Loading Machine Operators, Underground Mining - 53-7033.00

Operate underground loading machine to load coal, ore, or rock into shuttle or mine car or onto conveyors. Loading equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.

Sample of reported job titles: Load Haul Dump Operator (LHD Operator), Loader Operator, Loading Machine Operator, Miner, Miner Operator, Muck Hauler, Production Miner, Shuttle Car Operator, Under Ground Miner

Tasks

• Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars.
• Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves.
• Drive machines into piles of material blasted from working faces.
• Operate levers to move conveyor booms or shovels so that mine contents such as coal, rock, and ore can be placed into cars or onto conveyors.
• Clean hoppers, and clean spillage from tracks, walks, driveways, and conveyor decking.
• Oil, lubricate, and adjust conveyors, crushers, and other equipment, using hand tools and lubricating equipment.
• Replace hydraulic hoses, headlight bulbs, and gathering-arm teeth.
• Stop gathering arms when cars are full.
• Advance machines to gather material and convey it into cars.
• Start conveyor booms and gathering-arm motors, and operate winches to position cars under boom conveyors for loading.
• Signal workers to move loaded cars.
• Observe and record car numbers, carriers, customers, tonnages, and grades and conditions of material.
• Notify switching departments to deliver specific types of cars.
• Inspect boarding and locking of open-top box cars and wedging of side-drop and hopper cars to prevent loss of material in transit.
• Estimate and record amounts of material in bins.

Technology Skills

• Data base user interface and query software - Data entry software
• Facilities management software - Maintenance management software
• Operating system software - Microsoft Windows
• Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel
• Time accounting software - Work time accounting software

Tools Used

• Belt conveyors - Bucket belt conveyors; Conveyor belt systems; Filter conveyor belts
• Claw hammer - Claw hammers
• Cleaning scrapers
• Earthmoving shovels - Cable drawn scrapers; Gathering-arm machines; Power shovels; Underground mining loaders
• Filtering machinery - Dust suppression systems
• Fire extinguishers - Portable fire extinguishers
• Front end loaders - Payloaders
• Grease guns - Grease dispensing guns; Hand grease guns
• Hydraulic breaker chisel - Rock breaking chisels; Soil bucket chisels; Trencher chisels
• Oil gun - Oil guns
• Ratchets - Ratchet sets
• Respirators - Protective respirators; Self-rescuers
• Screwdrivers - Multipurpose screwdrivers
• Socket sets - Socket wrench sets
• Track bulldozers - Underground mining bulldozer
• Track excavators - Underground mining excavators
• Two way radios - Mobile radios
• Wrecking or crow bar - Crowbars

Knowledge

• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Skills

• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Abilities

• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
• Depth Perception - The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Rate Control - The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
• Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Time Sharing - The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).

Interests

• Interest code: RC
  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Context

• Exposed to Contaminants
• Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
• Duration of Typical Work Week - 78% responded “More than 40 hours.”
• In an Open Vehicle or Equipment - 75% responded “Every day.”
• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
• Exposed to Hazardous Conditions - 79% responded “Every day.”
• Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable
• Exposed to Hazardous Equipment - 73% responded “Every day.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 54% responded “Extremely important.”
• Exposed to Whole Body Vibration - 67% responded “Every day.”
• Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting - 76% responded “Every day.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 67% responded “Every day.”
• Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions - 20% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
• Structured versus Unstructured Work - 35% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - 38% responded “High responsibility.”
• Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled - 65% responded “Every day.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 40% responded “Some freedom.”
• Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - 60% responded “More than half the time.”
• Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - 45% responded “More than half the time.”
• Frequency of Decision Making - 22% responded “Once a year or more but not every month.”
• Contact With Others - 36% responded “Contact with others most of the time.”
• Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment - 37% responded “Extremely important.”
• Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection - 42% responded “Every day.”
• Consequence of Error - 37% responded “Serious.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 35% responded “Very important.”
• Physical Proximity - 43% responded “Moderately close (at arm's length).”
• Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - 40% responded “Moderate responsibility.”
• Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings - 33% responded “Every day.”
• Time Pressure - 34% responded “Every day.”
• Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - 33% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
• Spend Time Standing - 28% responded “About half the time.”
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - 35% responded “Moderate results.”
• Coordinate or Lead Others - 38% responded “Important.”
• Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - 44% responded “Every day.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
61%	High school diploma or equivalent
39%	Less than high school diploma

Work Styles

• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Work Values

• Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
• Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
• Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $25.20 hourly, $52,420 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 3,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Decline (-2% or lower)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 300