A timberman measures, cuts, and installs heavy wooden props, caps, and lagging to secure the roof and walls of underground mine workings. They must read the ground conditions and wedge the timber tightly against the rock to prevent cave-ins. While rock bolts and steel sets have largely replaced wood in heavy rock mechanics, timbermen are still essential in specialized square-set stoping and shaft rehabilitation.
Heard on the job
The ground is getting drummy near the face, so have the timberman put up a couple of heavy sets before the next shift.