Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Continuous mining machine operators use machines to remove rock, coal and metal and put it on conveyor belts. They also make decisions about where to drill and use equipment to prevent cave ins.
Continuous mining machine operators gather coal, stone, rock, metal and ores and load them on conveyor belts using self-propelled mining machines. People with this job are also known as miners and miner operators.
Duties of continuous mining machine operators include starting and operating machines, driving and positioning machines, deciding where to cut and how deep to drill, maintaining machines, preventing cave-ins using casings, helping lay track, maintaining blocking and resetting supports and using equipment to support roofs.
Successful continuous mining machine operators are usually good decision makers, critical thinkers, listeners, managers and teachers. They are also good at judging things like reaction times and depths and using their hands.
You will get lots of on-the-job training and will quickly become proficient in mechanics, geography, math, production, building, construction, transportation, public safety, administration and law and government.
The average hourly wage for continuous mining machine operators is about $22 and the average annual income is about $45,000.