Continuous Mining Machine Operators
On the Job
Continuous Mining Machine Operators operate self-propelled mining machines that rip materials from the mine face and load them onto conveyors or into shuttle cars.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
- Operate mining equipment.
- Apply new technologies to improve work processes.
- Determine appropriate locations for operations or installations.
- Inspect completed work to ensure proper installation.
- Test air quality at work sites.
- Maintain extraction or excavation equipment.
- Monitor extraction operations.
- Install safety or support equipment.
- Position construction or extraction equipment.
Typical Working Conditions
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Exposure to hazardous equipment.
- Frequent decision-making.
- Working with a group or team.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- A work pace that is determined by the speed of equipment.
- High levels of competition.

This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.