open-pit blaster

Overview

Languages

French

Education

• Registered Apprenticeship certificate

Experience

1 to less than 7 months

On site

Work must be completed at the physical location. There is no option to work remotely.

Work site environment

• Outdoors
• Dusty
• Cold/refrigerated
• Dangerous

Work setting

• Rural area
• Willing to relocate
• Relocation costs not covered by employer

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Conduct field tests to determine type and quantity of explosives required
• Determine depth and diameter of blast holes
• Drive and operate tracked or truck-mounted rotary drilling to bore large blast holes to specified depths at staked positions in open-pit mine or quarry
• Load explosives in blast holes by hand
• Read instructions or diagrams and lay out drill patterns
• Ensure health and safety regulations are followed
• Connect electrical wires, detonating cords or fuses into series and connect series to blasting machines; press handle or button to detonate charges
• 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
• Operate air-track, rotary, down-the-hole or other drilling machines to drill blast holes or may direct drilling of blast holes
• Handle, store and transport explosives and accessories in accordance with regulations and ensure that safety procedures are observed
• Drive and operate air-track or other drilling machines to bore large blast holes to specified depths at staked positions in open-pit mine or quarry
• Operate drilling machines to drill blast holes in rock at road or other construction sites
• Assemble or direct other workers to assemble primer charges using selected detonators, fuses, detonating cords and other materials

Credentials

Certificates, licences, memberships, and courses 

• Blaster Trade Certification

Experience and specialization

Equipment and machinery experience

• Air-track drilling machine
• Blasting machines
• Detonating cords
• Detonators
• Drilling machine
• Fuses
• Galvanometer
• Safety mat

Area of work experience

• Quarries

Additional information

Transportation/travel information

• Valid driver's licence
• Drive manual transmission vehicle

Work conditions and physical capabilities

• Work under pressure
• Physically demanding
• Manual dexterity
• 20/20 vision
• Attention to detail
• Hand-eye co-ordination
• Ability to distinguish between colours
• Sound discrimination
• Standing for extended periods
• Bending, crouching, kneeling
• Handling heavy loads

Personal suitability

• Accurate
• Dependability
• Excellent oral communication
• Flexibility
• Team player
• Judgement

Benefits

Health benefits

• Disability benefits
• Health care plan

Financial benefits

• Life insurance

Other benefits

• Free parking available
• Parking available
• Travel insurance