About This Career

Operates machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster Construction pathway.

A person in this career:

• Drills bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts.
• Pulls down loose rock that cannot be supported.
• Positions bolting machines, and inserts drill bits into chucks.
• Performs safety checks on equipment before operating.
• Performs tests to determine if methane gas is present.
• Performs ventilation tasks, such as hanging ventilation curtains and tubes.
• Forces bolts into holes, using hydraulic mechanisms of self-propelled bolting machines.
• Dusts rocks after bolting.
• Installs various types of bolts, including truss, glue, and resin bolts, traversing entire ceiling spans.
• Drills test holes and tests bolts for specified tension, using torque wrenches.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
• Work in this occupation involves bending or twisting your body more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Requires getting into awkward positions
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Exposed to conditions such as high voltage electricity, combustibles, explosives, and chemicals more than once a month
• Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
• Whole body vibrations, such as when operating a jackhammer
• Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Picking out a particular sound in the presence of other sounds
• Maintaining a body position that prevents falling when in an unstable position
• Judging how far away an object is, or which of several objects is closer or farther away
• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Detecting sounds and hearing the differences between sounds of different pitch and loudness
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Exerting oneself physically over long periods of time without getting out of breath
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Weekend work