Description

Drillers in surface mining, quarrying and construction 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.

Job Titles

• Construction driller
• Driller – quarrying
• Driller – surface mine
• Driller – surface mining

Main 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.

Workplaces

• Drilling and blasting contractors
• Mining, quarrying and construction companies

Skills

• Operation and Control
• Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
• Preventative Maintenance
• Equipment and Tool Selection
• Management of Material Resources

Abilities

• Control of Settings
• Auditory Attention
• Depth Perception
• Explosive Strength
• Multi-Limb Coordination

Personal Attributes

• Adaptability
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Independence
• Stress Tolerance

Similar Occupations

• Water well drillers (72501)

Source: OaSIS