Explosives

Behaviour of explosives, pyrotechnics and blasting techniques. Associated risks and legal requirements.

reactive substance
blasting materials
explosive charge
explosive materials
charge of explosive
blasting techniques
pyrotechnics
pyrotechnic materials

knowledge

sector-specific

Explosives is an essential knowledge of the following occupations:

Ammunition assembler: Ammunition assemblers put together explosives and other ammunition components. They perform this work in mass production in ammunition factories. The production itself focuses on the manufacturing of cartridges or projectiles.
Shotfirer: Shotfirers set up and safely detonate explosives at a site in order to blast and break up in situ material.
Nitrator operator: Nitrator operators monitor and control equipment that processes chemical substances to produce explosives. They are responsible for the product storage in tanks.
Explosives engineer: Explosives engineers design drilling patterns and determine the amount of explosives required. They organise and supervise controlled blasts and report and investigate misfires. They manage explosives magazines.
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.

Explosives is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this knowledge may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Nitroglycerin separator operator: Nitroglycerin separator operators maintain the gravity separator, used in explosives processing, controlling the temperature and liquid flow, in order to separate nitroglycerin from spent acids.
Dry house attendant: Dry house attendants monitor and maintain the drying room, making sure the pyrotechnics are dried and stored within the correct parameters and specifications.
Security guard: Security guards observe, detect irregularities and protect people, buildings and assets. They maintain security at all times by patrolling designated property areas, controlling access at entrances, watching alarm and video recording systems, asking suspicious individuals for identification and reporting infractions and law breaching activities.
Dismantling supervisor: Dismantling supervisors monitor the operations involved in dismantling activities such as removing and possibly recycling industrial equipment and machinery or decommissioning of plants. The distribute the task among workers and supervise if everything is done according to safety regulations. If problems arise they consult with engineers and take quick decisions to resolve problems.
Firework assembler: Firework assemblers create explosive devices, coloured lights and set pieces for use as fireworks. They follow blueprints or pictures, fabricate various powders, put powder into casings or tubes, assemble all parts and inspects the final product.
Demolition supervisor: Demolition supervisors monitor operations involved in the demolition of buildings and clean up of debris. They take quick decisions to resolve problems.
Nitroglycerin neutraliser: Nitroglycerin neutralisers maintain explosives mixing tanks by neutralizing the process remaining acids.
Tracer powder blender: Tracer powder blenders operate machines and equipment used to create igniters and tracer powders, by mixing liquid and dry chemicals, making sure the required parameters are set and that the flammable mixtures are according to specifications.

References

1. Explosives – ESCO