A mullocker is an underground laborer responsible for clearing broken waste rock out of a heading after a blast. Before mechanized loaders became standard, these workers manually shoveled the barren dirt into skips or barrows to keep the development face clear for the miners. In historic operations, it was often an entry-level position that required immense physical stamina.
Heard on the job
The mullockers are still clearing out the crosscut, so the drill crew will have to wait at the station.
Also heard as
- mucker