A professional mining supervisor position will involve overseeing all the operations at a mine site or at a particular department of the mine. This kind of supervisor will need to ensure that the mine is operating correctly and efficiently and that all the necessary production targets are being met.
A mining supervisor should be able to cope with and resolve any problems or incidents which arise effectively as well as be able to organize any relevant training for new or current staff and employees. A supervisor will also need to ensure that all the safety precautions and environmental regulations and standards are being adhered to and monitored.
It will also be necessary for a supervisor to possess strong leadership skills and ensure the smooth operation of the team while overseeing several different tasks at a time. It’s important for a supervisor to remain focused on safety precautions while maintaining effective communication skills with all the workers and employees.
It will at times be necessary for a mining supervisor to have to work away from home for long periods of time, although this will depend upon the location of the mine site.
How Long Should It Take to Become a Supervisor?
To qualify as a mining supervisor, this process will normally involve enrolling in a Diploma of Surface Operations Management Course which on average takes twelve months to complete. A mine site safety supervisor course will cover a range of different fields, disciplines, and topics which include Mine site safety and compliance, risk control strategies, operational planning, and mine service systems. The skills which are required for this training program will include:
- the ability to motivate and manage staff,
- the ability to organize timing with the required workload,
- be thorough and pay attention to details,
- the ability to use their own initiative, possess excellent verbal and communication skills, and
- the confidence to remain calm, patient, and focused, particularly when stressful situations occur.
What is the Role of a Mining Supervisor?
A mining supervisor’s role requires numerous skills, including the ability to communicate all the organizational needs and oversee the employee’s work while providing any relevant guidance, and support and identifying any developmental needs or concerns.
They will also be responsible for monitoring and regulating their staff and the performance of their delegated tasks and duties while supervising all of the small working groups and teams within the department.
It is vital that a supervisor learns how to problem solve and make decisions and can manage diverse personalities as they can play an important role in impacting the other team members and their working experience, job performance, and satisfaction. It will be vitally important for a supervisor to form reciprocal relationships with both the staff and the organization to ensure that they are each working to the best of their individual ability as well as working together successfully.
Is It Better to Be a Manager or a Supervisor?
These different positions will clearly depend upon many factors as some supervisory roles will then transition towards a more managerial role over the course of a career. A management position will encounter different circumstances and challenges to a supervisor so it’s important to gain a clear understanding of these different roles and the responsibilities with each position.
If a change in the position occurs it’s important to discuss the need for all the relevant support and guidance in transitioning for the different roles.
As a manager, it is essential to remain professional at all times and consistent in the leadership role while at the same time being fair and respectful towards each member of the employees.
Conclusion
A mine site supervisory role has many responsibilities as they will have gained all the necessary skills and knowledge to expertly lead and instruct their team of employees with all their required tasks, while also ensuring and managing all the necessary safety precautions are met to the highest possible standards.
They will possess strong leadership and communication qualities which will enable them to educate, coach, coordinate, and motivate their team in a trustworthy, professional, fair, and respectful manner while delegating the tasks effectively to achieve the desired goals and objectives of the overall organization.
