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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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73402.01 – Drillers - surface mining, quarrying and construction

Drillers operate mobile drilling machines to bore blast holes in open-pit mines and quarries and to bore holes for blasting and for building foundations at construction sites.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Construction driller
  • Driller - quarrying
  • Driller - surface mine
  • Driller - surface mining

Core competencies

  • Operation and Control to be aware of drilling equipment performance and adjust machine settings for optimal drilling efficiency while adhering to safety regulations and minimizing environmental impact
  • Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment to interpret diagnostic data, identify potential malfunctions or inefficiencies and implement corrective actions to for optimal performance and to minimize downtime
  • Multi-Limb Coordination to manage complex machinery with multiple levers, pedals and control panels use both hands and feet simultaneously operating different parts of the drilling equipment
  • Control of Settings to ensure boreholes are drilled accurately and to precise specifications by carefully adjusting parameters such as drilling speed, depth or angle
  • Attention to Detail to consistently inspect for accurate equipment operation, accurate drilling depth measurements and adherence to job specifications
  • Knowledge in Vehicle, Machinery and Equipment Operations to understand advanced drilling machinery, equipment operation, maintenance protocols and troubleshooting and optimizing equipment performance for complex drilling tasks

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Drive and operate tracked or truck-mounted rotary drilling, air-track or other drilling machines to bore large blast holes to specified depths at staked positions in open-pit mine or quarry
  • Operate drilling machines to drill blast holes in rock at road or other construction sites
  • Operate tracked or truck-mounted drill equipped with auger or other attachment to drill holes for building foundations or pilings
  • May measure location and stake out pattern of holes to be drilled, load blast holes with explosives and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore or rock.

Additional information

  • Drillers and blasters often perform both drilling and blasting activities.
  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

TEER

3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training

Major group

73 – General trades

Sub-major group

734 – Operators, drillers and blasters

Minor group

7340 – Operators, drillers and blasters

Unit group

73402 – Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction

Occupational profile

73402.01 – Drillers - surface mining, quarrying and construction

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.