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Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction  (NOC 7372)
Chaudière-Appalaches Region
Description |  Titles |  Duties |   Related Occupations

Drillers in this unit group 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 in this unit group 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.

blaster – surface mining, blaster, construction, driller, construction, foundation drill operator, open-pit blaster, open-pit driller, rotary drilling machine operator.

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Drillers in this unit group 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 in this unit group 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.
Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Montmagny, Sainte-Marie, Saint-Georges, Thetford Mines, Beauceville, Black Lake, Charny, Disraeli, Lac-Etchemin, Lévis, Saint-Jean-Chrysostome, Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, Saint-Nicolas, Saint-Rédempteur, Saint-Romuald

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View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction in Chaudière-Appalaches Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

Local Employment Potential Information

Table on the employment potential for Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction in Chaudière-Appalaches Region as well as in the rest of the Québec.
Location Employment Potential Release Date
Chaudière-Appalaches Region <Not assigned> 2012-11-21

Compared to other occupations, this is a relatively small occupational group in the local area with few and infrequent job opportunities.

[ Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]
Please consult the Québec and Canada tabs for more useful information related to outlook.