Jobs / Physical work / 47-5032.00
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.
- US jobs
- 5,100
- Median wage
- $61,390 a year
- Job family
- Physical work
Can agents do the work of explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters?
We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Physical work:
- Task levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.
- Project levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.
Unexplored territory
No benchmark in this atlas covers this work yet.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- 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.
- Assemble and position equipment, explosives, and blasting caps in holes at specified depths, or load perforating guns or torpedoes with explosives.
- Verify detonation of charges by observing control panels, or by listening for the sounds of blasts.
Other job titles for this occupation (80)
Blast Hole Driller · Blaster · Explosive Technician · Powderman · Unexploded Ordnance Quality Control Officer · Aircraft Ordnance Technician · Ammunition and Explosives Handler · Blast Driller · Blast Setter · Blast Technician · 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 · Equipment Operator · 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 · 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