Profession shotfirer

Shotfirers set up and safely detonate explosives at a site in order to blast and break up in situ material.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Investigative

Knowledge

• Electricity

  Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.

• Explosives

  Behaviour of explosives, pyrotechnics and blasting techniques. Associated risks and legal requirements.

Skills

• Check borehole depth

  Check the depth of boreholes; make sure that they are clean.

• Connect blasting circuit

  Connect, inspect and test the blasting circuit.

• Examine area after blast

  Control blast area to check whether all explosives were safely detonated; declare blast area safe.

• Make independent operating decisions

  Make immediate operating decisions as necessary without reference to others, taking into account the circumstances and any relevant procedures and legislation. Determine alone which option is the best for a particular situation.

• Report misfires

  Report misfires to relevant parties, such as the mine shift coordinator, legal inspection personnel, and the explosives manufacturer.

• Examine prospective blast area

  Thoroughly examine explosion areas; determine the appropriate amount of explosives required; ensure compliance to safety regulations.

• Signal for explosion

  Set safety perimeter and safety signalisation around blast area; ensure that blast site is clear and safe before explosions.

• Safely detonate explosives

  Follow procedures in safely detonating explosives for mining purposes.

• Manage explosives in accordance with legislation

  Manage explosives in accordance with explosives law, including tracking and control of the magazine.

• Work ergonomically

  Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.

• Follow health and safety procedures in construction

  Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.

• Insert charges into drill holes

  Transport explosives and safely load explosives into drill holes.

• Troubleshoot

  Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB