Drillers and Blasters in Surface Mining, Quarrying, and Construction

Nature of work

Drillers 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 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.

Job duties

Drillers perform some or all of the following duties:

• 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 perform some or all of the following duties:

• 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.

Sample job titles

• blaster (except underground mining)
• construction blaster
• construction driller
• driller - quarrying
• driller - surface mining
• drilling machine operator - construction
• quarry driller

Skills

For these jobs, you should have good physical strength, stamina, and health. The ability to follow precise instructions and obey safety regulations is essential. You must be cautious, responsible, and able to work as a member of a team. A mechanical aptitude and an ability to use tools would be helpful.

Job requirements

• Completion of high 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.

Other considerations

Drillers and blasters often perform both drilling and blasting activities. Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Regulations

There are currently no job postings for this occupation.