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Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters - 47-5031.00

O*NET-SOC Description

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. Includes seismograph shooters.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Blaster
  • Explosive Technician
  • Powderman
  • Unexploded Ordnance Quality Control Officer

SOC Occupation Groups

47-0000 Construction and Extraction Occupations
47-5000 Extraction Workers
47-5030 Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
47-5031.00 Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Assemble and position equipment, explosives, and blasting caps in holes at specified depths, or load perforating guns or torpedoes with explosives.
  • Clean, gauge, and lubricate gun ports.
  • Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
  • Connect electrical wire to primers, and cover charges or fill blast holes with clay, drill chips, sand, or other material.
  • Connect gun chambers to electric detonating devices, and operate controls at panelboards, in order to detonate charges in guns or to ignite chemical charges.
  • Cut specified lengths of primacord and attach primers to cord ends.
  • Drive trucks to transport explosives and blasting equipment to blasting sites.
  • Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
  • Insert powder charges into chambers of sidewall sample-taking cylinders, and assemble cylinders, using special wrenches.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Maintain inventory levels, ordering new supplies as necessary.
  • Mark patterns, locations, and depths of charge holes for drilling, and issue drilling instructions.
  • Measure depths of drilled blast holes, using weighted tape measures.
  • Move and store inventories of explosives, loaded perforating guns, and other materials, according to established safety procedures.
  • Observe odometers, weight indicators, and instrument panels in trucks in order to position guns at predetermined points in wells.
  • Obtain samples of earth from sidewalls of well boreholes, using electrically exploding devices.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Repair and service blasting, shooting, and automotive equipment, and electrical wiring and instruments, using hand tools.
  • Repair electrical instruments, using electricians' hand tools.
  • Set up and operate equipment such as hoists, jackhammers, or drills, in order to bore charge holes.
  • Set up and operate short-wave radio or field telephone equipment to transmit and receive blast information.
  • Signal hoist operators to lower torpedoes or sample-taking guns into wells and to raise equipment for sampling from blast holes after detonation.
  • Tie specified lengths of delaying fuses into patterns in order to time sequences of explosions.
  • Verify detonation of charges by observing control panels, or by listening for the sounds of blasts.

Detailed Work Activities

  • adhere to safety procedures
  • assemble detonation units for construction or extraction work
  • charge blasting holes with explosives
  • determine amount or kind of explosive needed to complete job
  • determine locations, angles, and depths of blast holes
  • detonate blasting charges for construction or extraction work
  • drill blasting holes
  • drive automobile, van, or light truck
  • fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
  • identify properties of rocks or minerals
  • judge distances
  • measure and mark lay out for construction projects
  • move materials or goods between work areas
  • operate hoist, winch, or hydraulic boom
  • operate jackhammer
  • perform safety inspections in construction or resource extraction setting
  • signal directions or warnings to coworkers
  • transport passengers or cargo
  • use hand or power tools
  • use hazardous materials information
  • use inventory control procedures
  • use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
  • use two-way radio or mobile phone
  • work as a team member

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • (EOD) Apprentice Diver (Student Status) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice, A10 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice, All Other (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice, B-1 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice, B-52/B-2 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice, F-111 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice, F-15 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice, F-16 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice, F-35 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice, F-4 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice, F/A-22 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Helper, A10 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Helper, All Other (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Helper, B-1 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Helper, B-52/B-2 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Helper, F-111 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Helper, F-15 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Helper, F-16 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Helper, F-35 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Helper, F-4 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Helper, F/A-22 (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Armament Systems Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Ordnance Technician (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Ordnance Technician-Trainee (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Ammunition Inventory Management Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Ammunition Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Ammunition Stock Control and Accounting Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Ammunition Technician (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Atomic Demolition Munitions Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Ordnance Systems Technician (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Ordnanceman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Ordnanceman Basic (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Basic Ammunition and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Marine (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Basic Engineer, Construction, and Equipment Marine (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Basic EOD Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Basic EOD Technician-Reserves (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Blaster (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Bridge Crewmember (Army - Enlisted)
  • Combat Engineer (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • EOD Candidate (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) Apprentice (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Explosive Ordnance Diver (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Fire Controlman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gunner's Mate (Navy - Enlisted)
  • M1 Armor Crewman (Army - Enlisted)
  • Machinist's Mate Weapons (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Master EOD Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Master EOD Technician-Reserves (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Mineman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Mineman Basic (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Missile Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Munitions Systems Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Munitions Systems Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Munitions Systems Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Munitions Systems Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Munitions Systems Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Nuclear Weapons Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Nuclear Weapons Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Nuclear Weapons Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Nuclear Weapons Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Nuclear Weapons Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Ordnance Clearance Diver (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Planning Series - Littoral Combat Ship Mine Warfare Mission Package Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Quarrying Specialist (RC) (Army - Enlisted)
  • Riverine Patrol Boat Operator/Crewman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Riverine Small Craft Maritime Interdiction Operations (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Senior EOD Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Senior EOD Technician-Reserves (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Small Arms/Artillery Repairer (Army - Enlisted)
  • Sonar Technician (Submarine) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Sonar Technician (Surface) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Special Forces Engineer Sergeant (Army - Enlisted)
  • Special Warfare Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • UDT/SEAL Candidate (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Very Shallow Water Mine Counter-Measure Operator (VSW MCM Operator) (Navy - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Munitions Systems

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Blaster
  • Miner
  • Perforator Operator, Oil Well
  • Powder Loader
  • Sample-Taker Operator
  • Shooter
  • Shooter, Seismograph
  • Tier-and-Detonator