Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction (NOC 7372)

Drillers in this group:

• drive and operate tracked or truck-mounted rotary drilling, air-track or other drilling machines to bore large blast holes to specified depths at staked positions in open-pit mine or quarry
• run drilling machines to drill blast holes in rock at road or other construction sites
• operate tracked or truck-mounted drill equipped with auger or other attachment to drill holes for building foundations or pilings
• may measure location and stake out pattern of holes to be drilled, load blast holes with explosives and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore or rock

Blasters in this group

• read instructions or diagrams, lay out drill pattern and determine depth and diameter of blast holes and conduct field tests to determine type and quantity of explosives needed
• assemble or direct other workers to assemble primer charges using selected detonators, fuses, detonating cords and other materials
• load explosives in blast holes by hand or direct movement of bulk explosives trucks to load holes
• connect electrical wires, detonating cords or fuses into series and connect series to blasting machines; press handle or button to detonate charges
• handle, store and transport explosives and accessories in accordance with regulations and make sure that safety procedures are followed
• may operate air-track, rotary, down-the-hole or other drilling machines to drill blast holes
• may direct drilling of blast holes

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

• Work takes place outdoors, so workers may be exposed to various weather conditions.
• Work also takes inside heavy equipment such as drilling machines.
• Working with equipment, instruments, machinery or power/hand tools may be a potential source of injury.
• Exposure to flying particles and falling objects in the work environment pose the risk of injury.
• Working with explosives in dangerous locations means workers must follow safety precautions.
• Loud noises in the workplace can affect hearing.