Blasters-Drillers
Job description
These individuals organize and carry out blasting operations or any other work requiring the use of explosives. They use drills and borers to drill into rock and subsoil. They load explosives into blast holes and detonate charges. They mainly work on commercial, institutional, industrial, and residential construction sites.
Environment
- Climatic conditions
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Vehicle or passenger compartment
- Nontoxic dust
- Hazardous workplaces
- Noise
- Falling objects
- Vibration
Main tasks
- Read instructions or diagrams to determine hole location, depth, and diameter.
- Handle, store, and transport explosives according to current safety measures.
- Connect charges with detonators, or instruct other workers in the procedure.
- Conduct tests to determine the type and quantity of explosives required.
- Demolish structures.
- Blast trenches.
- Clear ice jams.
- Maintain the equipment required for drilling and blasting work.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to supervisory positions.
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
DVS in forage et dynamitage
Placement rate: 97.1%
Also required
- Certificate of qualification.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Information processing
- Active listening
- Result evaluation
- Judgment and decision-making
- Critical thought
- Operations and control
- Monitoring operations
- Oral expression
- Time management
- Solving complex problems
- Active learning
- Reading comprehension
- Coordination
- Teaching
- Human resource management
- Learning strategies
Abilities
- Manual dexterity
- Awareness of issues
- Near vision
- Oral comprehension
- Information organization
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Hand-arm stability
- Digital dexterity
- Verbal skills
- Limb coordination
- Reaction time
- Colour perception and distinction
- Control accuracy
- Selective attention
- Depth perception
- Speech clarity
- Classification
- Perception speed
- Processing flexibility
- Speech recognition
- Distance vision
- Visualization
- Written comprehension
- Core strength
- Static muscle power
- Time sharing
- Hearing sensitivity
- Physical flexibility in extension
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Critical thinking
- Autonomy
- Sense of responsibility
- Capacity to work in a team
- Rigour
- Attention to detail
- Respect standards and regulations
- Sense of observation
- Knowledge of buildings and construction
Interests
- Make, build, install
- Work manually
- Develop and exploit natural resources
- Work outdoors
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
Appellation d’emploi liée (à traduire)
Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction (CNP 73402)
Skill type
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026