7372 – Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction
Drillers in surface mining, quarrying and construction operate mobile drilling machines to bore blast holes in open-pit mines and quarries and to bore holes for blasting and for building foundations at construction sites. Blasters in this unit group fill blast holes with explosives and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore and rock or to demolish structures. They are employed by mining, quarrying and construction companies and by drilling and blasting contractors.
Profile
Index of titles
Example titles
Air-track drill operator – construction
Blaster – quarrying
Blaster – surface mining
Blaster (except underground mining)
Construction blaster
Construction driller
Core drill operator – construction, surface mining and quarrying
Diamond drill operator – surface mining and quarrying
Driller – quarrying
Driller – surface mine
Driller – surface mining
Drilling machine operator – construction
Foundation drill operator
Foundation drill operator – construction
Open-pit blaster
Open-pit driller
Quarry driller
Rotary drilling machine operator
Rotary drilling machine operator – surface mining and quarrying
Seismic prospecting driller
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Drillers
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
Operate 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
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 required
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 ensure that safety procedures are observed
May operate air-track, rotary, down-the-hole or other drilling machines to drill blast holes or may direct drilling of blast holes.
Employment requirements
Completion of secondary school is usually required.
On-the-job training is provided.
Experience as a heavy equipment operator may be required for drillers.
Experience as a blaster helper in surface mining and quarrying or construction may be required for blasters.
Provincial blasting licence is usually required for blasters.
Trade certification for blasters is compulsory in Nova Scotia.
Additional information
Drillers and blasters often perform both drilling and blasting activities.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Exclusions
Oil and gas well drillers (in 8232 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers)
Supervisors of construction drillers and blasters (in 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)
Supervisors of surface mining drillers and blasters (in 8221 Supervisors, mining and quarrying)
Underground mine drillers and blasters (in 8231 Underground production and development miners)
Water well drillers (7373)