Driller/Blaster

Driller/Blaster’s drill holes, assemble, plant, and detonate explosives to loosen earth, rock, stumps, or to demolish structures to facilitate removal. They examine mass, composition, structure, and location of object to be blasted and determine the kind of explosive to be used marking the location of charge holes for drilling. employed by mining, quarry, construction and contractors.

Duties:

• Operate drilling machines to drill blast holes in rock at road or other construction sites
• Operate drill equipped to drill holes for building foundations or pilings
• Read diagrams, lay out drill pattern, determine depth and diameter of blast holes, and conduct field tests to determine the explosives required
• Assemble primer charges; load explosives in blast holes; connect electrical wires, detonating fuses connect to blasting machines
• May operate air-track, or other drilling machines to drill blast holes

Essential Skills:

• Job Task Planning and Organizing
• Oral Communication
• Problem Solving
• Working with Others

Skills:

• Follow sets of rules in order to arrange things or actions in a specific order
• Good hand-eye coordination
• Ability to multi-task and well organized
• Identify when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong
• Excellent math skills that can be used to resolve an issue or problem

Videos:

Job Testimonial Videos

• What Does a Driller/Blaster do?

Job Overview Videos

• Sequel Drill & Blast, Quarry, road cuttings and trenching using explosives
• Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters - Career Profile

Education:

A high school diploma is required

Education Requirements :

• Completion of a college program is usually required
• Experience as a heavy equipment operator may be required for drillers
• Experience as a blaster helper in surface mining and quarrying
• Provincial blasting licence is usually required for blasters

View Education Roadmap

Available Programs:

• Dual Credit Programs
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  Dual Credit Programs

  Link: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/morestudentsuccess/dualCredit.html

  Dual Credit courses are intended to assist secondary school students interested in post-secondary education with the completion of their secondary school education while earning credits that count towards both their high school diploma and their postsecondary diploma, degree or apprenticeship. The program provides opportunities to explore different careers and it offers a successful transition to College and Apprenticeship programs.

  Students in Grade 11 or 12 who are working towards their OSSD and who have earned 18 credits will be eligible. Students are selected by their school administration and must apply for the program before the start of the semester. Selected students will have: good learning potential, ability to attempt college level studying, and regular attendance.

Program Description:

This apprenticeship will include training in the handling, storage, transportation and use of explosives and accessories in a variety of construction sites. Surface blasters hook up and fire a variety of explosives, plan and design blast patterns, handle misfires and missed holes, dispose of unwanted explosives, and supervise blasting helpers and the security of the blast area.

Schools:

• CANDORA COLLEGE-SURFACE BLASTER
• CAMBRIAN COLLEGE-MINING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
• CONFEDERATION COLLEGE-MINING TECHNIQUES
• FLEMING COLLEGE-BLASTING TECHNIQUES
• FLEMING COLLEGE-MINING TECHNIQUES

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