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Automation Squad

Role

AI for Blasters

Robert MacKelfresh

By Robert MacKelfresh

Founder, Automation Squad

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.

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters · O*NET 47-5032.00 · Job Zone 2 · sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor occupation database

Automation coverage

8 of 11tools on this list have an AI solution available today

Counted by matching the tools this occupation is documented as using against a corpus of 226,452 AI products, MCP servers, skills and connectors. Where a tool has no match, we say so rather than inventing one.

AI you can use for this job

17 matched to the tools explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters use. Showing 17.

The tools this job actually uses

11 documented for this occupation. Showing 11, hot technologies first. A filled dot means an AI solution exists for it.

  • Autodesk AutoCADhot
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwarehot
  • Microsoft Excelhot
  • Microsoft Office softwarehot
  • Microsoft Outlookhot
  • Microsoft PowerPointhot
  • Microsoft Wordhot
  • Blaster's Tool and Supply Company Blaster's Calculator
  • Datavis DBS Designer
  • DetNet ViewShot
  • Global positioning system GPS software

What this job involves

28 documented tasks, most important first. Showing 24.

  1. Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
  2. Tie specified lengths of delaying fuses into patterns in order to time sequences of explosions.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Mark patterns, locations, and depths of charge holes for drilling, and issue drilling instructions.
  7. Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
  8. Measure depths of drilled blast holes, using weighted tape measures.
  9. Connect electrical wire to primers, and cover charges or fill blast holes with clay, drill chips, sand, or other material.
  10. Lay primacord between rows of charged blast holes, and tie cord into main lines to form blast patterns.
  11. Assemble and position equipment, explosives, and blasting caps in holes at specified depths, or load perforating guns or torpedoes with explosives.
  12. Verify detonation of charges by observing control panels, or by listening for the sounds of blasts.
  13. Move and store inventories of explosives, loaded perforating guns, and other materials, according to established safety procedures.
  14. 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.
  15. Drive trucks to transport explosives and blasting equipment to blasting sites.
  16. Cut specified lengths of primacord and attach primers to cord ends.
  17. Maintain inventory levels, ordering new supplies as necessary.
  18. Set up and operate short-wave radio or field telephone equipment to transmit and receive blast information.
  19. Insert waterproof sealers, bullets, and/or powder charges into guns, and screw gun ports back into place.
  20. Clean, gauge, and lubricate gun ports.
  21. Repair and service blasting, shooting, and automotive equipment, and electrical wiring and instruments, using hand tools.
  22. Lower perforating guns into wells, using hoists; then use measuring devices and instrument panels to position guns in correct positions for taking samples.
  23. Create and lay out designs for drill and blast patterns.
  24. Document geological formations encountered during work.