Careers in Operations
The following provides a brief description of several of the many occupations normally found in this phase including the typical activities, employment requirements, work schedules, and typical salary ranges. It is important to note that salary ranges vary from region to region and will change over time. Additional sources, such as www.jobfutures.ca, www.acareerinmining.ca, job postings on employers' websites, and job banks (e.g. www.pdacjobs.com) provide more information about salaries.
To create a balanced view of jobs across all skill levels, entry level, skilled, trades, technical and professional jobs are included. This job inventory is intended to highlight some key occupations of the estimated 120 occupations in mining. Some jobs are available in more than one of the mining phases. Contractors and suppliers also provide employment opportunities in various support services throughout the mining cycle. Some support services of particular importance to operations include security, cooking, maintenance, transportation, health care, and construction. For a comprehensive listing of occupations at each phase of the mining cycle, see Mining Occupations.
HEALTH & SAFETY COORDINATOR
Description
The role of the health and safety coordinators is to ensure that all employees know, understand, and follow safety rules and procedures. They provide training in first aid, mine rescue, surface firefighting and confined space entry. They monitor industrial hygiene (measuring gases, dust, etc.) and conduct on-site safety inspections. A health and safety coordinator ensures healthy working conditions and sets safety rules. He or she promotes health and safety within the mine, designs programs to protect employees from workplace hazards and helps others to comply with health and safety requirements.
Employment Requirements
A certificate or diploma in Occupational Health and Safety is generally required.
Work Schedule
A health and safety coordinator often works typical office hours (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.). However, these hours are sometimes extended to accommodate workers on other shifts.
Salary Range
$60,000 - $84,000 a year
MATERIAL HANDLER
Description
Material handlers lift and move materials, products, machines and equipment. In the operations phase of mining, they conduct production activities such as counting, weighing, sorting, packing and unpacking. Handlers are often responsible for operating cranes and hoists to move the materials. They may also operate equipment to dump materials such as coal and ore into railway cars, trucks or other vehicles.
Employment Requirements
A grade 12 education is required. An individual should possess workplace reading and writing skills for this position.
Work Schedule
A material handler's work schedule will vary widely depending on the way in which each mine chooses to operate. In some mines, workers engage in shift work. In others, they work several long shifts in a row and then have several days off. It is also common, particularly if the mine is in a remote location, for an individual to work for several weeks at a time without days off, followed by a longer leave period.
Salary Range
$15 - $30 an hour
WAREHOUSE WORKER
Description
Warehouse workers are responsible for storing and issuing parts and supplies for use by the mine, and for outgoing shipments. They receive and sort incoming parts and supplies, store items in an orderly and accessible manner, process incoming requisitions and issue or distribute parts and supplies for internal usage. They maintain records of the amount, type and location of parts and supplies using a manual or computerized inventory system. They stock inventory, and receive and ship materials.
Employment Requirements
A warehouse worker generally requires a grade 12 level of education or less. He or she should possess workplace reading and writing skills.
Work Schedule
A warehouse worker's work schedule will vary widely depending on the location of the mine or exploration project, whether the work is seasonal, and the way in which each mine chooses to operate. Workers may engage in shift work, work several long shifts in a row and then have several days off, or even work for several weeks at a time without days off, followed by a longer leave period.
Salary Range
$20 - $32 an hour
BLASTER
Description
Blasters load explosives, set fuses, and detonate explosives to produce desired blasting patterns and rock fragmentation. Blasters handle, store and transport explosives and accessories in accordance with regulations and ensure that safety procedures are observed. They perform mathematical calculations to determine rock vibration and they do field tests to determine the type and quantity of explosives required.
Employment Requirements
Experience as a blaster helper or heavy equipment operator is generally required. Drillers and blasters work together. Some companies may require further training and certification specific to blasters.
Work Schedule
A blaster's work schedule will vary widely depending on the location of the mine or exploration project, whether the work is seasonal, and the way in which each mine chooses to operate. It is also common, particularly where the mine is in a remote location, for an individual to work for several weeks at a time without days off, followed by a longer leave period.
Salary Range
$23 - $40 an hour
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
Description
Heavy equipment operators operate a variety of equipment including: scoop trams, backhoes, bulldozers, loaders, graders. There are many different types of heavy equipment operators, including crusher operators, scraper operators, and power shovel operators.
Employment Requirements
A certificate, diploma and completion of an apprenticeship program in the area of Heavy Equipment Operator and/or Industrial Mechanics is usually required. Many heavy equipment operator positions require experience and/or on-the-job training.
Work Schedule
A heavy equipment operator's work schedule can vary greatly. In some mines, workers engage in shift work (days, afternoons, nights).
Salary Range
$75,000 - $85,000 a year
LAB TECHNICIAN
Description
Lab technicians are responsible for coordinating laboratory testing, sample preparation, and various chemistry procedures. They transcribe and analyze geophysical and survey data, prepare or supervise the preparation of rock, mineral or metal samples, and perform physical and chemical laboratory tests. In the closure phase they may conduct or assist in air and water quality testing and assessments, environmental monitoring and protection activities, and development of and compliance with land rehabilitation targets.
Employment Requirements
A technical degree is usually required. One can be accredited as a Chemical Technician, a Medical Technologist, or have a Chemistry degree. Experience is an asset.
Work Schedule
Most lab technicians are required to work during operation hours (days, afternoons, nights).
Salary Range
$46,000 - $82,000 a year
METALLURGICAL ENGINEER
Description
Metallurgical engineers develop ways of processing metals and converting them into useful products. They use their knowledge in the development and evaluation of products, processes, and equipment. Metallurgical engineers who work in extractive metallurgy are concerned with finding new and better ways of separating relatively small amounts of metal from huge quantities of waste rock. In physical metallurgy, the engineers develop processes to create alloys from the extracted metals. They design and supervise processes that separate metals from their ores, then further refine the metals using different processes that use heat, electric current, or chemicals. Metallurgical engineers are also often responsible for considering the environmental effects of the processes they use. They may work in an ore treatment plant, in a mill or in a laboratory using complex equipment such as electron microscopes, X-ray machines, and spectrographs.
Employment Requirements
A minimum of a bachelor's degree in Mining and Metallurgical Engineering or Earth Sciences is required.
Work Schedule
It is standard for metallurgical engineers to work 40-hour workweeks (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.); however, some are required to work rotating shifts (days, afternoons, nights). Overtime is sometimes necessary in order to meet project deadlines.
Salary Range
$67,000 - $89,000 a year
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Description
Electrical engineers are responsible for planning and supervising a site's power generating equipment. They design, plan, research, evaluate, and test electrical and electronic equipment and systems. They use cutting edge technology and processes and provide technical leadership and troubleshooting to improve operational efficiency. Engineers are responsible for the equipment, machinery, and systems that are essential to mine functioning.
Employment Requirements
A bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering is required. To work as a professional electrical engineer, professional certification is required.
Work Schedule
An electrical engineer usually works a 40-hour workweek (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm); however, he or she could be required to work overtime hours if an issue with electrical equipment or electrical systems arises that interferes with production.
Salary Range
$57,000 - $86,000 a year
