Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Underground Excavator Operator

🎯 Role Definition

The Underground Excavator Operator is responsible for operating diesel and electric excavators and associated attachments in underground mines, tunnels, and shafts to remove ore/rock, assist with ground support, maintain roadway profiles and support production schedules. This role requires expert machine handling in confined conditions, strict compliance with underground safety systems (ventilation, gas monitoring, ground control), routine equipment maintenance, clear communication with shift crews, and the ability to respond to emergency and recovery activities. The ideal candidate brings proven underground experience, a safety-first mindset, and the mechanical aptitude to identify and report equipment faults and consumable needs.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Surface Heavy Equipment Operator
Underground Labourer / Mucker
Mining Assistant or Site Hand

Advancement To:

Senior Underground Excavator Operator / Lead Operator
Shift Supervisor or Underground Foreman
Underground Equipment Trainer or Fleet Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

LHD / Loader Operator
Shotfirer / Blasting Crew Member
Underground Maintenance Technician (Diesel Mechanic)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate diesel and electric underground excavators and attachments (buckets, hydraulic breakers, grapples, tilt rotators) to load muck, clear faces, shape tunnels, and transfer material to haulage units while maintaining safe machine handling in restricted headroom and narrow drives.
Perform pre-start and pre-shift inspections of excavators, including tracks, undercarriage, hydraulic lines, bucket teeth, lights, warning systems, guardrails, and fire suppression systems; document defects and tag equipment out-of-service when required.
Monitor and adhere to gas detection and ventilation requirements prior to and during operation; work closely with ventilation officers to ensure safe atmospheric conditions and comply with methane/H2S protocols.
Coordinate with haulage crews, LHD operators, and drill teams to sequence mucking and loading activities to maximize production throughput and minimize cycle times.
Execute controlled excavation and face clearing around rib and roof to minimize ground disturbance, support installation of ground control (mesh, bolts, shotcrete) and cooperate with rock engineering to maintain tunnel stability.
Follow blast clearance procedures: confirm blast status, clear personnel, conduct post-blast inspections, and conduct face cleaning and scaling as part of re-entry and recovery operations.
Operate in low-light and dusty conditions using vehicle lighting, dust suppression systems, and telemetry while maintaining situational awareness and safe travel paths.
Conduct routine maintenance tasks such as topping up coolant, checking and replenishing hydraulic oil, greasing fittings, changing filters per schedule, and conducting basic troubleshooting to keep equipment production-ready.
Keep accurate production and maintenance logs, shift handover notes, incident reports, and consumables usage records as required by site systems.
Implement and enforce seatbelt, speed, and exclusion zone policies while operating underground and ensure machine-mounted safety devices (alarms, cameras, proximity detection) are functional.
Use two-way radios and underground communication systems to maintain clear, concise communication with supervisors, banksmen, and emergency teams; relay hazards and production updates promptly.
Conduct safe approach, loading, and hitches with conveyors, ore passes, and open hoppers; ensure proper loading distribution to avoid spillage and machine overload.
Inspect and assist with the attachment changeover and installation of hydraulic breakers, rock buckets, and grapples in accordance with lockout/tagout and mechanical safety procedures.
Participate in pre-shift risk assessments and toolbox talks, raising hazards, contributing to controls, and implementing safe work procedures at the face.
Ensure compliance with environmental controls including water management, dust suppression, spill prevention and waste disposal protocols for fuels and lubricants.
Support emergency response and recovery procedures including equipment shutdown, entrapment protocols, and assisting with casualty extraction as trained.
Maintain good housekeeping around work areas and access ways to support safe egress and minimize trip, slip, and fall hazards.
Mentor and provide on-the-job training to new or less-experienced underground operators on machine operation, site procedures, and safe work techniques.
Identify, report, and follow up on defective ground conditions, roof falls, or instability and assist rock support crews in implementing temporary and permanent ground control measures.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by reporting opportunities to increase machine uptime, reduce cycle times, and improve fuel efficiency while maintaining safety.
Comply with all site permits, isolation procedures and confined space entry protocols when excavating near services, cables or infrastructure.
Assist maintenance crews during minor repairs and overhaul activities underground, including helping with component removal/installation under supervision and supporting equipment recovery operations.
Attend and contribute to safety committees, incident investigations and return-to-work planning, ensuring lessons learned are embedded into daily operations.
Maintain personal certification and training records up-to-date (first aid, breathing apparatus, underground induction, equipment-specific tickets) and comply with medical fitness-for-duty requirements.

Secondary Functions

Support planned maintenance shutdowns and breakdown recoveries by preparing excavators for scheduled servicing and assisting fitters under safe working practices.
Help maintain spare parts inventory and consumables log for hydraulic hoses, filters, pins, and teeth; escalate procurement needs to supervisors to minimize downtime.
Contribute to shift planning by advising supervisors on realistic production estimates based on machine condition and site ground conditions.
Participate in cross-functional site initiatives such as energy efficiency programs, dust mitigation projects, and digital telemetry rollout to improve operational visibility.
Provide input to training materials and standard operating procedures (SOPs) based on frontline experience and observed best practices.
Aid in light fabrication or bracket adjustments when safe and permitted, in coordination with maintenance teams and lockout/tagout procedures.
Support contractor coordination by ensuring work areas are clear and equipment isolation is verified before contractors commence underground tasks.
Assist safety and health personnel with gas monitoring rounds, noise surveillance, and ergonomic observations relevant to excavator operation.
Undertake additional duties as assigned by the shift supervisor, including administrative tasks such as rostering feedback and closeout reports.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proven experience operating underground hydraulic excavators (diesel and electric) in confined spaces and low-clearance environments.
Competent in pre-shift machine inspections, basic troubleshooting and performing routine maintenance (fluid top-ups, greasing, filter changes).
Strong knowledge of underground ventilation, gas monitoring procedures, and working with portable gas detectors and fixed monitoring systems.
Experience with attachments — buckets, breakers, grabs/grapples — and understanding of hydraulic attachment setup and safe changeover.
Familiarity with underground ground support methods (bolting, mesh, shotcrete interfaces) and safe excavation practices near installed supports.
Proficient with two-way radio protocols and underground communication systems; capability to maintain clear, concise shift handovers.
Ability to read and interpret mine plans, development profiles, grades, and production targets to execute excavation to specification.
Experience with safety systems: proximity detection, fire suppression, CCTV, and operator presence systems.
Basic mechanical aptitude including hydraulic troubleshooting, track and undercarriage inspection, and bolt/pin replacement procedures.
Competence in using electronic logbooks, production reporting tools, and basic digital telemetry dashboards.
Certifications/tickets typical of underground operations (site induction, equipment operator ticket, confined space, first aid); familiarity with MSHA/DMIRS/site regulatory requirements where applicable.
Safe work permit and lockout/tagout awareness for performing work on powered equipment underground.

Soft Skills

Strong safety mindset with proven ability to apply safe work practices and stop work authority when hazards are identified.
Excellent situational awareness and decision-making under pressure in dynamic underground environments.
Clear communicator able to coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams (drillers, shotfirers, maintenance, supervisors).
Reliability and punctuality — able to adhere to shift schedules including nights, rosters, and overtime when required.
Problem-solving orientation with practical judgment for escalating mechanical failures and ground control concerns.
Team player who mentors and contributes to a positive safety culture and continuous improvement.
Adaptability to changing geological conditions, production priorities, and equipment availability.
Attention to detail for accurate log-keeping, handover notes, and compliance documentation.
Physical stamina and dexterity for climbing in/out of cabs, performing inspections, and working in confined, sometimes humid conditions.
Proactive planner who can manage time to meet production targets while maintaining safety standards.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (e.g., GED); demonstrated practical experience in underground equipment operation.

Preferred Education:

Technical certificate in Heavy Equipment Operation, Mining Technology, Mechanical Trades or related vocational training.
Formal underground mining training or accredited heavy equipment operator course.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Mining Engineering Technology
Heavy Equipment Operation / Industrial Trades
Mechanical or Electrical Trade Certificates
Occupational Health & Safety certificates

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2 to 7 years of heavy equipment operation experience, with at least 1–3 years of dedicated underground excavator experience preferred.

Preferred:

3+ years operating underground excavators, demonstrated track record of safe production performance, experience with multiple attachment types and working knowledge of underground safety systems and regulatory compliance.