A timber drawer is a miner responsible for extracting wooden roof supports from a worked-out section of a mine. This highly dangerous job is performed during retreat mining to allow the unsupported roof to cave in safely behind the retreating crew. The worker uses specialized leverage tools, such as a Sylvester, to pull the props from a safe distance before the strata gives way.
Send the timber drawer into the old panel to salvage the heavy props before we seal it off.
Related terms
Sylvester
A manual ratchet-and-lever hoist used to safely pull out temporary roof supports.
Depillar
To extract the supporting columns of ore or coal left behind during initial mining.
Goaf
The empty or caved space left behind in an underground mine after extraction.
Timberman
A skilled underground worker responsible for cutting, fitting, and installing wooden structural supports.