What You'll Do

  • 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.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 3.88/5
Monitoring 3.75/5
Critical Thinking 3.62/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.62/5
Operations Monitoring 3.5/5
Operation and Control 3.5/5
Speaking 3.38/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.38/5
Time Management 3.38/5
Reading Comprehension 3.12/5
Active Learning 3.12/5
Coordination 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Integrity, Self-Control, Stress Tolerance

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Problem Sensitivity 4.0/5
Manual Dexterity 4.0/5
Near Vision 4.0/5
Oral Comprehension 3.88/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.88/5
Inductive Reasoning 3.88/5
Information Ordering 3.88/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.88/5

Technologies & Tools

Autodesk AutoCAD Blaster's Tool and Supply Company Blaster's Calculator Datavis DBS Designer DetNet ViewShot ESRI ArcGIS software Global positioning system GPS software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.67/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.46/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.46/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 4.38/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.21/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Aircraft Ordnance Technician Ammunition and Explosives Handler Blast Driller Blast Hole Driller Blast Setter Blast Technician Blaster Blasting Clay Miner Blasting Coal Miner Blasting Contract Man Blasting Contract Miner Blasting Entry Specialist Blasting Entryman Blasting Gang Miner Blasting Miner Bomb Technician Charge Entry Specialist Charge Specialist Charger Coal Shooter Company Blasting Miner Copper Blasting Miner Demolition Expert Demolition Worker Demolitionist Dobie Man Dobie Worker Driftman Dynamite Shooter Dynamiter Efficiency Blasting Miner Explosive Detection Canine Handler (Explosive Detection K9 Handler) Explosive Expert Explosive Man Explosive Ordinance Disposal Specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Explosive Ordnance Handler Explosive Ordnance Specialist Explosive Ordnance Technician Explosive Specialist Explosive Technician Explosives and Weapons Technical Instructor Explosives Detonator Explosives Handler Explosives Worker Firer Fuse Cutter Gold Blasting Miner Gun Perforator Gun Perforator Loader Hard Rock Blasting Miner High Scaler Hydraulic Blasting Miner Iron Blasting Miner Lead Blasting Miner Lode Blasting Miner Metal Blasting Miner Mica Blasting Miner Miner Mining Powder Crew Worker Muck Blasting Miner Nitro Man Nitro Worker Oil Well Gun Perforator Operator Oil Well Perforator Operator Oil Well Shooter Ordnance Artificer Ordnance Handler Ordnance Keeper Ore Blasting Miner Perforator Perforator Loader Perforator Operator Pillar Man Pillar Worker Powder Loader Powder Worker Powderman Quartz Blasting Miner Robber Sample Taker Operator Shaft Sinker Shale Blasting Miner Shooter Shot Fireman Shot Firer Shot Hole Shooter Shot Lighter Shot Man Shotblaster Silver Blasting Miner Skip Blasting Miner Stump Blower Stump Shooter Tier and Detonator Torpedo Man Torpedo Shooter Torpedo Worker Tunnel Man Tunnel Worker Unexploded Ordnance Quality Control Officer Unexploded Ordnance Quality Control Worker Velocity Shooter Water Blaster Well Blower Well Shooter Zinc Blasting Miner