Supervisors, mining and quarrying
Career Overview
Supervisors in mining and quarrying supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in mining operations of underground and surface mines and quarries.
People in this occupation:
- Work for coal, metal and non-metallic industrial mineral mines and quarries
- Should have strong leadership, communication and mechanical skills
- Should be physically fit and have knowledge of safety procedures
- Should be comfortable working both independently and in a team setting
- Must be observant, responsible and able to enforce procedures
Job Titles
Duties
Supervisors in mining and quarrying perform some or all of the following duties:
- Supervise, coordinate and schedule the activities of workers who extract coal, minerals and ore
- Operate underground conveyances
- Perform other services in support of underground mining or of heavy equipment operators, drillers, blasters and other workers in surface mining and quarrying
- Establish methods to meet work schedules and confer with managerial and technical personnel, other departments and contractors to solve problems and coordinate activities
- Oversee the safety of the mining or quarrying operation
- Solve work problems and recommend ways to improve productivity
- Request materials and supplies
- Train workers in job duties, safety procedures and company policies
- Recommend personnel actions such as hirings and promotions
- Prepare production and other reports
- Understand and comply with appropriate legislation, such as the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mining in British Columbia
- Make sure company policies are fulfilled
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,085% Employed Full Time
65%Supervisors in this group work in mines and quarries, which can be challenging due to noise, dust and various weather conditions. The workplace is potentially hazardous since workers are around large, moving equipment and carefully handle potentially harmful chemical substances used in mining. Work is also conducted in areas that may be unstable.
Workplace safety is at the forefront and all work sites are required to follow strict safety regulations, including wearing protective clothing with reflective strips, eye and ear protection, hard hats, gloves, and steel-toed boots. In addition, training and special equipment helps to minimize risk to workers.
A small number of supervisors are self employed and part-time work is not common. However, most supervisors work full time. Shifts of 8–12 hours are common and supervisors may work more than 40 hours a week. Rotating shifts are frequent since mines operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Since mines and quarries are often located in remote areas, supervisors may be required to travel and live in camps for extended periods of time. However, with many B.C. mines located near communities, workers who live nearby can return home after their shift.
Career Pathways
Recent graduates from engineering positions are often put into supervisory roles in company-sponsored "engineer-in-training" programs, which are intended to broaden their operational and human resource skills.
Supervisors have many options available to them. There are opportunities to move to other companies in search of higher-level positions. Supervisors may also become mine inspectors, full-time trainers or safety/loss prevention coordinators.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Supervisors in mining and quarrying are required to complete secondary school and must have several years of experience in the occupations that he or she supervises. Other training and requirements may include:
- A college or university program in mining technology or mining engineering
- Provincial certification for supervisor or shift boss positions
Workers are generally promoted to supervisory positions from within, therefore working in lead hand roles and taking supervisory training offered by the employer will contribute to successful entry into supervisory roles.
Supervisors in mining and quarrying must also:
- Stay up to date on safety regulations, technology, company policy and management techniques, which are always changing
- Take on-the-job training, including safety training
All supervisors working in areas covered by the B.C. Mines Act must be certified under the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia. Information about certification is available from the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Motivating, developing and directing people as they work, and identifying the best people for the job.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Teaching others how to do something.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,085Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 80 | 7.4% |
| Kootenay | 200 | 18.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 280 | 25.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 45 | 4.1% |
| Northeast | 45 | 4.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 335 | 30.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 100 | 9.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
600Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | -0.8% |
| Kootenay | 150 | 0.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 180 | 1.1% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 1.5% |
| Northeast | 30 | 1.4% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 140 | 0.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 60 | 0.7% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction | 500 |
| Construction | 80 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 20 |
Insights from Industry
Job opportunities are expected to arise as a result of new job creation and retirements. There will be job openings in the Oil and Gas industry, especially in provinces such as Alberta, which are experiencing shortages of workers with similar skill sets.
Resources
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Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)www.cim.org
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Mining Association of BC – Job Boardwww.mining.bc.ca/job-board
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Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC)www.mining.bc.ca
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Mining Association of Canada (MAC)www.mining.ca
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Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR)www.mihr.ca
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SkilledTradesBCskilledtradesbc.ca/
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WorkSafeBCwww.worksafebc.com