Mid Green occupationEngineering and manufacturing
Mineral products technician - Mineral Extraction
Ensuring that sufficient materials and products are available to meet customer requirements.
Summary
This occupation is found in the hazardous Mineral Products Industry which includes quarrying and deep mining. The industry directly employs 78,000 people in the UK and supplies industries with a combined turnover of £495bn. The Mineral Products Industry is a vital enabling sector of the UK economy and is the largest element of the construction supply chain, providing the raw materials to support major infrastructure and building projects.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to ensure that sufficient materials and products are available to meet customer requirements whilst ensuring all health, safety, environmental and quality requirements/legislation are complied with. This is carried out by supervising and coordinating operations in a safe manner whilst maintaining production to meet customer needs as well as optimising production and maintaining facilities to a high standard.
In their daily work an employee in this occupation interacts with colleagues within and outside their organisation across all departments, including managers at all levels, contract labour, customers and members of the public. Typically this includes a balance between office and outside work observing and carrying out operational tasks.
Typical responsibilities include:
• optimising the effectiveness of their team by actively participating in daily/weekly briefings, appraisals and reviews;
• working with all members of the management team to continually raise the Health, Safety and Environmental standards of the company;
• ensuring all contractors who carry out work on-site are inducted, monitored and supervised to ensure safe working practices are adhered to;
• ensuring that all plant and equipment is maintained to a high standard and all production systems and products comply with all current quality standards;
• ensuring all company and regulatory inspections and reports and completed;
• liaising with the sales team and customers to ensure the site delivers the highest standard in customer service.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the safe operation of the site and maximising productivity.
Mineral Product Technicians are employed across several mineral extractive industries. These industries include quarrying, concrete production, cement manufacture, cementitious products, asphalt production, ashphalt laying and clay manufacture. They require a detailed technical understanding of the part of the mineral extractive industry in which they work. These key specialist areas are aligned to the titles of the apprenticeship options as follows:
• Mineral Extraction
• Concrete (Readymix and Precast/Prestressed)
• Cement and cementitious products
• Asphalt & Pavements
• Clays (Heavy and White)
Typical job titles include
- Assistant Materials Manager | Cutting Shed Foreman | Extraction Supervisor | Operations Supervisor | Prestressed Operations Supervisor | Quarry Supervisor
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
Relevant Health, Safety Environmental Legislation relevant to their workplace.
K2:
The health and safety hazards, major hazards, environmental aspects and risks associated with the operation.
K3:
Major hazards associated with the operational site.
K4:
Emergency response, process and procedures.
K5:
The concepts, theories and practicalities underpinning the safe, efficient operation of the production site
K6:
The performance and competency requirements for all operational roles on site including contractors and sub-contractors."
K7:
Problem solving tools and techniques.
K8:
An understanding of dynamic work Method Statements and Risk Assessments.
K9:
Understand the effect of production processes on the supply chain.
K10:
Understand the impact of production processes on sustainability
K11:
Foundation geo-sciences, such as understanding the geology and chemistry of the materials and its application relevant to the mineral products sector.
K12:
The principles of operation of mobile and static plant equipment to produce and process a consistent product to customer and BS EN specifications minimising any waste.
K13:
The principles of predictive and preventative maintenance of all mineral products equipment.
K14:
Knowledge of relevant quality systems (such as ISO standards)
K15:
An understanding of typical customer requirements and constraints
K16:
How to establish site costs including cost benefit analysis
K17:
Communication techniques, including report writing and methods of making written and oral presentations.
K18:
The importance of communicating relevant information with the operational team, customers and all stakeholders.
K19:
The importance of liaison with local communities, official bodies and other stakeholders associated with site operations and any impacts they may have.
K20:
The minerals extraction processing operations that maximises the use of the resources, maximises products from raw materials, ensures availability of resources and restore spent or worked areas.
K21:
The social and economic issues associated with the exploration, exploitation and development of a mineral extraction site.
K22:
Different methods of winning and extracting raw material.
K23:
Techniques employed to load extracted minerals and viable options to transport extracted minerals and its applications within the industry, including feeding, crushing, screening, washing, separation, classification and beneficiation techniques.
K24:
Sustainable development, reclamation of mineral workings, minerals planning, managing waste and an understanding of environmental law and legislation and its implication for the minerals extractive industry.
K25:
The requirements of blasting in a safe and environmentally conscious manner, without risk of causing injury or damage whilst optimising overall operating costs.
K26:
An understanding of chemical and physical properties of aggregates - their specifications in order to produce aggregates that are fit for purpose and the full range of end uses such as concrete, asphalt or rail ballast.
K27:
An in depth understanding of how to sample and test the aggregates, including typical standard deviations and implications of analysis of the final products in use this includes adjusting operations to achieve the required quality levels.
K28:
Understand the maintenance processes required to maximise availability and cost base on the range of mobile and static plant including modes of failure, first line maintenance and specific maintenance activities.
K29:
Understand the principles required and constraints around both new site planning requirements and planning permissions extensions.
K30:
Deep understanding of the Quarry Regulations 1999.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0605: Mineral products technician - Mineral Extraction (Level 5) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0605E
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £52,011 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 1123 Production managers and directors in mining and energy
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 1123/01 Managers and directors in the extraction of fossil fuels
S1:
Work competently, safely and manage risks in accordance with HSE regulations.
S2:
Apply their knowledge of health and safety hazards, major hazards, environmental aspects and risks associated with the operation in order to train others to conduct full risk assessments, license to operate procedures and be able to fully investigate and evaluate health, safety and environmental accidents and incidents, report findings and implement improvements.
S3:
Use their knowledge of emergency response processes and procedures to deal with emergency situations and ensure that in these circumstances the site is evacuated, secured and made safe as swiftly as possible.
S4:
Recommend and support improvements to environmental, health and safety culture, procedures, process and systems across the operation.
S5:
Obtain, evaluate and use information from the teams across the site to take critical operational decisions. This could include information on a range of matters such as the products, the equipment and the staffing levels.
S6:
Utilise communications technology for performing and supporting the business processes including, communications, work co-ordination, task analysis and problem solving.
S7:
Ensure that operational systems are adhered to by all employees in accordance with quality control plans and procedures.
S8:
Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment in order to meet employers and regulatory health and safety requirements.
S9:
Apply root cause analysis
S10:
Use the principles of predictive and preventative maintenance of all mineral products equipment in order to minimise downtime and costs.
S11:
Develop & write technical reports that meet business requirements including the optimisation and continuous improvement of processes and services
S12:
Maximise the use of the resources, maximise products from raw materials, ensuring sustainability of resources.
S13:
Provide technical knowledge transfer to colleagues and continuous improvements in line with business requirements.
S14:
Optimise processes & products re: cost and performance in line with budget requirements.
S15:
Communicate all relevant information with the operational team, customers and all stakeholders by email, handheld radio, phone and face to face to keep them up to date with site production issues, ensuring information is passed clearly and promptly.
S16:
Plan and implement plans for work activities and projects.
S17:
Monitoring trends, interpreting results and making adjustments in production.
S18:
Use knowledge of the local communities, official bodies and other stakeholders associated with Mineral Products and their interests in the industry to liaise and engage with them to ensure positive working relationships are established, minimising disputes.
S19:
Ensure safe and effective utilisations of mineral extraction equipment and resources by following standard operating procedures and/or site rules.
S20:
Maximise operational and resource efficiency in a mineral extraction environment, in accordance with the quarry/mine plan.
S21:
Plans processes to win and extract mineral in a safe, efficient and environmentally sensitive manner applying blasting, digging or cutting techniques.
S22:
Plan to use, select and utilise face loading machines, dumptrucks, conveyor systems, processing and benefication equipment by planning material flow and matching equipment.
S23:
Use and apply the the quarry/mine plan to assess environmental impact, planning constraints, site restoration and the wider sustainability agenda.
S24:
Achieve and verify product quality meets both European Standards and customer specifications and optimizes the production process to achieve these in a cost effective manner and whilst maintaining end use applications.
S25:
Ensures all test equipment is maintained, used correctly and calibrated, retains appropriate records. Interprets all test results for accuracy, retesting as required, and taking appropriate actions and communications if results fall outside of specifications.
S26:
Conduct the full range of legislative and procedural inspections required in the quarry, processing plant and associated locations, record, document findings and take appropriate action. For inspections conducted by specialist third parties – can interpret, prioritize and action the recommendations.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0605: Mineral products technician - Mineral Extraction (Level 5) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0605E
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £52,011 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 1123 Production managers and directors in mining and energy
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 1123/01 Managers and directors in the extraction of fossil fuels
B1:
A strong personal commitment to health, mental wellbeing, safety and the environment.
B2:
Leads from the front setting a high example to all employees.
B3:
Works within the company policies, procedures and regulations at all times.
B4:
Remains calm, composed and maintains accuracy of detail under pressure.
B5:
Takes responsibility for own behaviours, actions and standards of work.
B6:
Identifies improvements that could be made and contributes to implementing new procedures or ways of safe and effective working.
B7:
Takes responsibility for on-going continuous professional development
B8:
Ensures a customer focused approach and is an advocate for the business.
B9:
Promotes a collaborative team ethic as well as a supportive and positive culture.
B10:
Encourages innovation and supports suggestions and feedback.
B11:
Demonstrates a commitment to equality and diversity and manages/challenges others to meet the requirements of fairness at work.
B12:
Maintains a professional, courteous, polite and friendly approach at all times.
B13:
Identify own development needs and takes action to meet those needs.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0605: Mineral products technician - Mineral Extraction (Level 5) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0605E
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £52,011 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 1123 Production managers and directors in mining and energy
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 1123/01 Managers and directors in the extraction of fossil fuels
