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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00058634 |
Description Activated On: 1/7/2026 8:03:04 AM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. Provides technical and engineering support within the Bureau of Mine Safety to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently, effectively, and towards the goal of ensuring the safety of underground miners and the public. |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Provides technical review of mine plans previously reviewed by mine inspectors and mine inspector supervisors. These plans pertain to roof control; ventilation; mine operating systems, protection from inundation hazards; gas and oil well pillar designs; approval of diesel equipment, adoption of new items or methods, mine opening and mine sealing plans, final mine maps and the review of mine safety zones. These reviews are performed to ensure that plans conform to sound engineering judgment and provide adequate margins of safety to ensure the safety of mine workers. Reviews (stamp) Safety Zone plans for conformity to Pennsylvania Mining Law (Act 729) and to ensure adequate margins of safety are maintained by empirical methods. In cases where past mining has caused multi-seam interactions such as stress concentrations from overlying pillars or adjacent gob areas, computerized numerical modeling methods are utilized to determine pillar stresses. The influences of local geology on coal pillar and mine roof stability are included by review of core drill logs, RQD’s and rock strength data. Provides a written report of analysis giving conclusions and recommendations. Roof Control plan evaluations include: - Evaluations to determine the influence and impact of horizontal stresses - Geologic evaluation of immediate strata, both roof and floor - Design and installation of static support systems - Review and evaluation of alternate support systems or materials in order to optimize safety and support resistance. (STOP program) - Formulation of plans through a collaborative effort with representatives of the mine operator Ventilation plan evaluations include: - An initial evaluation of current ventilation practices - Determination and ranking of system resistance areas in order to efficiently improve mine ventilation. - Carbon monoxide monitoring system response analysis - Review and evaluation of alternate construction materials and techniques for improving the ventilation systems - Determination of a mine resistance curve in order to obtain proper fan selection - Mine ventilation surveys - Deep cut mining plans - Impact of possible gas well casing rupture on mine ventilation system formulation of plans through a collaborative effort with representatives of the mine operator Mine operating systems evaluations include: - Plans for controlling the liberation of methane gas including horizontal degasification boreholes, longwall gob gas ventilation boreholes and vertical degasification boreholes - Evaluation of the design of fresh water and mine drainage systems including pumping applications - Evaluation of vertical pumping systems - Evaluation of mine communication and atmospheric monitoring systems including various gas detection systems - Design and evaluation of mine conveyor systems including all safety and control devices Evaluations for inundations include: - Geologic evaluation of entire site or area - Review of elevations, grades and potential water/gas volumes - Complete multi-seam analysis including structural stability of coal pillars and inter-lying strata between each mine or the surface water body - Historic review of potential ground water sources feeding the mine and adjacent mines - Review, analysis and evaluation of the design and construction of mine seals, bulkheads and barrier pillars - Mine Emergency evacuation plan review - Determination and approval of Mine Safety Zones Gas and oil well pillar designs evaluations include: - Working with other agencies to determine the impact of mining on gas and oil resources and reserves and vice versa - Calculation of support resistance and safety factors for individual pillars and the entire pillar supporting system - Design, implementation and evaluation of nonstandard gas and oil well support pillars including the formulation of support plans through a collaborative effort with representatives of the mine operator and Oil and Gas Management Mine Opening and Mine Sealing plans include: - Evaluation of initial ventilation and initial roof control plans - Design and construction of support canopies including structural loadings, impact loadings, design for wind and snow loadings - Evaluation of the design of alternate pillar sizes and standard mine pillars - Design, implementation and evaluation of roof bolting systems including conventional, combination, resin, and cable bolting systems - Design and evaluation of roof trusses for weak and substandard roof conditions - Design, evaluation, and implementation of various mine seal designs. Calculation of structural loadings including static head and shear forces. Evaluates proposed mine design projects using computerized numerical modeling and other applicable computer programs, reference materials, and techniques to calculate loads applied to and stresses induced in mine roof support systems and coal pillars to ensure adequate factors of safety are maintained. Evaluates and makes recommendations concerning the use of mechanical equipment for the installation of roof bolts including analysis of roof bolt pull test data. Evaluates complete mine-sealing projects to determine ground pressures, hydraulic loads and shear forces applied to mine bulkheads, mine seals and coal barrier pillars. Completes a structural geologic analysis to evaluate adequacy of seal designs submitted with plans. Uses empirical design formulas and computerized numerical analysis methods to check competency of coal barrier pillars to protect mine personnel from inundation hazards due to failure of seals or ground control systems. Participates with NIOSH in the review, testing, and evaluation of new mine seal designs. Evaluates the equipment and recommends changes to the equipment or ventilation system in order to meet the exposure limits as required in the Act. Evaluates and recommends solutions to diesel related issues developed from the use of diesel equipment in underground coal and industrial mineral mines. Participates in underground mine accident investigations where engineering expertise can be utilized to provide mapping and causal analysis. Analyzes evidence to estimate equipment speeds as a contributory element during haulage accident investigations and make recommendations to improve the design of underground systems in order to improve the safety of the workers. Develops and produces training programs and materials via electronic media to aid the Mine Inspectors, Mine Operators, and Mine Safety staff in providing enhanced training materials. Gives training presentations at mining-related meetings and events. Provides engineering and technical assistance at mine fire recovery operations and works in conjunction with other governmental and company engineers of existing mine pools and locations of abandoned mine working. Provides abandoned and active mine map data to Bureau staff, the public, and other concerned agencies pertaining to subsidence, mine drainage, elevations of existing mine pools, and locations of abandoned mine workings. Provides technical assistance and expertise to the anthracite, industrial minerals, and bituminous mine safety divisions which includes technical investigations with mine inspectors and supervisors and written reports including conclusions and recommendations. Attends meetings, training sessions, and seminars on underground mine safety. Develops training programs and provides safety training to field staff and mine operators on new technology as it relates to mining machinery and equipment and mining systems. Reviews and maintains mine map files at BMS offices and upgrades the abandoned mine map repositories utilizing the latest equipment and technology including manually digitizing mine maps or utilizing scanning equipment as required. Participates in meetings with other governmental agencies, mine operators, citizens, and mining consultants. Provides technical assistance to other departmental agencies on mining-related matters. This includes coordination with District Mining Operations, the Bureau of Mining Programs, the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, and any other agency in need of information concerning mine safety, mine gases, and hazardous environments. Writes and reviews letters, reports, and other correspondence of a technical nature. Researches case files and histories to prepare documentation for the prosecution of cases by legal staff and provides expert testimony in court. Provides technical assistance to Mine Safety staff and other clients on emergency problems including ventilation systems, mine drainage problems, mine sealing projects, mining methods, mining machinery, and equipment. Performs mine permit safety reviews. Uses GIS software to integrate abandoned mine maps and associated informational databases to search for adjacent and overly abandoned mines hazards. Uses mine ventilation simulation programs to perform mine ventilation analysis. Performs technical review of Section 104.12 variance requests for the adoption of new items or methods. Promotes the Department’s mission. Inputs appropriate data in a prescribed format to meet data quality standards set forth by guidance, training, and policy across all of DEP’s electronic data systems; to include ensuring accuracy and completeness of entries, and where available, the use of system specific tools to ensure duplicative entries and data quality issues are minimized This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employee will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties assigned by the supervisor. |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. Employee receives general instructions from the Mine Safety Engineer Manager. Work is assigned in a goal-oriented basis. Work can be assigned orally or in writing. Periodic reports and assignments are reviewed for completeness and timeliness. Day-to-day work is performed in an independent manner. Regular discussions and meetings with management occur to clarify matters concerning policy. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Experience: Minimum of 4 years of Mining Related Career Experience Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. Class C Driver's License 2. Professional Engineer 3. N/A 4. 5. 6. |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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