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NOC 2021 Version 1.0

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83100 – Underground production and development miners

Underground production and development miners drill, blast, operate mining machinery, and perform related duties to extract coal and ore in underground mines and to construct tunnels, passageways and shafts to facilitate mining operations. They are employed by coal, metal and non-metallic mineral underground mines and by specialized contractors in mine construction, shaft sinking and tunnelling. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Profile

Example titles

  • Blaster - underground mining
  • Chute blaster - underground mining
  • Diamond driller - underground mining
  • Drift miner
  • Driller - underground mining
  • Hardrock miner apprentice
  • Hoist operator - underground mining
  • Miner
  • Mining machine operator
  • Powderman/woman - underground mining
  • Raise miner
  • Roadheader operator
  • Scooptram operator
  • Shaft inspector

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Set up and operate drills and drilling machines to produce a designated pattern of blasting holes
  • Operate diamond drills or other specialized drills such as raise boring machinery to test geological formations or to produce underground passageways
  • Set up and operate mining machinery to shear coal, rock or ore from the working face
  • Load explosives, set fuses, and detonate explosives to produce desired blasting patterns and rock fragmentation in underground mines
  • Operate scooptram, load-haul-dump (LHD) machine or mucking machine to load and haul ore from stopes, drifts and drawpoints to ore passes
  • Perform duties required to ensure safety and to support the mining advance, such as scaling loose rock from walls and roof, drilling and installing rock bolts, extending and installing air and water pipes, operating ore loading machinery, inspecting mine shafts, operating hoists that transport people, equipment and materials through mine shafts, and constructing timber supports and cribbing if required
  • Perform routine maintenance of mining machinery.

Employment requirements

  • May be certified in the basic common core program or as an underground hard rock miner in Ontario.
  • Certificate in first aid may be required.
  • Formal training of up to six weeks followed by extended periods of specialized training as a helper or in support occupations is usually provided.
  • Company licensing or certification is often required for occupations in this unit group.
  • Previous experience as a mine labourer or in other mine occupations is usually required.
  • Provincial blasting licence may be required.
  • Trade certification for miners is available, but voluntary, in Quebec and Manitoba.
  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.

Additional information

  • Mobility between these sectors is somewhat limited by differences in production technologies.
  • Mobility is possible to other occupational groups in underground mining such as underground service and support occupations.
  • Progression to mining supervisor is possible with experience.
  • There is mobility between employers within each of the three following sectors: underground coal mining, underground hard rock mining and underground potash, salt or soft rock mining.

Exclusions

  • Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction (73402)
  • Mine labourers (85110)
  • Supervisors, mining and quarrying (82020)
  • Underground mine service and support workers (84100)

Breakdown summary

Broad occupational category
8 – Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations
TEER
3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training
Major group
83 – Occupations in natural resources and related production
Sub-major group
831 – Occupations in natural resources and fisheries
Minor group
8310 – Underground miners, oil and gas drillers and related occupations
Version
NOC 2021 Version 1.0
Date modified: