They are responsible for managing and supervising drilling, blasting, excavation, and transportation of mining materials. Contractors must ensure compliance with applicable safety regulations and standards while applying suitable mining techniques and methods.
Contractors can provide flexibility to scale operations up or down according to production demands and market cycles. This can be more cost-effective than maintaining a large permanent workforce and idle equipment during periods of lower production.
Contractors often manage risks associated with workforce availability, occupational health and safety, and environmental incidents, potentially reducing the direct liability of the mine owner in these areas.
In some cases, using contractors can be more cost-effective due to economies of scale, optimized equipment utilization, and potentially lower administrative costs related to labor.
Contractors often possess specialized skills and equipment for specific tasks like shaft sinking, decline development, or operating particular types of machinery that the mine owner might not have in-house. This can lead to increased efficiency and productivity(“Specialized Contractors Blog,” n.d.).
What kind of specialized skills or services do you think contractors most commonly bring to a mining operation? Comment below!
Reference:
Specialized Contractors Blog. (n.d.). AMSI. Retrieved May 11, 2025, from https://ams.sc/specialized-contractors-blog/
