buttocker
A worker who gets coal off at a longwall face.
buttocker: the miner who clears the coal face
A buttocker is a worker stationed at a longwall coal face whose primary job is to remove freshly cut coal from the working surface and prepare it for transport. In a longwall operation, the shearer machine cuts coal continuously along a face that can stretch 150 to 300 metres. The buttocker works immediately behind or beside the shearer, clearing the broken coal that accumulates at the face and ensuring it falls properly onto the conveyor belt that runs along the face. Without effective buttocking, coal builds up, the shearer clogs, and production stalls.
The role demands physical strength and spatial awareness in cramped, dusty conditions. Buttockers use hand tools such as shovels, picks, and sometimes pneumatic or hydraulic aids to shift coal and remove stones or slack that cannot be processed. They must work in constant noise, poor visibility, and variable roof heights as the face advances. The term reflects the nature of the work: buttocking essentially means pushing, moving, or forcing material away from the cutting point.
Position in the longwall team
A longwall operation employs multiple buttockers distributed along the face length, working in coordination with the shearer operator and the person managing the powered roof supports. The number of buttockers required depends on the face length, coal hardness, and equipment pace. In modern high-output faces, mechanical augers and transfer conveyors have reduced manual buttocking labour, but the role remains essential where the shear rate exceeds the mechanical clearing capacity or where coal quality is poor.
The job carries significant risk. Falls from uneven floors, impacts from moving coal or roof collapse, and respiratory hazards from coal dust are routine concerns. Buttockers must work within fall-of-ground protocols and wear respiratory protection, and they rely on continuous support from roof control systems and supervision. The term is most common in British and European mining terminology; in North America, similar workers are often called face workers or belt workers, depending on their specific station.