As a mine foreman, your duties include supervising mining operations on the surface and underground, organizing worker pools, and accounting for mining equipment. You ensure operational safety, plan quotas, and coordinate between different teams to safe and efficient workflow.
Someone in this position will direct activities in the mine and may also handle administrative tasks such as ensuring that work remains on budget and meets all necessary safety and environmental regulations. A foreman usually reports to the mine manager or owner.
The qualifications needed to work as a mine foreman include experience in the mining industry and some formal education.
Employers highly value experience and may seek applicants with eight or more years as a mining professional with several years in a leadership role. You may find postsecondary education in mining, but many degrees, such as a bachelor’s degree in mine engineering, qualify you for other careers in the industry.
A foreman candidate may, however, pursue training through the Mine Health and Safety Administration (MHSA), which operates an academy for training in various mining skills and specialties.
Key Responsibilities
Operate and promote safe working on site
- Implement Company requirements and legal regulations, paying specific attention to HSE legislation and quality.
- Carry out and record site inspections.
- Ensure all works are carried out in line with approved method statements.
- Conduct and amend risk assessments and deliver toolbox talks/briefings.
- Ensure site personnel have job relevant training requirements which is entered on site personnel training register.
- Lead by example to others on site.
Ensure the completion of works on time and within budget
- Schedule, co-ordinate and supervise the daily activities of gangs/site operatives.
- Share and pass on knowledge to teams.
- Ensure gangs/site operatives complete all required documentation.
- Ensure documentation is properly completed in line with Customer/Company requirements.
- Track and document daily work productions.
- Organise and monitor the work of subcontractors on site.
Equipment and materials management
- Order and manage hired/internal equipment on a daily basis.
- Co-ordinate delivery/pick up of materials as required.
