Underground production and development miners
Career Overview
Underground production and development miners drill, blast, operate mining machinery and perform related duties to extract coal and ore in underground mines and construct mine tunnels, passageways and shafts to facilitate mining operations.
People in this occupation:
- Work for coal, metal and non-metallic mineral underground mines and specialized contractors in mine construction, shaft sinking and tunnelling
- Need mechanical ability, as well as good communication skills
- Need to be independent, adaptable and able to work under pressure
- Must know and stick to safety regulations
- Should be physically fit
Job Titles
Duties
Underground production and development miners perform 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
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,170% Employed Full Time
54%Work in this occupational group can be physically and mentally challenging. Workers spend their work day underground where it is dark and often damp, and much of the work may be done alone with little communication with others.
There are also a number of potential hazards on site, including unstable terrain, large, moving machinery, exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, and loud noises from blasts and machinery. High-level safety standards ensure that work sites stick to strict safety regulations, including requirements of wearing eye and ear protection, protective clothing with reflectors, gloves, hard hats and steel-toed boots. Industry sources report high safety records for these occupations in comparison to the past.
Since mines are often located in remote areas, underground production and development miners may be required to travel and live in camps. However, with many B.C. mines located near communities, workers who live nearby can return home after their shift.
Most work full time and very few workers work part time or are self-employed. Shifts usually last 8–12 hours, and rotating shift work is very common, as mines operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Shift length varies by occupation, location and urgency of the job.
Increased mechanized mining methods have reduced reliance on physical work in these occupations.
This occupation provides a competitive salary and benefits, and work is often close to communities where the cost of living is lower than in larger urban centres.
Career Pathways
There are many options to choose from once workers are already employed in this occupation. There is good movement to other underground mining occupations, such as those in underground service and support.
With sufficient experience and training, it is also possible to progress to various supervisory positions.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Workers must be at least 18 years of age and completion of secondary school is usually required. Other training and requirements may include:
- Previous experience as a mine labourer
- Safety courses, including workplace hazardous materials information system, transportation of dangerous goods and well control
- Formal training of up to six weeks followed by extended periods of specialized training as a helper or in support occupations
- On-site training, which would include safety training
Workers who are certified for an occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,170Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 140 | 12.0% |
| Kootenay | 245 | 21.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 70 | 6.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 75 | 6.4% |
| Northeast | 60 | 5.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 400 | 34.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 170 | 14.6% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
480Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 40 | -0.8% |
| Kootenay | 130 | 0.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 20 | 0.5% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 70 | 2.3% |
| Northeast | 40 | 1.4% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 120 | 0.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 70 | 0.7% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction | 470 |
| Manufacturing | 10 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 10 |
Resources
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Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) – Job Boardmembers.amebc.ca/networking
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Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)www.cim.org
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Career Development – Mining Industry Human Resources Councilmihr.ca/career-development
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MineralsEdwww.mineralsed.ca
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Mining Association of BC – Job Boardwww.mining.bc.ca/job-board
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Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC)www.mining.bc.ca
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Mining Association of Canada (MAC)www.mining.ca
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Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR)www.mihr.ca
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SkilledTradesBCskilledtradesbc.ca/