Shotfirers and blasters

Shotfirers and blasters, position, assemble, and detonate explosives at mining, quarrying and demolition sites.

Skill level: Semi-skilled

Check your pay

  • The majority of Shotfirers and blasters earn a salary between R7 034 and R28 328 per month in 2024.
  • A monthly wage for entry-level Shotfirers and blasters ranges from R7 034 to R17 219.
  • After gaining 5 years of work experience, their income will be between R8 128 and R20 315 per month.

Salary Check

Duties and tasks

  • Ensuring that workplace safety and explosives handling, storage and transport procedures and regulations are followed
  • Planning and giving instructions for the lay out, depth and diameter of blast holes
  • Checking depth and cleanliness of blast holes
  • Determining quantity and type of explosives to be used
  • Loading explosives into blast holes
  • Assembling, or directing other workers to assemble, primer charges using detonators and explosive cartridges, and attaching electrical wires, fuses and detonating cords to primers
  • Connecting wires, fuses and detonator cords into series, testing electrical circuits and repairing malfunctions, and connecting series to blasting machines
  • Covering charges, filling blast holes with rock dust, sand and other materials, and tamping material to compact charges
  • Ensuring that all explosives are detonated, and reporting and attending to misfires
  • Declaring blast areas safe before and after detonation of explosives
  • Compiling and maintaining records about usage of explosives in compliance with laws and regulations

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