ConstructionO*NET: 47-5032.00
Will AI Replace Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters?
Place and detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials. May perform specialized handling, storage, and accounting procedures.
81out of 100
Critical Risk
AI Risk Score
81/100
Risk Level
Critical
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
18
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
- ▸Verify detonation of charges by observing control panels, or by listening for the sounds of blasts.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Move and store inventories of explosives, loaded perforating guns, and other materials, according to established safety procedures.
- ▸Drive trucks to transport explosives and blasting equipment to blasting sites.
- ▸Repair and service blasting, shooting, and automotive equipment, and electrical wiring and instruments, using hand tools.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (2)
- Compile and keep gun and explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws.
- Verify detonation of charges by observing control panels, or by listening for the sounds of blasts.
👤Requires Humans (3)
- Move and store inventories of explosives, loaded perforating guns, and other materials, according to established safety procedures.
- Drive trucks to transport explosives and blasting equipment to blasting sites.
- Repair and service blasting, shooting, and automotive equipment, and electrical wiring and instruments, using hand tools.
⚡AI-Assisted (13)
- Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.
- Tie specified lengths of delaying fuses into patterns in order to time sequences of explosions.
- Place safety cones around blast areas to alert other workers of danger zones, and signal workers as necessary to ensure that they clear blast sites prior to explosions.
- Place explosive charges in holes or other spots; then detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials.
- Insert, pack, and pour explosives, such as dynamite, ammonium nitrate, black powder, or slurries into blast holes; then shovel drill cuttings, admit water into boreholes, and tamp material to compact charges.
- Mark patterns, locations, and depths of charge holes for drilling, and issue drilling instructions.
- Measure depths of drilled blast holes, using weighted tape measures.
- Connect electrical wire to primers, and cover charges or fill blast holes with clay, drill chips, sand, or other material.
Key Skills Analysis
Active Listening
Importance: 3.88/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.75/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.62/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.62/5.00
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Learning Strategies
Importance: 3.00/5.00
InstructingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Management of Personnel ResourcesAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters have a critical risk of AI replacement with a score of 81/100. Many routine tasks in this role can be automated, but human oversight remains important.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research