Mine ventilation engineer

The engineer manages mine ventilation as a whole: the quantity and direction of air in each roadway, the fans that move it, the stoppings and doors that steer it, and the monitoring that shows whether the design is holding. They work from design drawings, revising the network as new workings are opened and old ones are sealed. Compliance with safety regulations is part of every decision, because the permitted concentrations of gas and the required airflows are written into law. They prepare scientific reports documenting measurements and the conclusions drawn from them.

The engineer is also responsible for emergencies. The ventilation system carries smoke and gas away from people after a fire or an outburst, so the engineer manages the procedures used in exceptional situations and plans in advance how air will be redirected.

They supervise workers who build and maintain the ventilation infrastructure, and coordinate the design with mine managers, the mine safety engineer and the mine planning engineer. The role requires problem solving and critical thinking. Formal requirements are set by the employer and by national mining regulations.