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Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other

SOC 47-5049.00Job Zone —v.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers underground mining machine operation and crew coordination roles at Job Zone 3, spanning equipment operation, site inspection, specification interpretation, and workforce supervision in subterranean extraction environments.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Blueprint and specification documents — read and interpret basic construction requirements under direct supervisor guidance on an underground mining site.
  2. Equipment pre-operation checklists — complete following established safety protocols before operating underground mining machinery.
  3. Work progress on assigned sections — inspect and report observations to a supervising operator during routine underground extraction tasks.
  4. Basic hand signals and radio communication procedures — apply under direct instruction to coordinate with crew members in a mining tunnel environment.
  5. Underground mining machinery controls — identify and operate with close oversight on low-complexity extraction tasks.
  6. Safety hazard indicators — recognize and communicate to a supervisor when encountered during routine underground operations.
  7. Daily activity logs and work records — maintain using office suite software under supervisor direction at an underground mine site.
  8. Critical thinking skills — apply to identify equipment anomalies and escalate issues to experienced operators during initial on-the-job training.
  9. Personal protective equipment and safety gear — select and use correctly in accordance with site-specific public safety requirements.
  10. Mechanical components of assigned underground mining machines — identify by name and function during supervised equipment orientation sessions.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Work site inspection reports — conduct and document independently to verify safety compliance and progress against specifications on routine underground operations.
  2. Construction blueprints and technical drawings — interpret with moderate complexity to plan daily extraction or support procedures with limited supervision.
  3. Crew task assignments — coordinate and distribute among small work groups based on job-specific material and labor requirements in an underground mining environment.
  4. Operations monitoring data — review and analyze during active machinery runs to detect deviations from expected performance benchmarks.
  5. Underground mining equipment — control and adjust settings during standard extraction cycles, applying operator judgment in familiar operating conditions.
  6. Spreadsheet software — use to track equipment hours, material yields, and maintenance schedules for an underground mining crew.
  7. CAD software outputs and site design drawings — reference to confirm that underground construction or extraction activities align with approved specifications.
  8. Inter-shift coordination — execute by communicating task status, safety observations, and equipment conditions clearly to incoming crews using established reporting formats.
  9. Minor mechanical troubleshooting — perform on underground mining machinery using working knowledge of mechanical systems and on-site repair procedures.
  10. Mathematical calculations for load estimation and material measurement — apply to support accurate extraction planning and resource allocation at an underground mine.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Multi-section work site inspections — lead autonomously, verifying safety standards and specification compliance across complex underground mining operations.
  2. Detailed construction and extraction specifications — analyze and translate into actionable operating procedures for full crew deployment in non-routine underground conditions.
  3. Worker scheduling and activity coordination — manage across multiple shifts, balancing material demands and personnel capabilities at an underground mining operation.
  4. Equipment performance anomalies — diagnose and resolve during active underground extraction using advanced operations monitoring and critical thinking skills.
  5. Underground mining machinery — operate and control with precision across the full range of site conditions, including non-standard geological or structural challenges.
  6. Judgment calls on work stoppages or equipment modifications — make independently when safety risks or specification deviations are identified during live mining operations.
  7. Crew performance and task completion data — compile and present using spreadsheet and presentation software to support operational review meetings.
  8. Document management systems — administer to maintain accurate and retrievable records of inspections, assignments, and equipment maintenance histories for regulatory compliance.
  9. Cross-functional coordination with engineering and safety teams — conduct using clear technical communication to resolve design or operational conflicts at an underground mine site.
  10. Mentorship of emerging operators — provide through structured on-the-job coaching on equipment controls, blueprint reading, and safety protocols in an underground mining setting.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational safety and operational standards for underground mining — develop and enforce across all crews, sites, and shifts at a multi-section mining operation.
  2. Strategic workforce planning — lead by assigning and scheduling skilled operators to meet production targets and safety requirements across an entire underground mining facility.
  3. Site-wide work progress and construction specifications — oversee through systematic inspection programs, ensuring sustained compliance with engineering blueprints and regulatory mandates.
  4. Operational risk assessments — direct and institutionalize as a standing organizational process to proactively identify and mitigate hazards in underground mining environments.
  5. Technology adoption decisions — evaluate and recommend CAD software, document management platforms, and monitoring systems to improve operational accuracy and efficiency site-wide.
  6. Inter-departmental coordination with management, engineering, and regulatory bodies — lead to align underground mining operations with organizational and legal requirements.
  7. Performance metrics and key indicators for underground extraction — design and monitor using advanced spreadsheet and reporting tools to drive continuous improvement across the operation.
  8. Emerging operator and crew supervisor development programs — establish and champion, building a pipeline of competent underground mining machine operators for long-term organizational capacity.
  9. Critical operational decisions during equipment failures or geologic emergencies — make authoritatively, applying deep mechanical knowledge and public safety principles to protect personnel and assets.
  10. Mining operation policies and administrative management procedures — author and implement to standardize best practices, communication protocols, and accountability frameworks across the organization.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors38 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
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RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningOperations MonitoringMonitoringCoordinationOperation and ControlSpeakingJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge domains
Building and ConstructionMechanicalMathematicsCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityDesign
Abilities
Near VisionManual DexterityArm-Hand SteadinessProblem SensitivityMultilimb CoordinationControl Precision
Work styles
DependabilityAttention to DetailCautiousnessPerseveranceStress ToleranceIntegrity
Technology
Document management softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Inspect work progress, equipment, or construction sites to verify safety or to ensure that specifications are
  2. Read specifications, such as blueprints, to determine construction requirements or to plan procedures.
  3. Supervise, coordinate, or schedule the activities of construction or extractive workers.
  4. Assign work to employees, based on material or worker requirements of specific jobs.
CIP education codes
49.0202

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.