Learner Official (Mining)

Job overview
Learner officials? (mining?) ?receive training in the underground work of a mine, and can progress to the positions of shift boss, mine overseer or section manager.

What do people do in this job?
In the first year of training, learner officials are exposed to all aspects of mining, service departments and metallurgical plants, with safety playing an important part in each of the training phases which consist of:-

Introductory training?
Is given for those who do not have a Provisional Blasting Certificate.

Learner officials learn and practice the work of qualified miners.

They work together with qualified miners who are in charge of drilling holes in the ore-body, blasting the holes with explosives, safeguarding the working environment, clearing the work-face, loading the blasted ore and transporting the ore to the shafts, from where it is hoisted to the surface.

Service departments?
Learner officials have to spend time in each department, - survey, sampling, ventilation, geology, engineering, personnel, etc - in order to broaden their knowledge and experience of the operation as a whole.

Practical mining?
Once learner officials have obtained their Blasting Certificates and completed 200 shifts, they are assumed ready to work independently in a production unit, engaged in rock breaking duties.

Shift bossing
After learner officials have gained the required experience, they are promoted to the position of shift boss.

During the initial period in this position, the mine overseer guides them, until they have gained adequate self-confidence so that they can operate independently.

Blasting certificate?
Learner officials? (mining?) ?usually qualify for the examination for the Provisional Blasting Certificate after 110 shifts, and for the Permanent Certificate, after 312 shifts.

Mine overseer?
After some years of experience in practical mining, learner officials (mining?) ?can be appointed as shift bosses and then as mine overseers, and later as section managers, provided that all certificates of competency are obtained.

What kinds of people are suitable for this career?
The working conditions are exhausting and sometimes difficult and dangerous.

The work is physically very demanding.

Only male candidates between the ages of 18 and 25 years are considered.

Prospective learner officials must be physically fit and healthy, hard working, relate well to people and possess leadership qualities.

They must also be able to work independently and have a strong sense of responsibility.

What qualifications are needed?
There are no formal qualifications for initial selection.

Training is in-service.