Blaster

AUSTIN POWDER COMPANY; La Follette (TN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Powder Company is seeking a Blaster to manage location assets and personnel at customer sites, ensuring compliance with MSHA, OSHA, and DOT standards. The Senior Blaster leads shot preparation, reviews drill patterns, and coordinates with sales and the Location Manager to meet customer requirements.

Responsibilities include supervising crew, completing shot reports, and maintaining safe operations outdoors.

Qualifications

• 21+ years old as required by ATF.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum 5 years of certified blasting experience.
• Technically capable of blasting in quarries or mines served by the location.
• Must obtain Austin Powder Blasting Certification and State Blaster’s License within 12 months.
• CDL Class A with Hazmat endorsements preferred.
• MSHA Safety First Aid Certification.

Responsibilities

• Maintain safe, compliant blasting operations at customer sites.
• Review drill patterns and determine shot layout to meet customer needs.
• Prepare areas for blasting and supervise the blast site work.
• Document shot reports and ensure compliance with policies.
• Coordinate with sales and location management on customer accounts.

Skills

Safety compliance

Problem solving

Reading schematics

Documentation

Education

HS diploma or GED

5+ years blasting experience

Tools

2D Profiler

ABS

Seismograph

GPS

Electronic Blast Report

Job description

Join the Family - Come work for an exciting company offering great benefits, challenging opportunities, and colleagues who feel more like family.

Job Summary

The Blaster will be responsible for managing location assets and personnel at the customer site to meet establish customer requirements in support of the location’s strategic plan. The Senior Blaster reports directly to the Operations Manager.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Maintains a safe and healthy work environment by complying with MSHA, OSHA, ATF, & DOT regulations within the work area.
• Reviews drill patterns and diagrams, determines product and shot layout necessary to meet customer needs.
• Performs all necessary duties to prepare designated area for blasting including verification of blast shelter, blast equipment, drill pattern stemming, face, and blast area.
• Supervises personnel at the customer site/blast area.
• Develops and maintains positive work relationships with the current customer base to increase market share and ensure growth, including pricing or budget controls.
• Communicates blast details with all personnel on job site and performs duties necessary to prepare and detonate shot.
• Conducts Pre/Post Shot Safety Audit at every shot service event.
• Completes necessary paperwork/shot report documentation as per Austin Powder policy.
• Ensures Austin Powder is compliant with customers’ policies/procedures.
• Coordinates the handling of all customer issues, blast area incidents, and/or public concerns related to the event with appropriate APC personnel.
• Communicates regularly with the sales representative and/or Location Manager regarding customer accounts, as required by the location.
• Complies with Austin Powder Company inventory management procedures.
• Completes and maintains necessary paperwork or software programs as required by company policies and procedures, Department of Transportation, or other federal or state agencies.
• Maintains current working knowledge of vehicles and equipment used in shot service.
• Manages daily operations to ensure assets are maintained and operated in a safe, professional manner at the customer’s site.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• 21+ years old as required by ATF
• High school or equivalent (GED) degree
• Minimum 5 years of certified blasting experience
• Must be technically capable of blasting any quarry or mine serviced by the location.
• Must possess the following certifications upon hire or acquire within 12 months of hire: Austin Powder Company Blasting Certification State Blaster’s License, as required.
• CDL Class A with Hazmat endorsements – preferred
• MSHA Safety First Aid Certification

Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, product bulletins, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to proficiently operate blasting software and equipment including: 2D Profiler, ABS, Seismograph, Global Position System, Electronic Blast Report.

Work Environment

This position involves working in the great outdoors in all-weather conditions, lifting and carrying approximately 50 pounds and doing a variety of hands‑on physical tasks. This position will be exposed to dust, noise, oil and other mining elements.

Equal Opportunity and Participation

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Affinitive Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job‑related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Austin Powder also participates in E-Verify.

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing compensation. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Company History

SINCE 1833, IMPROVING THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. Austin Powder has been making explosives for over 190 years and we take great pride in improving the world we live in. In 1833, the Austin family created the company to produce black powder that would help break the rock, mine the minerals and build the canals and railroads to develop the frontier. Initially along the banks of the Cuyahoga River near Akron, Ohio, we grew as the country grew. Today, Austin Powder is a world leader in the industrial explosives industry with a passionate commitment towards safety, a relentless customer focus, a family culture work environment, and a demonstration of respect of towards all. As in our early years, our mission continues to be to improve the world we live in through the safe and responsible use of explosives. Our success has been based on our core values and this has proven to be universally true around the globe as the company has expanded to be one of the leading providers of industrial explosives and blasting services in the world.