Types of Mining Jobs – Something For Everyone - iMINCO Mining Training Information

Types of Mining Jobs – Something For Everyone

Mining training haul truck course students on site inspecting rear tyres

Dump truck operators and drivers

The dump truck operator job is one of the most advertised jobs on the internet. We’re seeing jobs growth in Queensland, NSW and WA especially. People who work in mining jobs as dump truck operators typically require previous training and/or experience – however, this is not as strict a rule as you would think. You don’t need a special licence such as a HR (heavy rigid) or HC (heavy combination) to drive a dump truck; so it’s the perfect entry-level opportunity to get a driving job in the mines.

Some dump truck operators start out as offsiders; and work their way up once the’ve gained experience and can prove to their supervisor they have the right skills to safely operate a 400 tonne+ dump truck.

Today’s Australian mining job ads are asking for a wide range of skills and abilities. Typically, the skills mining companies and recruiters are looking for in their dump truck operators are;

Employer benefits you can expect to receive

Some of the benefits you can expect from working as a dump truck operator in the mines include;

  • 10.5hr shifts – 3 panel roster
  • 12-hour working days
  • 2/1 or 7/7 family friendly rosters
  • A supportive work environment with professional development opportunities
  • An overriding commitment to Zero Harm in your workplace
  • Brand new gold mine in the goldfields – south of Leonora
  • Camp facilities and all meals provided
  • Comprehensive health and wellbeing programs including
  • DIDO (be home after every shift)
  • Discounted gym memberships
  • Employee Assistance Program support
  • Fixed Term Contracts (Leave Entitlements)
  • Gain more skills from other experienced & talented operators
  • Great rates on offer + loyalty bonuses!
  • Immediate start
  • Insurance allowance
  • Night shift uplift
  • Opportunity to work on a range of high – quality machinery
  • Overtime available
  • Some employers paying up to $55 per hour or competitive hourly rates
  • Performance bonuses
  • Permanent opportunities as soon as you sign up
  • PPE provided for all employees
  • Private Health Cover available
  • Residential allowance to help pay your rent
  • Temp to permanent positions after 3 – 6 months.
  • Weekly Pay Schedule

Dump Truck Operator job Requirements

  • 2 x work referees to validate your experience
  • A current driver’s licence (HR preferred)
  • Experience in driving heavy rigid vehicle for the last 3 years
  • Experience on Dump Trucks Caterpillar 785, Komatsu, Leibherr, Terex MT 4400, or equivalent experience
  • Have experience in a Production Open Pit mine and meeting production targets
  • Loader Ticket (optional)
  • Minimum of 6 month to 1 years experience on certain trucks
  • Production Operator experience with Electric MT 4400 Dump Trucks, CAT 785 and CAT 793 Dump Trucks, Water Carts, Loaders (992 CAT) and WA900, 14M and 16M Graders,
  • Relevant RII/ SSE sign offs/ Competencies
  • Standard 11 Mining Induction
  • Willingness to obtain a Current Police Clearance
  • Current Coal Board Medical
  • Pass pre-employment Medical and Drug and Alcohol
  • Knowledge in the safe use of hand/power tools and equipment required to perform tasks
  • Ability to work safely and understand best practice in a maintenance environment

Personal Attributes and Requirements

  • Able to commit to a 6 month contract
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Must have a high regard for safety
  • Determination to succeed, take direction and work effectively in a close team environment
  • Safety focus with a high attention to detail to abide by site safety processes on site
  • Current Drivers Licence
  • Current National Police Clearance
  • Current police clearance within 6 -12 months

 

With a dump (rigid) truck qualification under your belt and if you’re working in Queensland coal mines, you’ll need the Standard 11 mining safety induction qualification too. There’s zero chance of getting a look-in if your resume does not include the mention of the word Standard 11.

Mining in Australia is generally considered to be a safe, clean and well-maintained place to work  – especially in Queensland.

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While some mine sites are older and could really do with an upgrade, many of the newer “fly-in, fly-out” FIFO mines are well-designed and very comfortable when it comes to your sleep and leisure time. You’ll often find 5-star facilities such as cable TV, a well stocked gym, swimming pool, big outdoor and indoor recreation areas, barbecues, tennis courts as well as private rooms with an ensuite.

This is a big bonus for people who choose to work the FIFO lifestyle. Let’s face it, mining jobs can be challenging and exhausting too. It’s not exactly “easy” work; however some mining jobs can be easier than others.

Here’s a review of the different types of jobs you can do in the mines.

Entry-level mining jobs

“getting a foot in the door”

The entry-level jobs are the ones you often see advertised as “no experience necessary”. Starting out in one of these positions can allow you to get some training under your belt and move up into a higher paying job once you have the experience. This doesn’t happen overnight, although if you commit to putting the time and the hard yards, it’ll pay off eventually.

This is also a proven way start a mining career by getting a foot in the door whilst undergoing further training and up-skilling. Mine jobs in this category include laborers, trades assistants, administration staff, cleaners, cooks and kitchen-hands, hospitality staff,  apprentices, offsiders and driller assistants.

Mine Machine Operators

“All Rounder jobs are in demand”

Training and certification and/or experience are key requirements for machinery operators; an All Rounder operator role fits nicely into this category. The All Rounder is expected to be able to safely operate the haul truck, water truck, excavator, roller, grader, loader and 4WD vehicles. That sounds pretty specialised, although for a lot of experienced operators, the mechanics of vehicle operation are much the same, just different application of controls based on the functionality of the machine. Digging a trench with an excavator is very different from grading a road with GPS guidance. Like anything in life, it takes practice and repetition to gain the confidence and ability to be good at a lot of things.

Other types of machine operators include the underground jumbo, crane, front-end loader, plant and dozer operator positions. Machinery operator mining jobs are continually advertised on the mining jobs boards such as SEEK, Indeed, CareerOne, our own iMINCO website and JobSearch.

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Plant and Vehicle Mechanics

Auto mechanics can often find a good selection of regular work in the mines. Mining companies need diesel mechanics, light vehicle mechanics and haul truck tyre fitters.

Other jobs in demand are for mechanics who have experience working on the specialised mobile equipment used in and around the mines.

Skilled Workers – Trade Qualified

Mining jobs for skilled workers will most likely always be available because of the nature of the work and the opportunity for skilled workers to move from mine site to mine site.

Skilled mine workers are most likely to be trade qualified and may come from a civil construction or engineering background.

Some of the mining jobs for skilled workers would include:

  • electricians
  • Administration
  • All-round Operators
  • Articulated Dump Truck (Moxy) Operators
  • Auto Electrician
  • Belt Splicers
  • Bench Hands (shot firing)
  • Blast Crew Member & Operator/Maintainer
  • Blast Crew Operators
  • Boilermakers
  • Bus Driver
  • CHPP Maintenance Planners
  • CHPP Operator
  • CHPP Operator / Maintainer (Electrical)
  • CHPP Shutdown/Maintenance Mechanical Tradespeople
  • CHPP Supervisors
  • Coal Mining – Prestrip Trainer/Assessor
  • Coal Mining Operator
  • COMPETENT OPERATOR
  • Crane Operator / Rigger
  • Crane Operators
  • Crane Technician
  • Development Operators
  • Diesel Fitter
  • Diesel Mechanics
  • Digger Operator
  • Dozer Operator
  • Dozer/Front end loader operator
  • Dragline Operator
  • Drill Fitters
  • Drill Operator
  • Drill Rig operators – Blast Hole drills
  • Drillers & Offsiders
  • Drillers Trainee and Experienced Drillers Offsiders
  • Dump Truck Operator
  • Electric Dump Truck Operator
  • Electrical Supervisors
  • Electrician
  • Emergency Services Officer (ESO)
  • ERZ Controllers, Trades and Operators
  • Excavator Fitter
  • Excavator Operator
  • Experienced Operators (truck, excavator, grader, loader, dozer, water cart)
  • Experienced Underground Coal Miner
  • Fire Suppression Technician
  • Fitter | Overhead Crane Technician
  • Fitters & Boilermakers
  • Grader Final Trim
  • Haul Truck Operators
  • HD Trade Qualified Supervisor
  • Heavy Diesel Fitter
  • Heavy Diesel Mechanics
  • Heavy Equipment Diesel Fitter
  • HV Electrical Leading Hand
  • HV Electrician
  • IAM pipelines
  • Indigenous Housekeepers
  • Labourers
  • Leader Major Project Development
  • Longwall Electrical Supervisor
  • Longwall Move Electricians
  • Longwall Move Fitters
  • Longwall Move Operators
  • Longwall Operators
  • Maintenance Scheduler
  • Maintenance Supervisor
  • Mechanical Fitter
  • Mechanical Supervisor
  • Mine Services Operator
  • MMU Operator
  • Mobile Plant Operators
  • MPU Operators
  • Multi Skilled Operators
  • Multi-Skilled Operators (Haul, Load, Trim & Dump)
  • NDT Inspector
  • Occupational Hygiene Consultant
  • Onshore Installation Manager (OIM)
  • Open Cut Examiners (OCE)
  • Open Cut Mining Production Operators
  • Operations Planner
  • Outage Crew Fitters
  • Painter & Blasters
  • Paramedic ESO
  • Peggy
  • Planners
  • Plumbers
  • Poly Welders
  • Pre-Strip Mobile Operator
  • Pre-Strip Supervisor
  • Production Dump Truck Operators
  • Production Operators
  • Production Supervisor/ OCE
  • Project Manager
  • Project Work (Boilermakers, Fitters & Riggers)
  • Pump Crew
  • Riggers
  • Riggers/Crane Operators
  • Safety Training and ERT Advisor
  • I&M Electrician
  • Scaffolder
  • Scraper Operators
  • Senior SAP Administrator
  • Servicemen
  • Shot Firer
  • Shovel Operators
  • Storeperson
  • Superintendent Underground & Surface
  • Supervisor
  • Technical Writer
  • Trades Assistant
  • Tyre Fitter
  • Ultrasonic Rail Testing – Chief Vehicle Operator
  • Underground Fitter
  • Underground Operator (Ventilation)
  • Underground Operators & Trades
  • Vehicle Suppression Technicians
  • Warehouse Operations
  • Water Truck Operator
  • Water Cart Operator

Other types of mining jobs in Australia

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The bi mining projects require a wide array of other workers – not just the hands-on staff. There are jobs in mining for accountants, payroll clerks, secretaries, receptionists and other office workers. Owing to the remote locations of mining operations, especially in Western Australia, mines need experienced cooks, chefs, wait-staff, cleaners and housekeepers.

“the list of jobs and job opportunities is endless”

Most mine sites will also have a computer network administrator, communications specialist and at least a small information technology team to help maintain the systems.

Mining companies also need experienced engineers, geologists, paramedics and nurses, counsellors and even mental health workers. When you think of it; the list of jobs and job opportunities are endless.

To sum it up, the kind of work you do in mining jobs these days could be any kind of work.

Whether you’re skilled worker or just thinking about starting out, you might consider looking for mining jobs with one of the mining companies or mining contractors in your area.

Helpful links to find mining jobs

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Good luck in your search for a well-paid mining job – we wish you the very best.