Mervin Pedro

Work History

I completed matric with a matric exemption in the year 1986.

My career started in 1993 as drill operator with Sishen Iron Ore Mine. I was promoted to operational controller at blasting in 1995. I then worked as a miner at blasting since 1995 to 1996.

I then moved back to drilling as an operation controller and was appointed in 1999 as drilling foreman.

In 2008 I was appointed as Mine Overseer - drilling. In 2009 I start with the BI team to roll out Start of Bokomoso, business improvement project. I then focused on efficiency improvement projects for Drilling section to deliver optimal performance.

In 2010 I moved from BI back into production drilling section as Mine Overseer for the South Mine.

1993 - Mining Drill Operator

Key responsibilities:

To safely execute/drill the week plan scheduled blocks for drilling, including drilling sequence management, delivery of blocks for blasting and floor stock generation.

• Align mining operations with mining operation safety and mining strategy
• Provide daily production report on drilling progress to the Foreman and the dispatch.
• Ensure practical mining procedures with considerations to;

- Geotechnical standards

- Final pit boundaries

- Safe and productive drilling mining areas

- Mining Equipment knowledge which includes, equipment size, material type

• To declare the drill area safe and within the operations procedure.

1995 - Blasting Operations Controller

Key responsibilities:

To execute the blasting week plan safely by ensuring that the scheduled block for blasting are charged, stemmed, barricaded, and blasted.

• Mining safely standards (SHERQ and compliance) are been adhered to while executing production activities.
• Inspection of the blasting area or blocks before and after blasting
• Remove mining personnel from the blasting area and inform the foreman.
• Management of blasting assistants

1995 - 1996 - Miner Blasting

Key responsibilities:

To execute the blasting week plan safely by ensuring that the scheduled block for blasting are charged, stemmed, barricaded, and blasted.

• Mining safely standards (SHERQ and compliance) are been adhered to while executing production activities.
• Inspection of the blasting area or blocks before and after blasting
• Remove mining personnel from the blasting area and inform the foreman.
• Management of blasting assistants.

1996 - Drill Operations Controller

Key responsibilities:

Assisting foreman with area safety inspections, personnel management, shift change, relieving of foreman, and ensure production activities are executed safely and optimally.

• Mining safety standards are been adhered to while executing production activities.
• Administration of shift change, leave management, safety files.
• Assist operators when in need of consumables e.g drill rods, drill bits.
• Moving of production drills between blocks or areas of production.
• Be able to operate drill in the absence of enough drill operators.
• Caucus management and shift change.

1999 - Drilling Foreman

Key responsibilities:

Mining area safety inspections, personnel management, shift change, relieving of foreman, and ensure production activities are executed safely and optimally.

• Mining safety standards are been adhered to while executing production activities.
• Administration of shift change, leave management and safety files.
• Assist operators when in need of consumables e.g drill rods and drill bits.
• Moving of production drills between blocks or areas of production'
• Caucus management and shift change.

2008 - 2010 - Mine Overseer Drilling

Key responsibilities

• To manage compliance to SHEQ in drilling section, personnel management, drilling logistics management, training matrix for drilling section.
• Driving compliance to drilling week schedule, ensure drilling sequence is followed, deliver quality drill meters per ton.
• Application of Operating Model as a frame work to deliver the right work at the right time at the right place.
• Mining safety standards are been adhered to while executing production activities.
• Management of all drilling department safety, production and equipment utilization.
• To ensure:

- drilling qualities;

- planned drilling sequence compliance;

- traffic management of the drill block;

- use of Rockma System for drilling management;

- Compliance to Operating Model principles.

• Mining safely standards are been adhered to while executing production activities.
• Ensuring adherence to all drilling work instructions and procedures.
• Administration of production reports and liaison with all departments, operation, HR and mining maintenance.
• Management of foreman and operations (manpower).
• Attend all production meeting to plan execution of week plan according to mining sequence and mine plan.
• Ensure optimum utilization of section through effective management, systems and continuous improvement.
• Ensure that final pit wall standards are been adhered to, if not put corrective measure in place to ensure standards are been adhered to, to provide stability and lower rock fall risks.