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More info
- Dig out and process rock, slate, gravel and sand from quarries or mines
- You'll need practical skills for using heavy machinery and maths skills
- You could become a site supervisor or manager
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Using mechanical diggers to excavate rock, clay, sand, gravel and slate
- Operating equipment like rock crushers and stone graders
- Using drilling equipment
- Maintaining vehicles and machinery
- Setting and detonating explosives
- Transporting materials in large trucks
- You'll need to follow strict safety guidelines
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
The job is physically demanding and some tasks can be dangerous. You'll wear protective clothing and your working environment may be cramped, physically demanding, dusty and dirty.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with good practical skills for using heavy machinery, and maths skills to work out quantities of materials.
There are no set requirements for this role but you'll need to have a driving licence that includes LGV (lorries) or PCV (buses), if you work with these vehicles. You may also need your own transport to get to work, as quarries are usually in the countryside.
You can apply directly for jobs if you've got experience or qualifications in construction, mining, or operating heavy machinery like mechanical diggers.
You can also get into this job through an intermediate apprenticeship as a mineral processing mobile and static plant operator.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With training and experience, you could become a site supervisor or manager. You could also move into: quality control, explosives work (shotfiring) health and safety inspection, machine and plant maintenance, or laboratory work (testing samples).