This underground worker patrols the haulage routes to shovel away spilled rock, mud, and accumulated coal dust. Keeping the rails clear prevents derailments of mine cars and reduces the risk of explosive dust clouds. The job involves heavy manual shoveling along miles of active track.
Heard on the job
Tell the way-cleaner to hit the main haulage drift before first shift, the tracks are buried in fines.
Insider tip
While mechanized track scrubbers handle this in large operations, manual track clearing remains a traditional entry-level job in smaller underground mines.