New Blasting Safety Training Courses Available

Nova Scotians working with explosives will now benefit from new blasting safety courses.

"Workplace safety is a shared responsibility and we want to make sure Nova Scotians have the tools and knowledge they need to keep themselves and their co-workers safe," said Marilyn More, Minister of Labour and Workforce Development. "These courses will ensure that people who are interested in working with explosives have the proper safety training and certification."

Successful completion of the course will allow people to work as blasting assistants in Nova Scotia.

Blasting assistants, under the supervision of a certified blaster, can perform several duties around a work site including priming charges, connecting charges to blasting switches, programing delays for a blast, and firing a charge.

Workers who received blasting trainee certificates under former regulations will automatically be recognized as blasting assistants.

Tuition for the course is $81.18 plus $13.40 application fee for a blasting safety card.

People applying for training and a blasting safety card can call 902-424-0959 or toll free 1-800-494-5651 for additional information.