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Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters

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.
Related: Continuous Mining Machine Operators  Earth Drillers  Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operators, Surface Mining  Helpers--Extraction Workers  Rotary Drill Operators, Oil & Gas 
Industries: Government  Mining, Oil, & Gas  Professional, Science, & Technical  Construction  Wholesale/Commercial Sales 

  • Summary

  • Details

    • Work Activities

    • Assemble and position equipment, explosives, and blasting caps in holes at specified depths, or load perforating guns or torpedoes with explosives.
    • Lay primacord between rows of charged blast holes, and tie cord into main lines to form blast patterns.
    • Light fuses, drop detonating devices into wells or boreholes, or activate firing devices with plungers, dials, or buttons, in order to set off single or multiple blasts.
    • Lower perforating guns into wells, using hoists; then use measuring devices and instrument panels to position guns in correct positions for taking samples.
    • Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
    • Assemble and position equipment, explosives, and blasting caps in holes at specified depths, or load perforating guns or torpedoes with explosives.
    • 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.
    • Measure depths of drilled blast holes, using weighted tape measures.
    • Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
    • Maintain inventory levels, ordering new supplies as necessary.
    • Clean, gauge, and lubricate gun ports.
    • Insert waterproof sealers, bullets, and/or powder charges into guns, and screw gun ports back into place.
    • Tie specified lengths of delaying fuses into patterns in order to time sequences of explosions.
    • Cut specified lengths of primacord and attach primers to cord ends.
    • Insert waterproof sealers, bullets, and/or powder charges into guns, and screw gun ports back into place.
    • 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.
    • Drive trucks to transport explosives and blasting equipment to blasting sites.
    • Mark patterns, locations, and depths of charge holes for drilling, and issue drilling instructions.
    • Move and store inventories of explosives, loaded perforating guns, and other materials, according to established safety procedures.
    • 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.
    • Move and store inventories of explosives, loaded perforating guns, and other materials, according to established safety procedures.
    • Assemble and position equipment, explosives, and blasting caps in holes at specified depths, or load perforating guns or torpedoes with explosives.
    • 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.
    • Connect electrical wire to primers, and cover charges or fill blast holes with clay, drill chips, sand, or other material.
    • Lower perforating guns into wells, using hoists; then use measuring devices and instrument panels to position guns in correct positions for taking samples.
    • Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
    • 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.
    • Cut specified lengths of primacord and attach primers to cord ends.
    • Repair and service blasting, shooting, and automotive equipment, and electrical wiring and instruments, using hand tools.
    • Clean, gauge, and lubricate gun ports.
    • 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.
    • Verify detonation of charges by observing control panels, or by listening for the sounds of blasts.
    • Set up and operate short-wave radio or field telephone equipment to transmit and receive blast information.

    Skills

    • Operations Monitoring
      • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
    • Complex Problem Solving
      • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
    • Monitoring
      • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
    • Writing
      • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
    • Quality Control Analysis
      • Testing how well a product or service works.
    • Management of Financial Resources
      • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
    • Technology Design
      • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
    • Active Learning
      • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
    • Service Orientation
      • Looking for ways to help people.
    • Active Listening
      • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
    • Installation
      • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
    • Systems Analysis
      • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
    • Programming
      • Writing computer programs.
    • Judgment and Decision Making
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
    • Operation and Control
      • Using equipment or systems.
    • Systems Evaluation
      • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
    • Equipment Maintenance
      • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
    • Repairing
      • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
    • Management of Personnel Resources
      • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
    • Equipment Selection
      • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
    • Reading Comprehension
      • Reading work-related information.
    • Critical Thinking
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
    • Science
      • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
    • Troubleshooting
      • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
    • Management of Material Resources
      • Managing equipment and materials.
    • Persuasion
      • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
    • Coordination
      • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
    • Learning Strategies
      • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
    • Instructing
      • Teaching people how to do something.
    • Speaking
      • Talking to others.
    • Time Management
      • Managing your time and the time of other people.
    • Social Perceptiveness
      • Understanding people's reactions.
    • Negotiation
      • Bringing people together to solve differences.
    • Operations Analysis
      • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
    • Mathematics
      • Using math to solve problems.

    Abilities

    • Mathematical Reasoning
      • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
    • Multilimb Coordination
      • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
    • Static Strength
      • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
    • Originality
      • Creating new and original ideas.
    • Written Comprehension
      • Reading and understanding what is written.
    • Inductive Reasoning
      • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
    • Dynamic Strength
      • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
    • Night Vision
      • Seeing at night or under low light.
    • Depth Perception
      • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
    • Sound Localization
      • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
    • Near Vision
      • Seeing details up close.
    • Fluency of Ideas
      • Coming up with lots of ideas.
    • Visualization
      • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
    • Response Orientation
      • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
    • Far Vision
      • Seeing details that are far away.
    • Oral Expression
      • Communicating by speaking.
    • Deductive Reasoning
      • Using rules to solve problems.
    • Speed of Closure
      • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
    • Reaction Time
      • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
    • Memorization
      • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
    • Time Sharing
      • Doing two or more things at the same time.
    • Rate Control
      • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
    • Trunk Strength
      • Using your lower back and stomach.
    • Extent Flexibility
      • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Perceptual Speed
      • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
    • Speed of Limb Movement
      • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
    • Manual Dexterity
      • Holding or moving items with your hands.
    • Wrist-Finger Speed
      • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
    • Glare Sensitivity
      • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
    • Speech Recognition
      • Recognizing spoken words.
    • Auditory Attention
      • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
    • Information Ordering
      • Ordering or arranging things.
    • Finger Dexterity
      • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
    • Explosive Strength
      • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
    • Written Expression
      • Communicating by writing.
    • Category Flexibility
      • Grouping things in different ways.
    • Spatial Orientation
      • Knowing where things are around you.
    • Control Precision
      • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
    • Gross Body Equilibrium
      • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
    • Hearing Sensitivity
      • Telling the difference between sounds.
    • Speech Clarity
      • Speaking clearly.
    • Visual Color Discrimination
      • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
    • Peripheral Vision
      • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
    • Oral Comprehension
      • Listening and understanding what people say.
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
      • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
    • Problem Sensitivity
      • Noticing when problems happen.
    • Stamina
      • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
    • Dynamic Flexibility
      • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Gross Body Coordination
      • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
    • Number Facility
      • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
    • Selective Attention
      • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
    • Flexibility of Closure
      • Seeing hidden patterns.

    Knowledge

    • Chemistry
      • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
    • Foreign Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
    • English Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
    • Philosophy and Theology
      • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
    • 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.
    • History and Archeology
      • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
    • Transportation
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
    • Therapy and Counseling
      • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
    • Economics and Accounting
      • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
    • Fine Arts
      • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
    • Sales and Marketing
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
    • Building and Construction
      • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
    • 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.
    • Medicine and Dentistry
      • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
    • Education and Training
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
    • Law and Government
      • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
    • 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.
    • Administrative
      • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
    • Food Production
      • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
    • Sociology and Anthropology
      • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
    • Production and Processing
      • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
    • Biology
      • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
    • Personnel and Human Resources
      • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
    • Design
      • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
    • Communications and Media
      • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
    • Computers and Electronics
      • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
    • Mathematics
      • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • 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.
    • Physics
      • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
    • Mechanical
      • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Psychology
      • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
    • Geography
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
    • Telecommunications
      • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

    Education

    Education
    High school diploma or equivalent
    Work Experience
    Less than 5 years work experience
    Training
    More than 1 year on-the-job training
    Education and Training Opportunities

    Pay

    Washington Annual Salary
    77210/yr
    Washington Hourly Wage
    37.12/hr

    Washington Employment Trends

    Currently Employed
    5,800
    Yearly Projected Openings
    500

    Personality

    Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They do well at jobs that need:
    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Self Control
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Tools

    • Air compressors
    • Ammeters
    • Ammonium nitrate and fuel oil ANFO loading machinery
    • Backhoes
    • Blaster tools
    • Blasting caps
    • Cable reels
    • Calibrated resistance measuring equipment
    • Calipers
    • Capsule guns
    • Cargo trucks
    • Casing guns
    • Circuit tester
    • Clinometers
    • Combination wrenches
    • Completion bull plugs
    • Compressed air gun
    • Conduit benders
    • Conventional truck cranes
    • Core drills
    • Cylinder gauge
    • Densitometers
    • Depth gauges
    • Depth indicators
    • Detonator box
    • Detonators
    • Dewatering pumps
    • Diesel generators
    • Digital camcorders or video cameras
    • Dollies
    • Downhole fishing poles
    • Drill collars
    • Ear plugs
    • End cut pliers
    • Explosive initiators
    • Explosive loading machinery spare parts or accessories
    • Explosives fuses
    • Fish tape
    • Flags or accessories
    • Forklifts
    • Galvanometers
    • Global positioning system GPS receiver
    • Goggles
    • Grab hooks
    • Grease guns
    • Grouting pump
    • Hacksaw
    • Hammer drills
    • Hard hats
    • Hazardous materials cabinets
    • Hoists
    • Hydraulic rock drills
    • Industrial funnels
    • Knife blades
    • Laboratory bailers
    • Ladders
    • Levels
    • Linemans pliers
    • Logging instruments for water wells
    • Longnose pliers
    • Makeup tongs
    • Measuring rods
    • Mechanical balances
    • Megohmmeters
    • Micrometers
    • Mud mixers
    • Mud pumps
    • Multimeters
    • Notebook computers
    • Ohmmeters
    • Open end wrenches
    • Pallet trucks
    • Personal computers
    • Phasemeters
    • Pick or place robots
    • Plaster or mortar mixers
    • Plumb bobs
    • Pneumatic drill
    • Pneumatic hammer
    • Pocket knives
    • Pressure indicators
    • Prisms
    • Protective gloves
    • Pull spring balances
    • Radio frequency transmitters or receivers
    • Rangefinders
    • Remote reading thermometers
    • Respirators
    • Rotary drills
    • Rubber mallet
    • Safety glasses
    • Safety harnesses or belts
    • Sand control screens
    • Scientific calculator
    • Screwdrivers
    • Seismic recorders or seismographs
    • Shale shakers
    • Shears
    • Signal generators
    • Sirens
    • Skid steer loaders
    • Slings
    • Soil core sampling apparatus
    • Special hoses
    • Stonemason chisel
    • Stripping tools
    • Strobe or warning lights
    • Submerged arc welding machine
    • Tablet computers
    • Tampers
    • Tape measures
    • Tie down anchors
    • Time delay fuses
    • Tongue and groove pliers
    • Track cranes
    • Traffic cones or delineators
    • Trenching machines
    • Tweezers
    • Two way radios
    • Utility knives
    • Viscosimeters
    • Voltage or current meters
    • Water analyzers
    • Water pumps
    • Water samplers
    • Wattmeters
    • Wedges
    • Well testing downhole tools
    • Wire brushes
    • Wire connectors
    • Wire cutters
    • Wire lug crimping tool
    • Workshop cranes

    Technology

    • Analytical or scientific software
    • Computer aided design CAD software
    • Electronic mail software
    • Geographic information system
    • Mobile location based services software
    • Office suite software
    • Presentation software
    • Spreadsheet software
    • Word processing software

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