers, grinders) while following manufacturer and site safety guidance.
Maintain awareness of site commodity goals, grade targets and schedule priorities; proactively communicate operational constraints and propose actionable solutions to supervisors to support meeting monthly and quarterly production targets.
Participate in regulatory audits and internal safety walkthroughs, provide input on corrective actions, and implement assigned action items to close out safety or compliance findings promptly.

Secondary Functions

Support continuous improvement initiatives by tracking production metrics, suggesting layout or sequence changes, and participating in time-and-motion studies to optimize face-to-stope cycles.
Assist geology and grade-control teams with face sampling and logging, ensuring timely collection and accurate recording of geological information to support mine planning decisions.
Contribute to training content and toolbox talks by sharing frontline knowledge on hazards, control measures and operational best practices for underground crews.
Help maintain a clean and organized maintenance bay and spare-parts inventory underground to reduce equipment downtime and speed up repairs.
Collaborate with surface operations, processing and maintenance teams to coordinate ore delivery schedules, turnaround times and preventive maintenance windows.
Participate in technology adoption efforts such as tele-remote operation pilots, digital pre-start apps, asset-tracking systems and automated reporting to improve safety and productivity.
Support environmental monitoring by reporting water inflows, sediment and contamination risks to environmental officers and following containment or cleanup protocols when needed.
Assist in the supervision and auditing of contractor work underground, ensuring daily permits, competency documentation and risk assessments are in place and enforced.
Contribute to shift handover processes by delivering detailed, accurate handover notes, outstanding action lists, and highlighting unresolved safety or maintenance issues for incoming crews.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient operation of underground LHDs (load–haul–dump), scooptrams and underground haulage units, with a consistent record of safe material movement and vehicle control.
Experience operating and/or assisting with bolting rigs (roof bolters), including mechanical and resin bolt installation, torque application and bolt testing to meet ground control standards.
Competent in drilling equipment operation: jumbo drill, longhole drill, raiseborer (where applicable), drill rig setup, bit changing and pattern layout according to blast designs.
Practical knowledge of drill-and-blast support: hole marking, stemming, blast exclusion zone management and liaison with certified shotfirers/blasters.
Skilled in ventilation regulation and gas monitoring: use of methane detectors, multi-gas monitors, anemometers and implementation of airflow controls to maintain safe environments.
Strong understanding of ground control principles: rock mechanics basics, bolt patterns, mesh and shotcrete applications, scaling techniques and when to call for geotechnical assessment.
Ability to read and interpret mine plans, cross-sections, development drawings, survey pegs and grade control maps to execute work to design tolerances.
Proficient with mine communication systems including leaky feeder radios, underground telemetry interfaces and digital reporting/tablet applications.
Competent in basic mechanical maintenance and fault-finding on diesel and electric underground equipment (hydraulics, electrical systems, pumps, filters).
Confined space entry competence and knowledge of permit systems; ability to follow isolation and atmospheric testing procedures.
Familiarity with regulatory frameworks and compliance: MSHA (US) or equivalent, site-specific safety management systems, environmental protocols and permit requirements.
Use of personal and crew safety systems: self-rescuers, escape sets, fall-protection gear, gas monitors and respiratory protection.
Experience with rock scaling tools and powered hand tools: jackleg drills, rock drills, scalers and shotcrete nozzles where required.
Proficiency in basic survey and measurement tools (laser levels, tape, plumb bob) to verify development alignment and grade.
Data collection and recordkeeping skills: production logs, maintenance forms, incident reports and sample chain-of-custody documentation.

Soft Skills

Strong safety mindset with proactive hazard recognition and the ability to stop work for unsafe conditions.
Clear communicator, able to provide concise handovers and to coordinate with supervisors, geologists and contractors.
Team player who mentors less-experienced crewmates and contributes positively to shift culture and morale.
Good situational awareness and decision-making under pressure, particularly during gas alarms, ground movement or equipment failures.
Reliable and punctual with a strong work ethic for shift-based and rotational rosters commonly found in underground operations.
Problem-solving orientation with the ability to propose practical, site-aligned solutions that improve safety and productivity.
Adaptability to changing work scopes, mine plans and production targets while maintaining compliance with procedures.
Attention to detail for documentation, permit adherence and execution of engineered ground support plans.
Leadership potential and the ability to supervise small teams, coordinate tasks and support continuous improvement initiatives.
Physical stamina and dexterity for underground environments, including climbing, crawling and working in confined/low-light conditions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (required); completion of recognized miner training (e.g., MSHA Part 46/48 or site-specific induction) preferred.

Preferred Education:

Vocational certificate or trade qualification in mining operations, heavy equipment operation, or mechanical trades.
Additional certifications: MSHA 30-hour/8-hour refresher, First Aid/CPR, Confined Space Entry, Breathing Apparatus, Shotfirer/Blaster certification (as applicable), Diesel Mechanic or Fitter certificate for maintenance-focused roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Mining Technology / Mining Engineering (technical diplomas)
Heavy Equipment Operation / Diesel Mechanics
Occupational Health & Safety / Industrial Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–3 years for entry-level underground miner roles; 3–7+ years for experienced underground miner positions; 7+ years for senior or supervisory production roles.

Preferred:

3+ years operating underground production equipment and performing ground support in hard-rock or metalliferous underground mines.
Demonstrated experience with site safety systems, pre-shift inspections, confined space permits and underground emergency procedures.
Prior experience on rotational rosters and in meeting production and quality targets in an underground mining environment.