Drill and Blast Operator jobs in Australia

There are no open drill and blast operator roles listed with CrossNation right now. New roles are added as employers brief us, so create a profile to be matched when one opens.

A crew works to a blast design. Drill operators position rigs, drill holes to the planned depth and angle, and record the results. Shotfirers and blast crew members load the holes with explosives and detonators, connect the firing system, check the exclusion zone and fire the blast once the area is clear. Work is outdoors, physical and exposed to weather, dust and noise. Open cut mines run blasts regularly, while quarries and civil projects blast for excavation. Experience with specific rig makes, hole sizes and electronic detonation systems is valuable, so list these in your resume.

Explosives are tightly regulated. States and territories licence people to handle, use and fire explosives, and the licence types and requirements differ, so a shotfirer licence in one state is not automatically valid in another. Some licences involve background checks because of security rules for explosives and related materials. Drill operators may not need an explosives licence but need site inductions, a fitness for work medical, drug and alcohol testing and often a white card or confined space tickets depending on the site. ABLIS lists the licences by state, and mine sites are overseen by state regulators. Never work with explosives without the right licence.

Drill and blast work is often done by specialist contractors, with FIFO or DIDO rosters, long shifts and camp accommodation. Pay and conditions are commonly set by a contractor's enterprise agreement, and some roles are covered by the Mining Industry Award [MA000011]. Ask which instrument applies to your job, how the roster works, how travel is treated and what medical and testing rules apply. We do not quote pay figures. Confirm your classification in writing, and use the Fair Work Pay Calculator to check the minimum rate once you know the award.

Registration: State and territory explosives licensing (see ABLIS); state mining safety regulators. Handling, using and firing explosives needs the correct state licence. Licence types and checks differ by jurisdiction.

Pay and conditions: usually the Mining Industry Award [MA000011] or an enterprise agreement. Check current minimum rates with the Fair Work Pay Calculator.