Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators

Course Advisor; United States; On-site; USD 28,680 - 74,250; Full time

Job summary

Course Advisor is seeking a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator to operate machinery for cutting or channeling along the face or seams of mines. Responsibilities include managing conveyor belts, guiding crews, and charging blasting holes. Key skills required are operation monitoring, critical thinking, and active listening. The average salary ranges from $28,680 to $74,250. This position is crucial for the efficient extraction of minerals from mines.

Responsibilities

• Press buttons and operate controls to activate conveyor belts.
• Guide crews in laying track for machines and resetting rails.
• Advance plow blades through coal strata by remote control.
• Cut entries between rooms and haulage ways.
• Charge and set off explosives in blasting holes.
• Determine locations and depths of holes or channels to be cut.

Skills

Operation Monitoring

Critical Thinking

Active Listening

Operation and Control

Monitoring

Social Perceptiveness

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator

Operate machinery such as long‑wall shears, plows, and cutting machines to cut or channel along the face or seams of coal mines, stone quarries, or other mining surfaces to facilitate blasting, separating, or removing minerals or materials from mines or from the Earth’s surface. Includes work with shale planers.

Responsibilities

• Press buttons and operate controls to activate conveyor belts and regulate conveyor movement for moving or loading material into delivery vehicles.
• Guide crews in laying track for machines and resetting planer rails, supports, and blocking using jacks, shovels, sledges, picks, and pinch bars.
• Advance plow blades through coal strata by remote control, following electronic or radio signals from the tailer.
• Cut entries between rooms and haulage ways.
• Charge and set off explosives in blasting holes.
• Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.

Key Skills

• Operation Monitoring: watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to ensure machinery runs properly.
• Critical Thinking: using logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of potential solutions.
• Active Listening: giving full attention to others, asking questions, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Operation and Control: controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Monitoring: assessing performance of self and others to implement improvements.
• Social Perceptiveness: recognizing others’ reactions and understanding the reasons behind them.

Tools & Technology

• Microsoft Excel for record‑keeping and reporting.

Employment Outlook

In the United States there were 6,100 jobs for this occupation in 2016 with little growth expected. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates about 700 yearly job openings.

Average Salary

The average yearly salary ranges from $28,680 to $74,250. Higher wages are typically found in Wyoming, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.