Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters

Course Advisor; United States; On-site; USD 34,500 - 76,070; Full time

Job summary

Course Advisor is looking for an Explosives Worker to safely place and detonate explosives for demolishing structures. Responsibilities include repairing and servicing equipment, maintaining records in accordance with laws, and managing explosives during operations. Ideal candidates have critical thinking, active listening, and skill in specific tools. Salaries range from $34,500 to $76,070 annually, with significant job growth expected in this field.

Qualifications

• Ability to understand complex instructions and perform specialized tasks.
• Experience handling explosives and compliance with safety laws.

Responsibilities

• Repair and service blasting, shooting, and automotive equipment.
• Compile and keep gun and explosives records.
• Mark patterns and issue drilling instructions.
• Cut primacord and attach primers.
• Assemble and position explosives in charge holes.

Skills

Active Listening

Monitoring

Judgment and Decision Making

Critical Thinking

Operation and Control

Operation Monitoring

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Office

Microsoft PowerPoint

Autodesk AutoCAD

Global Positioning System (GPS) software

ESRI ArcGIS software

Job description

Explosives Worker, Ordnance Handling Expert, or Blaster

Place and detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials. May perform specialized handling, storage, and accounting procedures. Includes seismograph shooters.

Daily Responsibilities

• Repair and service blasting, shooting, and automotive equipment, and electrical wiring and instruments, using hand tools.
• Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
• Mark patterns, locations, and depths of charge holes for drilling, and issue drilling instructions.
• Cut specified lengths of primacord and attach primers to cord ends.
• Measure depths of drilled blast holes, using weighted tape measures.
• Assemble and position equipment, explosives, and blasting caps in holes at specified depths, or load perforating guns or torpedoes with explosives.

Key Skills

• Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Other Titles

• Charge Entry Specialist
• Explosive Expert
• Ore Miner, Blasting
• Shot Fireman
• Explosives Detonator

Job Outlook

There were about 6,300 jobs for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, or Blasters in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 500 new jobs by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 800 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth are Tennessee, Wyoming, and Florida. The states with the least job growth are Kentucky, Washington, and Utah.

Salary

Nationally, salaries range between about $34,500 and $76,070 a year.

Highest salaries are found in Nevada, New York, and New Mexico.

Tools and Technology

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Global Positioning System (GPS) software
• ESRI ArcGIS software