Janne Jokelainen, 35, is a calm and conscientious worker. He works as a rock bolter for Tapojärvi at the Kittilä gold mine and always sticks to what’s been agreed.
In bolting, the goals are clear: a set number of bolts per shift, and safety always comes first. Janne usually exceeds these goals—but doesn’t make a fuss about it.
When asked how fast he bolts, Janne just smiles:
“It depends on the situation.”
Janne’s record with Swellex bolts is 250 in one shift, while the target is 114. Bolting is physically demanding work where conditions, rock quality, and machinery all affect the outcome.
Still, Janne delivers steady performance: his shift averages with cement bolts often reach 100–110, well above the target of 78.
“If the machines work and the location is good, I can hit my best numbers,” he says.
Bolting Makes the Mine Safe for Everyone
Bolting is one of the most critical tasks in mining—it keeps the mine safe for all. Janne takes the responsibility seriously:
“The purpose of ground support is to create a safe working environment. I do my job so that others can safely enter the mine,” he explains.
His formula for reaching goals is simple: precision, effort, and constant motion.
“No point standing still. If a machine is broken, I head over to the cable bolting machine to learn something new. I’m just not the type to stand idle.”
Janne started at Tapojärvi in 2013. His first roles were in loading and transport, but he wanted to move into drilling and blasting.
“I said it straight out, and got the chance to learn under Marko Viinamäki. That was the beginning of my career in mining.”
Always Developing His Skills
Janne has worked at several Tapojärvi mine sites, including Kemi, Elijärvi, Sotkamo, and Gällivare. Today, he focuses on bolting and mesh installation in Kittilä.
As a motivated employee, he’s also interested in career development:
“I want to learn every phase of the excavation process. I’m also interested in supervisory roles. Overseas assignments like Tapojärvi’s site in Greece sound exciting too, but I can’t leave right now—my kids are still small, and I don’t want to be away from them for two weeks at a time.”
Janne has stayed with Tapojärvi for 12 years now.
“Good job security and a fair atmosphere. If you do your job well, you get to keep working.”
He reminds us that the quality of work is always a personal signature:
“And your work either holds up—or it doesn’t.”
What Are Bolting and Mesh Installation?
