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Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction  (NOC 7372)
West Coast--Northern Peninsula--Labrador 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

Corner Brook, Codroy, Deer Lake, Grandois, Grey Islands Harbour, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Humber Arm South, Labrador City, Pasadena, St. Anthony, Stephenville, Stephenville Crossing, Wabush, Benoit's Cove, Halfway Point

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View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Education & Job Requirements for Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction in West Coast--Northern Peninsula--Labrador Region

Education and job requirements can vary by region. Workers in regulated occupations require a licence to work legally. Workers in non-regulated occupations do not require a licence, but employers may have other certification requirements.

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[ Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]

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Please consult the Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada tabs for more useful information related to education and job requirements.