Description
Operate a pit shovel at a surface mine to excavate blasted material and load haul trucks safely and efficiently according to mine plans.
- • Operate controls to position boom, dipper, and bucket to dig and load blasted rock or ore into haul trucks.
- • Perform pre-shift inspections and set up the shovel, checking systems, cables, and safety devices.
- • Follow dig plans, grade stakes, spotter signals, and GPS guidance to meet pit design and load specifications.
- • Understand shovel capacities, swing radius, bench conditions, and safe digging procedures for the assignment.
- • Backfill, clean, and trim pit floors; maintain benches, berms, and loading areas as directed.
- • Lubricate and adjust components; replace or report worn bucket teeth and ground engaging tools.
- • Move and stockpile material within the pit and at dumps or crushers as required.
- • Check floor grade and bench heights; maintain proper dig face angles and toe control.
- • Receive assignments via radio or dispatch system and follow instructions for material movement.
- • Travel and reposition the shovel within the pit; manage tracks and trailing cable safely.
- • Coordinate with truck drivers and spotters using hand signals or radios to position trucks.
- • Direct ground crews during staking, traffic control, or cleanup around the loading area.
- • Break oversized material or frozen banks with the bucket or ripper as needed.
- • Maintain ramps, approaches, and loading pads to ensure safe, efficient truck access.
- • Handle sloughs, mud, water, and pit cleanups to keep the face safe and workable.
- • Follow lockout/tagout and site safety procedures; report defects and complete daily logs.
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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
