Bomb disposal technician

Bomb disposal technicians search areas using special equipment such as metal detectors, or using trained animals, for the presence of land mines and bombs, and remove the explosive materials according to safety regulations. After the search for and location of mines and bombs, they disarm them aiming to avoid any risk of detonation, and ensure the area is cleared before disarming and removal procedures.

Includes marine minesweepers.
Includes people working underwater.

The following job titles also refer to bomb disposal technician:

bomb disposal expert
bomb disposal officer
armed forces soldier
sapper
mine disposal technician
minesweeper
ordnance technician

High school diploma is generally required to work as bomb disposal technician. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Bomb disposal technician is a Skill level 1 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to bomb disposal technician.

special forces officer
infantry soldier
sergeant
army corporal
warfare specialist

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of bomb disposal technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of bomb disposal technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

security alarm investigator
street warden
armoured car guard
dry house attendant
prison officer

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of bomb disposal technician.

Explosives: Behaviour of explosives, pyrotechnics and blasting techniques. Associated risks and legal requirements.
Demining operations: The regulations and procedures involved in the search for identification of land mines, and the procedures of removing and disarming the land mines.
Pyrotechnic articles legislation: The legal rules surrounding pyrotechnics and pyrotechnic materials.
Surveillance methods: Surveillance methods used in the gathering of information and intelligence for investigation purposes.

These skills are necessary for the role of bomb disposal technician.

Operate metal detection equipment: Operate the equipment used in the detection of metal products and elements to identify presence in an area and search for potentially dangerous items.
Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
Disarm land mine: Disarm explosives and ammunition contained within land mines according to regulations to prevent and permanently avoid detonation and to ensure safety.
Handle surveillance equipment: Monitor surveillance equipment to observe what people are doing in a given area and ensure their safety.
Perform demarcation: Perform the activities involved in the creation and fixing of boundaries around a restricted area.
Manage emergency evacuation plans: Monitor quick and safe emergency evacuation plans.
Assess danger in risk areas: Assess the potential dangers involved in performinig military or humanitarian missions in risk areas, such as combat areas, areas affected by natural disasters, or politically tense areas.
Maintain operational communications: Maintain communications between different departments of an organisation, between the staff, or during specific operations or missions, to ensure that the operation or mission is successful, or that the organisation functions smoothly.
Identify land mines: Identify the presence and state of land mines to ensure an area is cleared, to assess the danger of detonation, and to perform demining activities.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of bomb disposal technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Military code: The code language used in specific intelligence or military organisations and operations, how to use and decipher them.
Military weaponry: The types of arms used by different military organisations, such as army, navy or air force and in different nations worldwide; the weapons’ aspects, damage potential and ways to defend against them.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of bomb disposal technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Operate radio equipment: Set up and operate radio devices and accessories, such as broadcast consoles, amplifiers, and microphones. Understand the basics of radio operator language and, when necessary, provide instruction in handling radio equipment correctly.
Provide humanitarian aid: Provide first-hand aid in dangerous or critical areas to the civilian population, such as handing out food and water, medical resources, setting up aid facilities, evacuation procedures, and ensuring the area’s security.
Perform risk analysis: Identify and assess factors that may jeopardise the success of a project or threaten the organisation’s functioning. Implement procedures to avoid or minimise their impact.
Give instructions to staff: Give instructions to subordinates by employing various communication techniques. Adjust communication style to the target audience in order to convey instructions as intended.
Perform military operations: Perform military operations according to given instructions from superiors, such as battle operations, rescue missions, aid missions, search and intelligence missions or other operations concerning defense.
Read maps: Read maps effectively.
Comply with legal regulations: Ensure you are properly informed of the legal regulations that govern a specific activity and adhere to its rules, policies and laws.
Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
Ensure public safety and security: Implement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.
Advise superiors on military operations: Advise on the strategic decisions made by superiors on deployment, mission tactics, resource allocation or other military operation specifics, to help superiors reach a better decision and to provide them with any relevant information for a military operation or functioning of the military organisations in general.
Ensure compliance with types of weapons: Use different kinds of firearms and other types of weapons and their matching ammunition, in compliance with legal requirements.
Train animals for professional purposes: Train animals for specific activities in order to help humans carry out their professional tasks.
Follow given instructions: Follow instructions to achieve goals and meet deadlines.
Liaise with security authorities: Respond quickly to security incidents and violations by calling the police and keep in touch with other relevant parties involved in the potential prosecution of the offender.

310 – Armed forces occupations, other ranks

References

1. Bomb disposal technician – ESCO