Continuous Mining Machine Operators

What Does a Continuous Mining Machine Operators Do?

Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors, shuttle cars, or trucks in a continuous operation.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.
• 2Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.
• 3Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.
• 4Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.
• 5Drive machines into position at working faces.
• 6Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.
• 7Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.
• 8Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.

Required Skills

• Fleet monitoring system software
• Hitachi ZXLink
• Leica Geosystems FMS
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word
• Minitab

Continuous Mining Machine Operators Salary