Ian, as former West Wallsend undermanager and current Pioneer Burrell Mining Services manager, has seen plenty of change outs in his time. Beginning his mining career as mine blacksmith at Burwood colliery, he quickly learnt the ropes. He decided coal mining was the way forward and obtained his coal mines certificate and was transferred to Macquarie colliery. Here he worked as a mine safety and training officer and then undermanager in 1986. When BHP obtained West Wallsend Colliery he was transferred to become the longwall undermanager at West Wallsend with the introduction of longwall operations. Last year Ian left West Wallsend to become the manager of Pioneer Burrell Mining Services manufacturing “the can” roof support used in longwall tailgate roadways - a position he believes will provide greater opportunity to see more longwalls.

ILN:What is your earliest mining memory?

IH: A single rope winder operated by a winder operator – my first visit underground. During the first couple of hundred feet I really thought I was an astronaut, not a miner!

ILN: What made you choose mining as a career?

IH: A mining career chose me. The mechanical engineer at Burwood Colliery (Doug Morgan) needed another colliery blacksmith. After nine years as an industrial blacksmith, the decision of a career change was an easy one. However, at the time the mine manager Ivan Baulks did not want a colliery blacksmith, so the job description was changed to include belt /drive installations, pump installations, rail and track maintenance, as well as getting equipment in and out of a narrow drift. Tent pegs still had to be forged for the Christmas and Easter holiday periods as well. I agreed to the change in job description and so my mining career began.

ILN: What was your favourite job in a coal mine?

IH: Longwall change out. Moving over 5,000 tonnes of equipment, over 2-3 kilometres, setting it back up, in the shortest possible time, and with the highest regard for safety.

This is the time when the entire mine becomes singularly focused. It’s the period when operators, crews and managers form stronger teams, even through argument. You get to see the true spirit of the mine and what really can be achieved when everyone is pulling together. There is no other project that gives a greater sense of accomplishment for everyone, as a longwall change out.

ILN: What was your least favourite job?

IH: Shovelling belts – after all the effort and engineering to get coal onto a belt you would think that it should not have to be picked up again manually!

ILN: Who, or what, has most influenced your mining career?

IH: Shortly after appointment as an undermanager, I had a change of heart and wanted out. The romance of undermanager was very quickly replaced by hard work and conflict. “Who in their right mind would be an undermanager?” The manager, Bruce McKensey, suggested that I keep at it and offered some advice – “How well you perform will be measured by the performance of others”. His advice was a waypoint in my career.

ILN: What do you consider your best mining achievement?

IH: Introducing longwall equipment into a board and pillar mine and the mine becoming a recognised longwall operation. West Wallsend was a typical family (father and son) operation who hadn’t any longwall experience.

To have had the opportunity to work with these people in creating a recognised longwall operation was a great experience.

ILN: What do you see as being the greatest mining development during your career?

IH: LHD equipment and attachments. Using risk management and analysis, we are designing equipment that reduces the risk and reduces injury to operators. There are fewer “by-hand” tasks done today than when I first started. Many tasks now use specifically designed equipment to carry out fundamental operations in mining. Tailgate support, roof support and longwall change outs have been greatly benefited by the clever design of mobile equipment. By moving away from the “track and loco” concept underground, we have gained greater mobility in other tasks.

ILN: Do you hold any mining records?

IH: Mining records are similar to golfing handicaps; you can never really be satisfied! I had 32 longwalls worth of experience, 5 as an operator and 27 as the longwall undermanager.

ILN: Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions?

IH: Perhaps to have continued studies toward a first class certificate?

ILN: What was your most embarrassing moment in a coal mine?

IH: Before going underground on a weekend shift I was advised not to be late as the bathhouse showers would be down for maintenance. I was late, covered in mud, cold and wet from recovering a pump.

A naked man in a shower with 30 others is easily overlooked. However to the amusement of those at the control room, I had to shower outside under the “boot cleaning” hose. And we all know what happens to man in cold water!

ILN: What was your scariest time in a coal mine?

IH: The initial inspection of LW6. After the supports stopped yielding and the face was quiet, an initial inspection was required to assess damage. Having to crawl up beside the stage loader and face pans, dragging in timber props and timbering your way in was no fun. All the time water was pouring in through cracks and holes, so you were lying in water while timbering.

ILN: What is your worst memory of coal mining?

IH: LW6 at Macquarie Colliery was approx one metre from a recovery roadway when the fender failed. The entire face went from 2.8m to 1.4m in height in a couple of hours. Chock legs were bent, the shearer was bent and furnishings smashed. It was a face that N/S walked onto but had to crawl out of a few hours later.

ILN: Do you think that the day of the fully automated remotely operated face is near?

IH: No, not fully automated. It is true that clever technologies will enable the longwall to operate with fewer people, but there shall always be the need to make fine adjustments or “untangle” it during the shift. Operators of the future will have a much higher skills base and be competent in all trades.

ILN: What major improvements would you like to see on longwall operations?

IH: Dust control. Efficiencies in coal production have increased the generation of dust. There are many longwall operations that would benefit if airborne dust was minimised.