Summary Report for:
47-5041.00 - Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors or into shuttle cars in a continuous operation.
Sample of reported job titles:
Continuous Miner Operator (CMO), Miner Operator, Continuous Mining Machine Operator, Miner
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment
Tasks
- Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.
- Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.
- Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.
- Drive machines into position at working faces.
- Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.
- Observe and listen to equipment operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment malfunctions.
- Repair, oil, and adjust machines, and change cutting teeth, using wrenches.
- Move levers to raise and lower hydraulic safety bars supporting roofs above machines until other workers complete framing.
- Install casings to prevent cave-ins.
- Guide and assist crews laying track and resetting supports and blocking.
back to top
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Air exhausters — Ventilation systems |
| Belt conveyors — Belt conveyor systems |
| Boom bolters — Boom roof bolters |
| Continuous mining equipment — Continuous miners; Continuous mining machine remote controls |
| Grease guns |
| Hammers — Sledgehammers |
| Hard hats — Miner's helmets |
| Jacks — Hydraulic jacks |
| Tape measures — Measuring tapes |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Mobile location based services software — Fleet monitoring system software; Hitachi ZXLink; Leica Geosystems FMS |
back to top
Knowledge
| Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. |
| Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. |
| Law and Government — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. |
| Public Safety and Security — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. |
| Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
| Transportation — Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits. |
| Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
| Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
| Geography — Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life. |
| Building and Construction — Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads. |
back to top
Skills
| Operation and Control — Controlling operations of equipment or systems. |
| Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. |
| Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
| Equipment Maintenance — Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed. |
| Repairing — Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools. |
| Troubleshooting — Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it. |
| Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
| Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
| Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
back to top
Abilities
| Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. |
| Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion. |
| Reaction Time — The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears. |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. |
| Depth Perception — The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object. |
| Hearing Sensitivity — The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness. |
| Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. |
| Rate Control — The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene. |
| Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. |
| Far Vision — The ability to see details at a distance. |
back to top
Work Activities
| Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
| Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft. |
| Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials. |
| Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
| Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
back to top
Work Context
| Exposed to Contaminants — How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)? |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment — How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment? |
| Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable? |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? |
| Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions — How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions? |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions — How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions? |
| Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting — How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions? |
| Frequency of Decision Making — How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? |
| Face-to-Face Discussions — How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? |
| Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? |
back to top
Job Zone
| Title |
Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed |
| Education |
Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. |
| Related Experience |
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before. |
| Job Training |
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job. |
| Job Zone Examples |
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include taxi drivers, amusement and recreation attendants, counter and rental clerks, construction laborers, continuous mining machine operators, and waiters/waitresses. |
| SVP Range |
(Below 4.0) |
back to top
Education
Percentage of Respondents |
Education Level Required |
59   |
Less than high school diploma |
| 37 |
High school diploma or equivalent |
| 4 |
Some college, no degree |
back to top
Interests
Interest code: RCI
| Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. |
| Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow. |
| Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally. |
back to top
Work Styles
| Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. |
| Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. |
| Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
| Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
| Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. |
| Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. |
| Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. |
| Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. |
| Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. |
| Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical. |
back to top
Work Values
| Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
| Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. |
| Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. |
back to top
Related Occupations
back to top
Wages & Employment Trends
National
| Median wages (2011) |
$24.33 hourly, $50,620 annual |
| Employment (2010) |
14,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2010-2020) |
Little or no change (-2% to 2%)
|
| Projected job openings (2010-2020) |
3,000 |
| Top industries (2010) |
|
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2011 wage data
and 2010-2020 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2010-2020). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
back to top
Bright Outlook
Green