Surface Mining Equipment Operator

In Alberta, the surface mining industry is primarily concerned with mining:

• energy minerals, such as coal or heavy oil sands
• non-metallic minerals, such as sand, gravel and lime.

The mining methods and equipment used vary with the type and location of mineral.

Surface mining equipment operators typically operate equipment such as:

• backhoes
• large tractor and rubber-tired dozers
• rubber-tired scrapers
• electrical or mechanical drive haul trucks
• graders
• front-end loaders
• service, water or other types of trucks
• draglines
• hydraulic or cable shovels
• utility vehicles and tractors for handling high-voltage cables
• packers
• surface mine dewatering equipment
• equipment transporters
• stationary plant or conveyor systems.

2 basic types of mining methods (or a combination of both methods) may be used for surface coal mining and oil sands mining in Alberta:

• Open pit mining involves removing the overburden (topsoil, regolith and waste rock) by drilling holes with self-propelled drills in a blasting pattern.
• Strip mining uses draglines, cable or hydraulic shovels to remove the overburden and expose the ore.

In most situations, surface mining equipment operators use large front-end loaders or power shovels that may have huge buckets (up to 44 cubic metres in capacity) to load broken overburden and ore into large rear dump trucks (up to 360 metric tons). Truck drivers haul overburden materials to waste dumps and ore to ore processing plants. In some situations, materials are moved by conveyor belt.

Surface mining equipment operators generally work shifts in environmentally controlled cabs or control rooms. They must be able to sit for long periods of time with exposure to vibration and jarring. Occasionally, they are required to work outdoors. At mines in remote locations, operators may be away from home for 2 to 3 weeks at a time, living and working closely with their work colleagues.

Safety precautions and personal protective equipment (safety boots, gloves, hard hats, glasses and hearing protection) are required to reduce the risk of injury associated with working near or with machinery. The work also requires climbing, stooping, crouching and bending. Lifting up to 20 kilograms routinely may be required.

Surface mining equipment operators need the following characteristics:

• good hand-eye co-ordination to effectively and safely operate large equipment
• good hearing and eyesight
• good health with reasonable strength, agility and stamina
• no fear of working in high places
• ability to judge distances and visualize 3-dimensional layouts
• ability to remain alert while performing repetitive tasks
• respect for safety procedures and regulations
• ability to work independently as well as with others
• willingness to work a variety of shifts and schedules.

They should enjoy operating heavy equipment, having clear guidelines and organized methods for their work and solving problems.

Below-average occupational growth is expected in Alberta for 2016 to 2020. Job openings are a result of employment turnover and newly created positions.

In Alberta, most surface mining equipment operators work in open pit mines that extract oil sand or coal, or in rock quarries.

Surface mining equipment operators usually start as helpers, labourers or truck drivers. With experience and on-the-job training they may advance to larger or more complicated equipment and possibly to supervisory positions.

As a condition of employment, surface mining equipment operators may be required to join a union.

Surface mining equipment operators are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 7521: Heavy equipment operators (except crane) occupational group. In Alberta, 82% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction (PDF)
• Construction (PDF)
• Manufacturing (PDF)

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• time of year (for seasonal jobs)
• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Over 19,400 Albertans are employed in the Heavy equipment operators (except crane) occupational group. This group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 0.4% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 78 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As surface mining equipment operators form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for surface mining equipment operators.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Canadian Mining Certification Program website: www.miningcertification.ca

Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) website: www.mihr.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.