Mining Machinery Operation Course
Online 300-hour course in mining machinery operation. 6 modules covering ISO 19296 (mobile machinery for underground mining, safety), EN 1889-1 (rubber-tyred mobile machinery for underground mining) and Cat MineStar. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Mining Machinery Operation Course — studying from Malta
Malta's construction, quarrying and infrastructure activity creates demand for heavy machinery, specialist vehicles and their maintenance. Contractors, plant hire companies and public works departments rely on skilled technicians and engineers to keep equipment safe and productive. The island's rugged terrain and coastal conditions also support niche markets in agricultural and marine-adjacent machinery. Engineers in this area commonly work with equipment dealers, contractors and public authorities responsible for fleet management.
Fees for Malta: €743 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which Maltese authorities regulate special vehicles and machinery, and does this qualification fit?
Machinery and vehicle safety in Malta follow EU-derived rules, with Transport Malta handling vehicle matters and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority overseeing workplace machinery. SEIUM Institute's qualifications are private and not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition for regulated roles is for employers or the relevant authority to decide.
Where might off-road and machinery engineers find work in Malta?
Malta's opportunities in this field are mostly in construction, plant hire, equipment maintenance and the marine and industrial services sectors. Employers in these areas usually value hands-on experience highly. How they view a private online qualification is for each employer to decide, so asking them directly is worthwhile.
Is employer funding available, and how demanding is the English language requirement?
Employer sponsorship is possible, and tuition can be paid in instalments. Programmes are taught fully in English, so you should be comfortable with technical English reading and writing. The online format lets you study around work, and each student has an assigned technical tutor. Hours range from 300 to 1,900 depending on the programme chosen.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify the machinery used in open-pit and underground mining.
Carry out pre-shift inspections and prepare the machine for the shift.
Apply safe loading, haulage and unloading techniques in open-pit operations.
Understand the conditions affecting operations in underground mining.
Respond correctly to mining emergencies and incidents.
Use machine data to improve maintenance.
Prepare a safe operating procedure as a final project.
Who it's for
- Mining machinery operator wishing to specialise in Mining Machinery Operation.
- Mine shift supervisor wishing to specialise in Mining Machinery Operation.
- Mining safety technician wishing to specialise in Mining Machinery Operation.
- Fleet maintenance technician for mining equipment wishing to specialise in Mining Machinery Operation.
- Fleet dispatcher wishing to specialise in Mining Machinery Operation.
- Instructor of mining operators wishing to specialise in Mining Machinery Operation.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter metal mining.
What you'll work with
- ISO 19296 (mobile machinery for underground mining, safety)
- EN 1889-1 (rubber-tyred mobile machinery for underground mining)
- Royal Decree 863/1985 (General Regulations on Basic Mining Safety Standards)
- Directive 92/104/EEC (open-pit and underground extractive industries)
- ISO 21815-1 (collision detection in earthmoving and mining)
- 30 CFR Part 56/57 (MSHA, safety in metal mining)
- ISO 3449 (falling object protective structures, FOPS)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Open-pit and underground mining: differences for the operator1.2Open-pit machinery: shovels, dump trucks and drill rigs1.3Underground machinery: low-profile loaders, jumbos and trucks1.4Auxiliary equipment: motor graders, water tankers and platforms1.5Signage, roadways and traffic rules on site1.6Loading, unloading and tipping zones1.7Communications and dispatch systems1.8Documentation and work permits1.9Shift organisation and handovers1.10Workshop: identifying the machinery of an operation
2.1Pre-start inspection2.2Fluid levels, leaks and condition of tyres or tracks2.3Checking brakes, steering and lights2.4Safety systems and proximity detection2.5Condition of the cab, seatbelt and guards2.6Recording faults and incident reports2.7Starting, warm-up and checks while moving2.8Safe positioning and parking2.9End of shift and handover of the machine2.10Practice: pre-operation checklist
3.1Loading: positioning the shovel and the dump truck3.2Filling the bucket and the body; payload3.3Travelling up ramps and when loaded3.4Descending with a load and using the retarder3.5Unloading at the waste dump and into the hopper3.6Working near berms and edges3.7Visibility, blind spots and dead angles3.8Working in dust and adverse conditions3.9Cycle efficiency and fuel consumption3.10Practice: loading and haulage sequence
4.1Particularities of driving in a drift4.2Ventilation, atmosphere and gas control4.3Lighting and reference points underground4.4Low-profile loaders: loading and transport4.5Face drilling and positioning4.6Working under ground support and in unscaled areas4.7Driving in narrow ramps and at crossings4.8Communication with the face and the surface4.9Evacuation and refuge chambers4.10Practice: working procedure in a drift
5.1Main hazards: rollover, run-over, falling material and fire5.2Hazardous energies and equipment lockout5.3Working near slopes and geotechnical monitoring5.4Interaction with light vehicles and pedestrians5.5Managing fatigue on long shifts5.6Machine fires: immediate action5.7First aid and emergency alerts5.8Incident investigation and learning5.9Right and duty to stop work5.10Practice: emergency simulation
6.1First-level maintenance carried out by the operator6.2Greasing, filters and cleaning6.3Early detection of fault symptoms6.4Communication with the workshop6.5Telemetry and equipment operating data6.6Productivity and consumption indicators6.7Good practices that extend machine life6.8Continuing training and operator certification6.9Common mistakes made by novice operators6.10Final project: operating manual for a work station
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake period, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Cat MineStar, Komatsu KOMTRAX, advanced Excel, Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures in a mining dump truck simulator, pre-shift inspection of a shovel and truck, and underground emergency drills. Assessment is continuous across each module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Identify the machinery used in open-pit and underground mining.
Carry out pre-shift inspections and prepare the machine for the shift.
Apply safe loading, haulage and unloading techniques in open-pit operations.
Understand the conditions affecting operations in underground mining.
Respond correctly to mining emergencies and incidents.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The course works with Cat MineStar, Komatsu KOMTRAX, advanced Excel and Power BI. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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