So I'm in my late 20s working the M-F office job. I've seen so many ads for mining (drillers, off siders, dump truck drivers) with starting pay of over $120k. Anyone here in the mining industry working as an offsider? I'm curious to know what the job entails and is it worth moving into. The 12 hour shift work is something that does suit my lifestyle.
Thinking of Moving into Mining Industry
sammyq on 28/08/2023 - 18:20
Last edited 28/08/2023 - 19:14 by 1 other user
Last edited 28/08/2023 - 19:14 by 1 other user
Comments
Offsiders? They'll take anyone.
When you include your commute time, forced 1 hour lunch breaks and the time spent making your meal morning and night I found that it was only maybe an hour extra to work a 12 hour day. Having the week off, especially weekdays when the rest of the public are at work, is incredibly worth it.
Drillers offsider work isn’t for everyone.
Especially for some from an office background.Can’t comment personally on it as i only watch them work, not actually do it myself 😂 (truckie)
Ive seen a lot of different set ups though and personally i find a lot of the drilling sites rougher then normal mine sites. (foodwise anyway)
But it would all be a bit of a shock for an office worker i guess.
But it would all be a bit of a shock for an office worker i guess.
That is definitely true. The offsider turnover rate is crazy, but those that stay more than a couple of months are generally there for a while.
Ive seen a lot of different set ups though and personally i find a lot of the drilling sites rougher then normal mine sites. (foodwise anyway)
Interesting. The exploration sites have the best food, definitely worse accommodation though.
@20percentcorrect: Some are great, some are rubbish (food)
I agree, the accomodation usually sucks the most in those sites.
I know a few when/ if im offered a room i only would use it for the shower and rather sleep in the truck haha.But a quick look at sammys post history and i think Sammy is in for a shock working big days with some rough fellas on a drill site 12 hours a day.
Its not exactly a warm and nurturing environment and there is rarely any decorum amongst the boys on site.Its a different ball game out of an office.
But a quick look at sammys post history and i think Sammy is in for a shock
Not wanting to be mean, but yes. A drill pad is not the most hospitable working environment.
I'll send you a PM, but offsiding is good work. I would avoid working on RC and air core rigs over Diamond and Water rigs. Some offsiders I know are starting on ~$42 an hour doing a 2/1 roster. I would highly recommend going for water rigs as the equipment is so big that everything is machine lifted, much easier than the manual handling work you would do on other rigs.
If you have something between your ears and you enjoy the work you can become a driller (after 2-3 years), earn some really good money and get much better roster options. The work itself isn't glamorous, the summers are brutal being outside all day but you can set yourself up really well.
The job itself is mostly doing the tasks that the driller asks you. Filling sample bags, fuelling vehicles, prepping casing etc. I'd look on youtube at how these rigs work and it should give you a good idea of what you would be doing.
One other big benefit is that you can network with those within the mining company you will be working for. I know many offsiders that have done it for 6-12 months, made some friends and then been onboarded by their mine for cushier, more lucrative roles.
with starting pay of over 120k
The 12 hour shift work is something that does suit my lifestyle.Yes the pay looks 'good' on paper at first glace but only because you do crazy long hours…. 12 hour days for basically 2 weeks straight, then back 'home' for 1-2 weeks, before doing it all again.
So 168 hours worked in 14 days, or equal to 4.4 weeks @ 38 hours a week.
So I'm in my late 20s working the M-F office job
How fit are you?
When you get into your 30's, that's when things start to tighten up and become stiffer. Can you handle being a manual labourer for the rest of your working career? Most guys can't, especially if they aren't built for it.
Also, "12 hours" of manual labourer work as a miner is not comparable to "12 hours" of sitting behind a computer. Can you handle doing whatever that work is you need to be doing in 30 degree heat?
I've seen so many ads for mining […] dump truck driver
1) if you think you're going to get paid 120k off the bat to just drive a truck around, lol
2) if you keep seeing lots of ads for it then it means that supply is not able to keep up with demand. think about why that may beThe grass always seems greener, but I bet there are a large portion of guys in the mining roles you want to get into that would love a 9-5 desk job instead of what they're doing.
I did work on setting up some dongas for FIFO miners.
Their lifestyle was wild.
They get free food and stuff which is cool buy its cos during the normal week you are either too far from shops or not enough time.but you are going to be surrounded by dudes there is sense of comradery and some bullying esp women.
Some dude wrote sexist stuff on the female engineers block with his own feces.
and Heard some stories through the grapevine on how some would blow their weeks pay when they went into to clapping cheeks with the locals.Like others have said there is other things apart from just the hourly wage.
so, some of the people you will live and work with will be akin to junkie scum?
yepp mining bogans.
work is something that does suit my lifestyle
So by that you mean you want to be an erratic truck driver who’s always in the far right lane?
Should tell the chaps on smoko about the rapscallion in the auto truck tailgating and how he had a good mind to report him.
Would go down a treat.
Oh man, that guy.
Buy a brand new Dodge Ram and enjoy powdering your nose and your half way there
There's plenty of more comfortable ways to get over $120k a year.
A quick look at OP's post history and I'm not sure you would be the best fit!
"do not get me started on those tradie ute drivers or the 4x4 drivers…"
That's exactly the kind of crew you will be working around all day long, If trucks tailgating you gets you so triggered to make a post on ozb you definitely aren't cut out for the job. When you go to bed it'll probably still be warm from the bloke who just left it half an hour ago
who probably is a morning only shower type person
miner's juice mattress?
starting pay of over $120k. Anyone here in the mining industry working as an offsider? I'm curious to know what the job entails and is it worth moving into.
Some things I've seen before (not negative or positive):
- It usually pays a lot but can be short lived. For example people getting easy 6 figures but then they fire like everyone but minimum to keep it going based on how the economics are going.
- Mostly all contractor roles
- If its in the country, its a very different mindset to the city. If you don't assimilate well it can be very hard to stay for a long period of time (unless you're staying in temporary housing only going FIFO).
- It can be very physically demanding, or sometimes not healthy if you don't ensure to keep yourself safe (like wearing masks in dirt etc).
FWIW I'd say its usually great money IF you understand this could be a short term stint to get lots of money fast and save it. Too many people I know buy some expensive car/stuff end up destroying it, economics turn, everyone loses their job and they don't have anything.
Just remember it's not a sprint it's a marathon.
Pace yourself and you should be good in that role for a long time coming.
But yeah it sounds like mining has a few curve balls you cannot really prepare for.
Will depend on your location in Australia how easily you can walk into a role.
They may advertise they will take anyone, but thats not necessarily true.
You may make 120k a year.
But you may have to work 3 weeks on 1 off to get it with in a bottom end mining job.
12 hours a day is a big jump from a normal 9-5 role and usually will have rotating shifts of nights and days. Can you handle that?