Description
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, shuttle cars, or trucks in a continuous operation.
- • Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.
- • Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.
- • Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.
- • Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.
- • Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.
- • 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.
- • Observe and listen to equipment operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment malfunctions.
- • Repair, oil, and adjust machines, and change cutting teeth, using wrenches.
- • Move levers to raise and lower hydraulic safety bars supporting roofs above machines until other workers complete framing.
- • Install casings to prevent cave-ins.
- • Guide and assist crews laying track and resetting supports and blocking.
- • Apply new technologies developed to minimize the environmental impact of coal mining.
- • Scrape or wash conveyors, using belt scrapers or belt washers, to minimize dust production.
- • Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
