Description
Operate dragline excavators at surface mines to strip overburden, cast and place material, and maintain benches and ramps per plan, safety rules, and production targets.
- • Move levers, pedals, and controls to hoist, swing, drag, and dump the dragline bucket.
- • Inspect dragline, boom, ropes, rigging, and bucket before operation.
- • Follow hand signals, GPS, grade stakes, and pit markings to dig to plan.
- • Review dig plans, bench geometry, machine limits, and safe operating procedures.
- • Strip overburden, cast material to spoil, and backfill per plan.
- • Lubricate and adjust components; replace bucket teeth, wire rope, and wear parts.
- • Move material within the pit while maintaining spoil piles, berms, and clearances.
- • Verify cut depths, bench heights, and spoil elevations.
- • Receive shift instructions and dig sequencing from supervisors or dispatch.
- • Adjust drag angle, hoist height, and swing radius for varying depths and cut lengths.
- • Walk the dragline to and from cut locations and reposition as directed.
- • Assist with ground tasks during maintenance or relocation, including shoveling and cleanup.
- • Coordinate with ground personnel to place stakes, manage power cable, and spot the cut.
- • Direct support equipment to build stable pads, ramps, and working surfaces.
- • Create and maintain ramps and benches with cast material to support the mine plan.
- • Manage slides, wet conditions, and pit cleanup; perform routine pit maintenance.
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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
