Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Tim Frost and I am a Production Process Technician (a fancy way of saying machine operator). I am also a member of Mines Rescue and also a Trainer /Assessor in a wide range of skillsets.
When did you start in the mining industry and what was your first job?
I started in the mining industry about 8 years ago as a sub-contractor providing accredited training services across a number of mines.
How different is your job now to what you had wanted to be when you were a kid?
My job today is absolutely nothing like I had thought when I was a little fella, I had thought about being a pilot in the air force. Fortunately, life has seen my career taken many directions, though being a coal miner is my favourite job by far – it’s awesome.
What does a usual day at work look like?
A usual work day for me is up and out of bed at 4:30am, prep the days crib meals, head off to work and arrive at 6:00am for a 6:30 prestart where we are given our daily assignments. Then out to the pit we go with the first dirt loaded and moving by 7ish. Two crib breaks during the course of the daily grind and 12.5 hours later knock off and head home arriving 14 hours after leaving. I try to get as much family time as possible before bed and then it’s up and at ‘em again the next morning.
What is the best thing about your job?
Definitely the people I work with and the culture we have fostered as a crew. We look out for each other and work hard to do things the right way to make everyone safe. I love being a part of our Mines Rescue team and the opportunity to help my mates in their time of need.
The worst thing?
We are a high risk industry with terrible consequences if we get it wrong. Everything we do every day has the potential. The mining game is a great industry with some amazing opportunities, but families sacrifice a lot – we miss out on many things being at work as much as our families miss out on us.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
I think I’m still working through that as I am currently studying to become an Open Cut Examiner.
The level of training we are required to undertake and maintain as a member of our rescue squad is huge, lots of sweat, but a lot of laughs along the way keeps us all in good spirits to keep on going.
What’s your proudest achievement?
Asking my lady to marry me – I was terrified, and she is obviously nuts as she said yes.
Another thing I am proud of is being selected by my peers to be a part of our mines rescue squad.
What’s something about your job that would surprise other people?
Open cut mines are dusty, dirty and noisy places, but the views we get of sunrises and sunsets are phenomenal. Almost every morning and every night it is magic in your eyes.
What’s a funny story about work that you can tell?
I had left my hard hat on the ground beside my chair outside the crib hut and went inside to grab a drink, when I came out a minute later, I had to chase a fox down that had just pinched my hard hat.
What do you do in your downtime?
When I do get opportunities to relax, it’s all about the house renovations. My lady and I love to get away camping as often as possible and seeing the grandbabies.
The mining Industry gets more than its fair share of criticism. What’s your view on the industry and the impact that it has?
Our industry is amazing. I love that the dirt we move and the coal we win supplies approximately 25% of QLD’s electricity. The work we do is literally powering schools and hospitals and homes.
We are an industry that gives back to our communities, state, and our nation, whether that be through community support, the taxes we pay as employees, the coal we supply to our states energy generators or the royalties we provide to the state and national governments.
As an industry we all work very hard at making sure our environmental footprint is minimised as much as possible. Coal is a crucial resource now, and into the foreseeable future. Our economy is reliant on us and until we have a viable solution to our energy needs, we will continue doing our best to be the best.