About This Career Path
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.
Applied Technology
Place and detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials.
Applied Technology Field of Study
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Average
$87,600
ANNUAL
$42.12
HOURLY
Entry Level
$46,240
ANNUAL
$22.23
HOURLY
Mid Level
$58,210
ANNUAL
$27.99
HOURLY
Expert Level
$203,840
ANNUAL
$98.00
HOURLY
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
01
Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
02
Tie specified lengths of delaying fuses into patterns in order to time sequences of explosions.
03
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.
04
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.
05
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.
06
Mark patterns, locations, and depths of charge holes for drilling, and issue drilling instructions.
07
Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
08
Measure depths of drilled blast holes, using weighted tape measures.
09
Connect electrical wire to primers, and cover charges or fill blast holes with clay, drill chips, sand, or other material.
10
Lay primacord between rows of charged blast holes, and tie cord into main lines to form blast patterns.
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Common knowledge, skills & abilities needed to get a foot in the door.
KNOWLEDGE
Public Safety and Security
KNOWLEDGE
Law and Government
KNOWLEDGE
Mathematics
KNOWLEDGE
Engineering and Technology
KNOWLEDGE
Administration and Management
SKILL
Active Listening
SKILL
Monitoring
SKILL
Critical Thinking
SKILL
Judgment and Decision Making
SKILL
Operation and Control
ABILITY
Manual Dexterity
ABILITY
Near Vision
ABILITY
Problem Sensitivity
ABILITY
Arm-Hand Steadiness
ABILITY
Deductive Reasoning
Applied Technology
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