To manage all drilling and blasting activities across the mine to ensure safe, cost-effective, legally compliant, and productive operations. The Drill & Blast Manager is responsible for blast design, execution, contractor management, fragmentation quality, vibration control, explosive management, and continuous improvement to support production targets.
Key Responsibilities:
Safety & Compliance
Ensure compliance with MHSA, Explosives Act and company standards.
Develop and maintain drill and blast procedures.
Lead risk assessments, pre-blast inspections and post-blast evaluations.
Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.
Ensure safe storage, transport and use of explosives.
Drill & Blast Planning
Develop daily, weekly and monthly drill and blast schedules.
Design blast patterns based on geological conditions.
Optimise burden, spacing, stemming and powder factors.
Coordinate drilling, charging and firing activities.
Ensure blast readiness with production and mine planning teams.
Blast Performance
Monitor fragmentation quality.
Minimise fly rock, overbreak, backbreak and vibration.
Improve diggability and downstream crusher performance.
Analyse blast results and implement continuous improvements.
Contractor Management
Manage drilling and explosive service providers.
Monitor contractor productivity and compliance.
Conduct performance reviews.
Ensure contractual obligations are achieved.
Explosives Management
Control explosive consumption and reconciliation.
Manage explosive inventory.
Monitor blast costs.
Ensure accurate reporting and statutory records.
Operational Leadership
Lead Drill & Blast Supervisors and technical personnel.
Coach and mentor team members.
Manage departmental budgets.
Participate in production planning meetings.
Support operational excellence initiatives.
Reporting
Prepare production and blasting reports.
Analyse KPIs and recommend improvements.
Present monthly operational performance.
Report on costs, productivity and safety.
Minimum Requirements
Degree or National Diploma in Mining Engineering.
Valid Blasting Certificate for Opencast Mines.
Mine Manager's Certificate of Competency (advantageous).
Minimum 10 years' open-cast mining experience.
At least 5 years in a Drill & Blast management role.
Coal mining experience is essential.
Experience managing drilling and blasting contractors.
Knowledge of the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA).
Valid driver's licence.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)
Drill availability and utilisation
Blast compliance (% completed as planned)
Powder factor optimisation
Fragmentation quality
Blast-induced vibration compliance
Explosive cost per BCM/tonne
Drilling productivity
Coal recovery
Contractor performance
Budget adherence
Production target achievement
Competencies
Strong leadership and people management
Excellent planning and organisational skills
Technical expertise in drill and blast engineering