National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.1

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National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.1
Introduction
Hierarchical structure

823 - Underground miners, oil and gas drillers and related occupations

This minor group includes underground production and development miners; and oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers. They are employed by coal, metal and non-metallic mineral underground mines; specialized contractors in mine construction, shaft sinking and tunnelling; drilling and well service contractors; petroleum producing companies; and well logging and testing companies.

8231 - Underground production and development miners

Underground production and development miners drill, blast, operate mining machinery, and perform related duties to extract coal and ore in underground mines and to construct tunnels, passageways and shafts to facilitate mining operations. They are employed by coal, metal and non-metallic mineral underground mines and by specialized contractors in mine construction, shaft sinking and tunnelling.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • blaster - underground mining
    • chute blaster - underground mining
    • diamond driller - underground mining
    • drift miner
    • driller - underground mining
    • hardrock miner apprentice
    • hoist operator - underground mining
    • miner
    • mining machine operator
    • powderman/woman - underground mining
    • raise miner
    • roadheader operator
    • scooptram operator
    • shaft inspector

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction (See 7372 Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction)
    • Mine labourers (See 8614 Mine labourers)
    • Supervisors, mining and quarrying (See 8221 Supervisors, mining and quarrying)
    • Underground mine service and support workers (See 8411 Underground mine service and support workers)

  • Main duties

    Underground production and development miners perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Set up and operate drills and drilling machines to produce a designated pattern of blasting holes
    • Operate diamond drills or other specialized drills such as raise boring machinery to test geological formations or to produce underground passageways
    • Set up and operate mining machinery to shear coal, rock or ore from the working face
    • Load explosives, set fuses, and detonate explosives to produce desired blasting patterns and rock fragmentation in underground mines
    • Operate scooptram, load-haul-dump (LHD) machine or mucking machine to load and haul ore from stopes, drifts and drawpoints to ore passes
    • Perform duties required to ensure safety and to support the mining advance, such as scaling loose rock from walls and roof, drilling and installing rock bolts, extending and installing air and water pipes, operating ore loading machinery, inspecting mine shafts, operating hoists that transport people, equipment and materials through mine shafts, and constructing timber supports and cribbing if required
    • Perform routine maintenance of mining machinery.

  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Formal training of up to six weeks followed by extended periods of specialized training as a helper or in support occupations is usually provided.
    • Previous experience as a mine labourer or in other mine occupations is usually required.
    • Provincial blasting licence may be required.
    • May be certified in the basic common core program or as an underground hard rock miner in Ontario.
    • Trade certification for miners is available, but voluntary, in Quebec.
    • Company licensing or certification is often required for occupations in this unit group.
    • Certificate in first aid may be required.

  • Additional information

    • Mobility is possible to other occupational groups in underground mining such as underground service and support occupations.
    • There is mobility between employers within each of the three following sectors: underground coal mining, underground hard rock mining and underground potash, salt or soft rock mining.
    • Mobility between these sectors is somewhat limited by differences in production technologies.
    • Progression to mining supervisor is possible with experience.

8232 - Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers

Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers control the operation of drilling and hoisting equipment on drilling and service rigs, and direct the activities of the rig crew under supervision of the rig manager. Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers operate specialized mechanical or electronic equipment, tools or instruments to provide services in conjunction with well drilling, completion or servicing. Workers in this unit group are employed by drilling and well service contractors, petroleum producing companies and well logging or testing companies.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • assistant driller - oil and gas well drilling
    • directional drilling operator
    • downhole tool operator
    • drill stem tester
    • driller - oil and gas drilling
    • electric line operator
    • logging and perforating operator
    • service rig operator
    • slickline operator
    • well testing operator
    • wireline operator

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators (See 8412 Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators)
    • Rig managers (See 8222 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services)
    • Water well drillers (See 7373 Water well drillers)

  • Main duties

    Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Direct rig crew in setting up rigs and drilling, completing or servicing oil and gas exploration and producing wells
    • Operate controls of drill or service rig drilling and hoisting machinery
    • Train or arrange for training of crew
    • Maintain records of drilling and servicing operations
    • Ensure safety procedures are followed.

    Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Drive well service or wireline truck to well site
    • Assemble and attach equipment, tools or recorders to drill stem or wireline to conduct required procedures and tests
    • Operate or direct the operation of wireline or unit controls to lower, position and retrieve equipment and instruments
    • Operate recorders and computers in mobile testing or logging unit to collect data
    • May perform limited data interpretation.

  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers require three to six months of formal on-the-job training, college or petroleum industry-approved training courses and four or more years of work experience in subordinate rig crew positions.
    • A college diploma in drilling may be required.
    • Offshore work requires several years of experience in an equivalent position on land.
    • Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, well control, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) and a special oil well operator (boiler) certificate are required.
    • Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers require three to six months of formal on-the-job training and several years of experience in subordinate logging and testing positions or on drilling and servicing rigs.
    • Completion of a college program in electronics or engineering technology may be required for open hole well logging.
    • A provincial blaster's licence, and seismic blaster and oil well blaster certification are required for well perforation services.
    • Trade certification for rig technician is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.
    • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified rig technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

  • Additional information

    • Mobility between jobs on drilling and service rigs is limited by the differences in the machinery, tools and operations performed, but mobility is possible especially from drilling to service rigs.
    • Progression to crew supervisor or manager is possible with experience and additional education and training.
    • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
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