Description
Operate and tend mucking machines to remove blasted rock and debris, load haulage units or ore passes, and maintain safe, efficient cleanup in mines or tunnels.
- • Move levers, pedals, and controls to operate mucking machines, LHD scooptrams, or slushers.
- • Inspect and set up equipment, attachments, and safety systems before operation.
- • Follow hand signals, radios, or tag-line guidance to position machines and load to spec.
- • Review headings, mucking plans, ground conditions, and machine limits for safe cycles.
- • Muck faces, drawpoints, and headings; load mine cars, trucks, or ore passes.
- • Lubricate, adjust, and perform minor repairs; replace bucket teeth, cutting edges, hoses, or cables.
- • Move muck short distances to hoppers, ore passes, or stockpiles; maintain clean haul routes.
- • Check floor grade, ramp crown, and pile heights to maintain proper roadway and clearance.
- • Receive shift instructions on mucking sequence, ore/waste segregation, and ventilation controls.
- • Adjust approach angles and bucket penetration to optimize fill and minimize spillage.
- • Drive machines between headings, shops, and loading points, observing traffic rules and clearances.
- • Hand shovel, scrape, or hose down areas inaccessible to machinery to finish cleanup.
- • Coordinate with ground support crews and spotters during scaling, bolting, or restricted areas.
- • Spot and guide trucks or mine cars; ensure units are chocked and secured during loading.
- • Build and maintain muck berms, ramps, and sumps for safe operations.
- • Manage water, slimes, and spillage; keep sumps, drains, and travelways clear.
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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
