What Do Continuous Miner Operators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Continuous Miner Operators 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 or into shuttle cars in a continuous operation. They also hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.

Other tasks include:

• Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.
• Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.
• Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.
• Drive machines into position at working faces.
• Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.
• Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.

We asked Continuous Miner Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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63% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Continuous Miner Operators operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars. They conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.

A typical day for a Continuous Mining Machine Operator will also include:

• Drive machines into position at working faces.
• Observe and listen to equipment operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment malfunctions.
• Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.
• Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.
• Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.

We asked some Continuous Miner Operators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	9% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	73% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	78% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	2% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	46% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	80% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Continuous Miner Operators also move levers to raise and lower hydraulic safety bars supporting roofs above machines until other workers complete framing. They may also guide and assist crews laying track and resetting supports and blocking.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Continuous Miner Operators Apply new technologies developed to minimize the environmental impact of coal mining. They might also Scrape or wash conveyors, using belt scrapers or belt washers, to minimize dust production.

In addition, they Install casings to prevent cave-ins.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Repair, oil, and adjust machines, and change cutting teeth, using wrenches.

To some Continuous Miner Operators, it is also their responsibility to Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Continuous Mining Machine Operator, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2013/spring/art02.pdf