Continuous Miner Operator

Mining for precious metals, coal, and stone is still big business, but it’s no longer the pickax job that it used to be. Today’s mines are filled with computerized machinery that dig, scoop, and load buckets full of crumbling earth. It is, however, still an industry that requires workers who are dedicated to hard labor and have a keen eye for detail.

Continuous Miner Operators are in the center of the operation. From the Driver ’s seat, Continuous Miner Operators operate the machines that scrape rock, ore, coal, metal, or sand from the inside of the mine. Once free from its natural home, the material is moved into mine carts or onto a conveyor belt, then hauled away to the next phase of the mining process.

In addition to operating the machinery, if you’re a Continuous Miner Operator, you also maintain it. That means you make repairs and perform preventative maintenance. It also means that you monitor it during your workday to make sure it is working properly. This monitoring includes listening for any signs of strain, watching for resistance, and making adjustments depending on the type of material you’re working with.

Continuous Miner Operator work is, well, continuous. The goal is to keep the product moving, so you keep moving too. Whether you are focused on a conveyor belt, a loader, a cutting machine, or a drilling machine, you move materials from underground to the surface in a fast, efficient, and safe manner.