Operate machinery--such as longwall shears, plows, and cutting machines--to cut or channel along the face or seams of coal mines, stone quarries, or other mining surfaces to facilitate blasting, separating, or removing minerals or materials from mines or from the earth's surface.

Position jacks, timbers, or roof supports, and install casings, in order to prevent cave-ins. Reposition machines and move controls in order to make additional holes or cuts. Cut entries between rooms and haulage-ways. Observe indicator lights and gauges, and listen to machine operation in order to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment problems. Replace worn or broken tools and machine bits and parts, using wrenches, pry bars, and other hand tools, and lubricate machines, using grease guns. Press buttons to activate conveyor belts, and push or pull chain handles to regulate conveyor movement so that material can be moved or loaded into dinkey cars or dump trucks. Move planer levers to control and adjust the movement of equipment, the speed, height, and depth of cuts, and to rotate swivel cutting booms. Cut slots along working faces of coal, salt, or other non-metal deposits in order to facilitate blasting, by moving levers to start the machine and to control the vertical reciprocating drills. Signal that machine plow blades are properly positioned, using electronic buzzers or two-way radios. Cut and move shale from open pits. Drive mobile, truck-mounted, or track-mounted drilling or cutting machine in mines and quarries or on construction sites. Move controls to start and position drill cutters or torches, and to advance tools into mines or quarry faces in order to complete horizontal or vertical cuts. Advance plow blades through coal strata by remote control, according to electronic or radio signals from the tailer. Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut. Signal crewmembers to adjust the speed of equipment to the rate of installation of roof supports, and to adjust the speed of conveyors to the volume of coal. Remove debris such as loose shale from channels and planer travel areas. Charge and set off explosives in blasting holes. Signal truck drivers to position their vehicles for receiving shale from planer hoppers. Monitor movement of shale along conveyors from hoppers to trucks or railcars. Guide and assist crews in laying track for machines and resetting planer rails, supports, and blocking, using jacks, shovels, sledges, picks, and pinch bars. Free jams in planer hoppers, using metal pinch bars.

Mechanical -- Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Active Listening -- 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. Equipment Maintenance -- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed. Operation and Control -- Controlling operations of equipment or systems. Speaking -- Talking to others to convey information effectively. Coordination -- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. Critical Thinking -- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Judgment and Decision Making -- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. Troubleshooting -- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it. Repairing -- Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools. Operation Monitoring -- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Control Precision -- The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. Multilimb Coordination -- The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion. Problem Sensitivity -- The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. Arm-Hand Steadiness -- The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. Reaction Time -- The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears. Rate Control -- The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene. Depth Perception -- The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object. Hearing Sensitivity -- The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness. Near Vision -- The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). Oral Comprehension -- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Controlling Machines and Processes -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment -- Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft. Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment -- Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles. Handling and Moving Objects -- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. Performing General Physical Activities -- Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials. Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards -- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.