Underground mine service and support workers
Career Overview
Underground mine service and support workers perform a range of duties related to the operation of orepasses, chutes and conveyor systems.
People in this occupation:
- Are responsible for the construction and support of underground structures, passages and roadways
- Help miners to set up and operate equipment and machinery and track haulage equipment that distributes materials and supplies to support underground mining
- Work for coal, metal and non-metallic mineral mines
- Should be physically fit since work can be labour intensive
- Must be able to work as a team and follow orders and safety regulations
Job Titles
Duties
Underground mine service and support workers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Operate and maintain ore chutes or conveyor systems to control flow of ore or coal in underground mine
- Run construction equipment such as a bulldozer, grader or backhoe to build and maintain underground passages and haulageways
- Build and repair wood or metal supports and structures such as bulkheads, platforms, drift doors and chutes using construction and mining tools
- Attach and extend ventilation and water pipes and related mine service
- Help miners to set up and operate various drills and other mining machinery
- Supply and maintain backfill distribution of sand, rock or other materials
- Operate diesel or electric track haulage equipment such as ore trains to distribute personnel and supplies and to convey ore from orepass to primary crusher or skip
- Maintain supply storage areas
- Maintain equipment and supplies such as explosives, drill bits, fire extinguishers, lamps and batteries
- Perform routine maintenance of 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
360% Employed Full Time
43%Underground mine service and support workers work in mines, where it is dark and damp, operating and maintaining ore chutes or conveyor systems and building or repairing underground passages or structures.
Workers may be exposed to potential hazards, including loud noises, potentially harmful chemical substances and large, moving mining equipment. Workplace safety is at the forefront and work sites stick to strict safety regulations, including wearing eye and ear protection, protective clothing with reflective strips, gloves, hard hats and steel toed boots. Safety training and special equipment also aims to minimize risk to workers.
Most people work full time in these occupations. Very few work part time or are self-employed. Rotating shift work is common as mines operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A shift may vary from 8–12 hours, depending on the worker's position and the location of the work. Overtime and weekend work may be required.
As mines are often located in remote areas, underground mine service and support workers may be required to travel and live in camps. Since many B.C. mines are near communities, workers who live nearby can return home after their shift.
Career Pathways
There is good opportunity for individuals in these occupations to move to higher level jobs. With sufficient experience and training, progression to machine operators or supervisors is possible.
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
Completion of secondary school is usually mandatory.
Other training and requirements may include:
- Up to six weeks of formal training, which is often supplemented with on-the-job training by assisting or supporting an experienced worker
- Experience as a labourer
- Company licensing or certification
The mining industry constantly adopts new technology and workers must stay current with the equipment they use and associated safety procedures.
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.
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.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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
360Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 60 | 16.4% |
| Kootenay | 80 | 21.9% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 20 | 5.5% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 15 | 4.1% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 155 | 42.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 30 | 8.2% |
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)
120Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 30 | -0.4% |
| Kootenay | 40 | 0.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | Not available | Not available |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 0.4% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 40 | 0.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 10 | 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 | 120 |
Resources
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Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)www.cim.org
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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/
