Explosives and Weapons Technical Instructor
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and BlastersDescription
Deliver classroom and range instruction on explosives, ordnance handling, and weapons systems. Design curricula, supervise live-fire and demolition training, enforce safety and legal compliance, maintain training equipment and inventories, evaluate student performance, and manage records in accordance with regulations.
- • Teach blast-area assessment, charge selection, and safety compliance.
- • Instruct on fuse delays, timing systems, and sequencing of shots.
- • Enforce and teach range safety, zone marking, and site clearance.
- • Supervise charge placement and controlled detonations during training.
- • Demonstrate safe packing and tamping of explosive charges using approved materials.
- • Teach drill-and-blast pattern design and hole marking.
- • Maintain and audit explosives and weapons records per laws and policy.
- • Train students to measure borehole depths and verify drilling data.
- • Instruct on priming, wiring, and backfilling of charges with inert/training materials.
- • Demonstrate primacord layout and tie-ins for blast patterns.
- • Teach assembly and safe use of blasting equipment, caps, and firing systems.
- • Monitor detonations and control panels; lead post-blast checks.
- • Oversee secure storage, transport prep, and issue/turn-in of explosives and training ordnance.
- • Train on initiation methods (fuses, remote devices) under SOPs.
- • Coordinate movement of training explosives and gear; operate vehicles as required.
- • Demonstrate primacord cutting and primer attachment with safety emphasis.
- • Manage inventories for explosives, weapons, PPE, and supplies; submit requisitions.
- • Inspect, troubleshoot, and coordinate maintenance of blasting, weapons, comms, and range gear.
- • Teach radio/field phone procedures for range comms and blast coordination.
- • Instruct on weapons assembly, bore maintenance, and safe loading with approved ammo.
- • Oversee cleaning, gauging, and lubrication of weapons and training devices.
- • Brief hoisting/lifting safety; supervise placement of heavy equipment and training aids.
- • Guide students in drill/blast design calculations and training plan layout.
- • Document and teach observation of geology and site conditions for blast design.
- • Supervise operation of drills, hoists, and related tools during labs.
- • Develop and administer written and practical evaluations; document performance.
- • Write lesson plans, risk assessments, and emergency action plans; ensure environmental, hazmat, and security compliance.
Related specializations
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Available on paid plans only
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Related Pathways
Construction
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
