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Transport & StorageISCO 8342

Surface mine plant operator

A surface mine plant operator is a person who controls high-capacity equipment such as excavators and dump trucks in order to win, load and move ore, minerals, sand, stone, clay and overburden in quarries and opencast mines.

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Rate 5 of the 13 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

inspect heavy surface mining equipment

troubleshoot

operate mining tools

make independent operating decisions

deal with pressure from unexpected circumstances

About surface mine plant operator

The operator works machines of very large dimensions, which calls for spatial awareness: knowing where the boom, the counterweight and the rear of the machine are in relation to a face, a bench edge and the people on the ground. They carry out inspections of heavy opencast mining equipment before a shift, perform minor repairs on the equipment themselves, and use knowledge of mechanics to recognise faults.

The operator takes independent operational decisions, reacts to events in a short time, and copes with the pressure of unexpected circumstances.

At the end of a shift the operator provides relevant information at handover: what the machine has been doing, what is wrong with it, where the face now stands and what the next operator will find. The job also calls for problem-solving skills. Formal requirements are set by national mining rules.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (13)

impact of geological factors on mining operationsimpact of geological factors on mining operationsBe aware of the impact of geological factors, such as faults and rock movements, on mining operations.excavation techniquesexcavation techniquesThe methods to remove rock and soil, used in an excavation site and the associated risks.mechanicsmechanicsTheoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.inspect heavy surface mining equipmentinspect heavy surface mining equipmentInspect heavy-duty surface mining machinery and equipment. Identify and report defects and abnormalities.troubleshoottroubleshootIdentify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.operate mining toolsoperate mining toolsOperate and maintain a wide range of hand-held and powered mining tools and equipment.make independent operating decisionsmake independent operating decisionsMake immediate operating decisions as necessary without reference to others, taking into account the circumstances and any relevant procedures and legislation. Determine alone which option is the best...deal with pressure from unexpected circumstancesdeal with pressure from unexpected circumstancesStrive to achieve objectives despite the pressures arising from unexpected factors outside of your control.communicate mine equipment informationcommunicate mine equipment informationCommunicate transparently and efficiently with mine production management and machine operators. Pass on any relevant information such as outages, efficiency and productivity of the equipment.address problems criticallyaddress problems criticallyIdentify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and a...react to events in time-critical environmentsreact to events in time-critical environmentsMonitor the situation around you and anticipate. Be ready to take quick and appropriate action in case of unexpected events.perform minor repairs to equipmentperform minor repairs to equipmentConduct routine maintenance on equipment. Recognise and identify minor defects in equipment and make repairs if appropriate.conduct inter-shift communicationconduct inter-shift communicationCommunicate relevant information about the conditions in the workplace, progress, events, and potential problems to the workers in the next shift.
Optional (9) — show
operate bucket wheel excavatoroperate bucket wheel excavatorOperate a bucket wheel excavator, a giant piece of mining machinery that uses a wheel or a chain equipped with buckets to scrape away material from the surface, then load it onto a conveyor belt.ensure compliance with safety legislationensure compliance with safety legislationImplement safety programmes to comply with national laws and legislation. Ensure that equipment and processes are compliant with safety regulations.drive vehiclesdrive vehiclesBe able to drive vehicles; have the approapriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.operate front loaderoperate front loaderOperate a front loader, a vehicle equipped with a bucket used in mining for performing a wide range of small, quick operations where employing more specialised equipment would not be efficient.operate spreaderoperate spreaderOperate spreaders, used in mining to spread removed overburden over a dump area in an efficient and orderly manner.operate dump truckoperate dump truckOperate articulated or rigid dump trucks used in mining operations for moving overburden or minerals. Apply strong spatial awareness in manipulating these large vehicles.operate excavatoroperate excavatorOperate excavators used to dig materials from the surface and load them onto dump trucks.operate draglineoperate draglineUse large dragline excavators to remove overburden above coal, lignite, and other minerals. Drag a bucket attached to a line over the surface to collect material and remove it.operate shotcreteroperate shotcreterOperate a shotcreter, a mechanised shotcrete spraying system used for ground support applications. Pneumatically project concrete at high velocity through a hose to cover a surface or fill holes for a...

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

underground heavy equipment operator11 shared essential skillssurface miner6 shared essential skillsmine development engineer5 shared essential skillsmine safety officer5 shared essential skillsmining assistant5 shared essential skillsunderground miner5 shared essential skillsmining equipment mechanic4 shared essential skillsexplosives engineer3 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a surface mine plant operator do?

Surface mine plant operators control heavy-duty equipment such as excavators and dump trucks, often involving a high level of spatial awareness, to excavate, load and transport ore, raw mineral including sand, stone and clay and overburden at quarries and surface mines.

What skills does a surface mine plant operator need?

A surface mine plant operator needs 13 essential skills, including impact of geological factors on mining operations, excavation techniques, mechanics, inspect heavy surface mining equipment, troubleshoot.

Will AI replace surface mine plant operator jobs?

The AI disruption score for surface mine plant operator is 20/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: communicate mine equipment information, conduct inter-shift communication, ensure compliance with safety legislation. Most resilient: deal with pressure from unexpected circumstances, react to events in time-critical environments, perform minor repairs to equipment.

Quick Facts

SectorTransport & Storage
ISCO GroupDrivers and mobile plant operators
Essential Skills13

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