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Helpers--Extraction Workers

SOC 47-5081.00Job Zone 2 · Some Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers the full range of extraction helper competencies — from supervised equipment monitoring, material handling, and site cleanup to autonomous operations management, workforce development, and organizational safety leadership in surface and subsurface mining 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. Extraction equipment operation — observe and report irregularities under direct supervisor guidance at an active excavation site.
  2. Hand tools and basic lifting aids — unload materials, devices, and machine parts under close supervision on a job site staging area.
  3. Work area debris and waste — remove and dispose of following post-extraction cleanup protocols at a surface mining site.
  4. Excavation site surface — clean and prepare ground areas for boring or digging activities under direct instruction from a lead worker.
  5. Organized material staging areas — sort and arrange supplies and parts to support scheduled extraction tasks at a mining operation.
  6. Moving transport vehicles — drive on designated haul roads to deliver materials and parts to excavation zones under supervision.
  7. Hand tool safety procedures — follow established protocols when handling wrenches, hammers, and other basic tools on a drilling site.
  8. Site hazard recognition — identify common extraction-area dangers and report observations to a crew supervisor during daily walkthroughs.
  9. Verbal and written work instructions — listen actively and confirm understanding of assigned tasks before beginning work on a mining crew.
  10. Personal protective equipment — select and don required gear correctly prior to entering any active extraction or excavation work zone.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Drilling and excavation equipment setup — configure and adjust machinery according to job specifications with minimal oversight at a field extraction site.
  2. Automotive and drilling equipment — perform routine hand-tool repairs and scheduled maintenance to sustain uptime during active extraction operations.
  3. Equipment performance monitoring — track operational indicators during extraction cycles and flag developing issues to the crew supervisor in a timely manner.
  4. Material transport routes — drive loaded haul vehicles safely and efficiently across site roads, adapting to changing ground conditions at an open-pit operation.
  5. Unloading and rigging tasks — apply correct hand-tool techniques to handle heavy machine components without damage during equipment delivery at a drilling site.
  6. Post-extraction site cleanup — coordinate debris removal and area restoration tasks with fellow crew members to meet safety and environmental standards.
  7. Equipment faults and wear — troubleshoot recurring mechanical problems on boring and extraction machinery using basic diagnostic procedures in the field.
  8. Material inventory organization — track parts and supply quantities using spreadsheet software to support uninterrupted extraction workflow at a mining facility.
  9. Excavation site preparation quality — inspect cleared areas against job requirements and identify deficiencies before boring or drilling activities begin.
  10. Crew coordination during operations — communicate task status and equipment conditions clearly to adjacent workers to maintain safe and efficient extraction cycles.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Full-cycle equipment monitoring — autonomously observe, interpret, and respond to mechanical anomalies across all extraction phases at a multi-unit mining operation.
  2. Complex equipment setup and calibration — set up, adjust, and validate drilling and excavation machinery to precise operational tolerances without supervisory input.
  3. Non-routine mechanical repairs — diagnose and resolve uncommon faults on automotive and drilling equipment using advanced hand-tool techniques during live site operations.
  4. Site preparation quality control — evaluate excavation and boring readiness across multiple zones against technical specifications, identifying and correcting substandard conditions.
  5. Critical equipment selection — assess operational requirements and select appropriate machinery and tooling for varied geological conditions encountered in the field.
  6. Transportation and logistics coordination — plan and manage material delivery sequencing to excavation sites to minimize downtime across concurrent extraction tasks.
  7. Incident analysis and troubleshooting — apply systematic critical thinking to trace root causes of equipment failures and recommend corrective actions to site management.
  8. ERP and office software use — enter work orders, maintenance records, and material consumption data accurately into enterprise systems to support site reporting requirements.
  9. Mentoring junior helpers — guide emerging crew members through equipment operation, cleanup, and safety protocols during daily extraction activities at a mining site.
  10. Environmental compliance during cleanup — ensure post-extraction debris removal and site restoration meet regulatory and company environmental standards across assigned work areas.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Extraction operations strategy — set site-wide priorities for equipment deployment, crew assignments, and material staging to optimize production across an entire mining operation.
  2. Maintenance program development — design and implement preventive maintenance schedules for drilling and automotive equipment fleets to reduce unplanned downtime at the organizational level.
  3. Safety culture leadership — establish and champion site-wide hazard identification and risk-mitigation practices that elevate compliance standards across all extraction crews.
  4. Workforce competency development — create structured on-the-job training programs that advance helpers from emerging to proficient performance across extraction, transport, and maintenance tasks.
  5. Equipment selection policy — evaluate and recommend capital equipment acquisitions based on operational needs, geological data, and cost analysis for senior management review.
  6. Quality assurance oversight — lead systematic quality control analysis of site preparation, excavation, and cleanup outcomes to drive continuous improvement across multiple project sites.
  7. Cross-functional coordination — collaborate with engineering, environmental, and logistics teams to align extraction schedules and site preparation activities with broader project objectives.
  8. Regulatory and compliance leadership — interpret and apply mining safety and environmental regulations, ensuring all site activities meet legal standards and represent best industry practice.
  9. Operational reporting and data governance — oversee accurate capture and review of production, maintenance, and incident data in ERP and office software systems for organizational decision-making.
  10. Crisis response and decision-making — lead rapid, informed responses to major equipment failures, site incidents, or geological hazards, exercising sound judgment to protect crew safety and minimize operational impact.

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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O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Mine Inspector · Blaster Helper · Blasting Helper · Boring Machine Operator Helper · Bottom Hole Pressure Recording Operator Helper · Churn Driller Helper · Clean Out Driller Helper · Clean-Out Driller Helper · Coal Loader · Continuous Miner Operator Helper · Core Drill Operator Helper · Core Driller Helper
RAPIDS apprenticeships
0104 · Mine Inspector
O*NET skills
MonitoringOperations MonitoringEquipment MaintenanceOperation and ControlTroubleshootingRepairingEquipment SelectionQuality Control AnalysisCritical ThinkingCoordinationActive ListeningJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge domains
MechanicalEnglish LanguageTransportationMathematics
Abilities
Manual DexterityArm-Hand SteadinessControl PrecisionMultilimb CoordinationReaction TimeStatic StrengthFar VisionNear VisionProblem SensitivityTrunk Strength
Work styles
DependabilityCautiousnessAttention to DetailStress ToleranceSelf-ControlIntegrity
Technology
Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareWord processing softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Observe and monitor equipment operation during the extraction process to detect any problems.
  2. Drive moving equipment to transport materials and parts to excavation sites.
  3. Unload materials, devices, and machine parts, using hand tools.
  4. Set up and adjust equipment used to excavate geological materials.
  5. Organize materials to prepare for use.
  6. Repair and maintain automotive and drilling equipment, using hand tools.
  7. Clean up work areas and remove debris after extraction activities are complete.
  8. Clean and prepare sites for excavation or boring.
CIP education codes
46.000046.010146.020146.030246.040146.0402

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.