Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, & Blasters

Explosives Worker

Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters use explosives to blast through rock, earth, and other substances

Explosives Worker

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Why Should You Consider This Career?

You get to blow things up for a living! You are responsible for the safe storage, handling, and disposal of explosives and ammunition

TYPICAL SALARY

$80k

That's $3,300 per bi-weekly paycheck

CAREER OUTLOOK

Growing

That's 2000 new jobs in Utah per year (30% growth)

Less Physical More Physical

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Less Training More Training

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More Structure Less Structure

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ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:

Blast Hole Driller, Blaster, Explosive Technician, Powderman, Unexploded Ordnance Quality Control Officer

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.

At A Glance in US

2028 JOB GROWTH

398,000 (35%)

SALARY RANGE

This is some text inside of a div block.

AVG. JOBS / YEAR

398,000 (35%)

TIME TO JOURNEYMAN

398,000 (35%)

ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:

Blast Hole Driller, Blaster, Explosive Technician, Powderman, Unexploded Ordnance Quality Control Officer

Your Typical Day:

Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
Tie specified lengths of delaying fuses into patterns in order to time sequences of explosions.
Place safety cones around blast areas to alert other workers of danger zones, and signal workers as necessary to ensure that they clear blast sites prior to explosions.
Place explosive charges in holes or other spots; then detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials.
Insert, pack, and pour explosives, such as dynamite, ammonium nitrate, black powder, or slurries into blast holes; then shovel drill cuttings, admit water into boreholes, and tamp material to compact charges.
Mark patterns, locations, and depths of charge holes for drilling, and issue drilling instructions.
Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
Measure depths of drilled blast holes, using weighted tape measures.
Connect electrical wire to primers, and cover charges or fill blast holes with clay, drill chips, sand, or other material.
Lay primacord between rows of charged blast holes, and tie cord into main lines to form blast patterns.

Wages in the US:

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$

35.41

Per Hour Base Income

$TBD

Total Compensation

Your Responsibilities

Determine operational compliance with regulations or standards.
Select tools, equipment, or technologies for use in operations or projects.
Prepare explosives for detonation.
Direct construction or extraction personnel.
Position safety or support equipment.
Operate detonation equipment.
Pour materials into or on designated areas.
Record operational or environmental data.
Mark reference points on construction materials.
Measure work site dimensions.

Knowledge You Will Learn

Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. 78/100

Law and Government

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. 74/100

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. 68/100

Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. 58/100

Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. 54/100

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 54/100

Transportation

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits. 54/100

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 52/100

Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. 50/100

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. 50/100

Tools of the Trade

Helpful Career Links

International Society of Explosives Engineers
National Ground Water Association

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