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Blaster Trade Regulations

made under Section 29 of the

Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act

S.N.S. 2003, c. 1

O.I.C. 2008-66 (February 26, 2008, effective April 1, 2008), N.S. Reg. 90/2008

Citation

1     These regulations may be cited as the Blaster Trade Regulations.

Definitions

2     (1)    In these regulations,

 

                (a)    “Act” means the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act;

 

                (b)    “blaster apprentice” means a person who has entered into an apprenticeship agreement with an employer in the blaster trade;

 

                (c)    “blaster journeyperson” means a person who holds a certificate of qualification in the blaster trade;

 

                (d)    “blaster trade” means the occupation that consists of conducting and supervising blasting activity as defined in the Blasting Safety Regulations;

 

                (e)    “Blasting Safety Regulations” means the Blasting Safety Regulations made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act;

 

                (f)    “former blasting regulations” means the General Blasting Regulations, N.S. Reg. 77/90, made by the Governor in Council by Order in Council 90-195 dated February 20, 1990, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act;

 

                (g)    “General Regulations” means the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act General Regulations made under the Act.

 

       (2)    The definitions in the General Regulations and the Blasting Safety Regulations apply to these regulations unless the context otherwise requires.

Classes of certification

3     (1)    The following are the classes of certification in the blaster trade:

 

                (a)    Blaster (3rd Class);

 

                (b)    Blaster (2nd Class);

 

                (c)    Blaster (1st Class).

 

       (2)    A person who holds a blaster certificate is authorized to conduct and supervise blasting activity specified in the Blasting Safety Regulations for the class of blaster certificate held.

Terms of apprenticeship

4     (1)    The term of apprenticeship for a Blaster (3rd Class) is as follows:

 

                (a)    1000 hours of combined practical experience and technical training approved by the Director; and

 

                (b)    a minimum of 4 supervised blasts.

 

       (2)    The term of apprenticeship for a Blaster (2nd Class) is as follows:

 

                (a)    2500 hours of combined practical experience and technical training approved by the Director, 1500 hours of which must be obtained after obtaining a Blaster (3rd Class) blaster certificate; and

 

                (b)    a minimum of 12 supervised blasts, 8 of which must be performed after obtaining a Blaster (3rd Class) blaster certificate.

 

       (3)    The term of apprenticeship for a Blaster (1st Class) is as follows:

 

                (a)    4000 hours of combined practical experience and technical training approved by the Director, 1500 hours of which must be obtained after obtaining a Blaster (2nd Class) blaster certificate; and

 

                (b)    a minimum of 12 supervised blasts within 50 m of a structure that is normally occupied in whole or in part by people, including a house, residence, shop, church and school.

Wage schedules

5     (1)    Subject to subsection (2), the minimum wage rate for each hour worked by a blaster apprentice is as follows:

 

                (a)    for a Blaster (3rd Class) apprentice, 60% of the Blaster (1st Class) rate in the place of employment;

 

                (b)    for a Blaster (2nd Class) apprentice, 70% of the Blaster (1st Class) rate in the place of employment;

 

                (c)    for a Blaster (1st Class) apprentice, 80% of the Blaster (1st Class) rate in the place of employment.

 

       (2)    An employer must not employ a blaster apprentice at an hourly rate of wages for actual hours worked that is lower than the minimum wage rate prescribed in the Minimum Wage Order (General) made under the Labour Standards Code.

Ratio of blaster apprentices to blaster journeypersons

6     An employer in the blaster trade may employ no more than 2 blaster apprentices for each blaster journeyperson in the employer’s employ.

Blaster certificate through trade qualification

7     For the purpose of Section 30 of the General Regulations, under which the Director may issue a certificate of qualification in a designated trade to a person who does not hold a certificate of apprenticeship in the trade if the person applies and meets certain requirements, competence in the tasks of the blaster trade must be demonstrated to the approval of the Director by meeting the following requirements:

 

                (a)    for a Blaster (3rd Class),

 

                         (i)     1500 hours of practical experience approved by the Director, and

 

                         (ii)    a minimum of 4 blasts;

 

                (b)    for a Blaster (2nd Class),

 

                         (i)     3750 hours of practical experience approved by the Director, and

 

                         (ii)    a minimum of 12 blasts;

 

                (c)    for a Blaster (1st Class),

 

                         (i)     6000 hours of practical experience approved by the Director, and

 

                         (ii)    a minimum of 24 blasts, 12 of which must be within 50 m of a structure that is normally occupied in whole or in part by people, including a house, residence, shop, church and school.

Blaster certificate term and renewal

8     (1)    A blaster certificate is valid for 5 years from the date of its issue or renewal.

 

       (2)    An application for renewal of a blaster certificate must be made to the Director before the end of its 5-year period of validity.

 

       (3)    Approval of an application to renew a blaster certificate is subject to the satisfactory completion of any training or examination, or combination of both, relevant to the blasting trade that the Director requires.

Proof of blaster trade status

9     A blaster apprentice and a blaster journeyperson must produce a valid identity card bearing proof of their status in the blaster trade on the request of any of the following:

 

                (a)    the Director;

 

                (b)    a person authorized by the Minister or the Director;

 

                (c)    a person with authority under any Act to inspect the work being performed by the blaster apprentice or the blaster journeyperson;

 

                (d)    a person authorized by the employer who has hired the blaster apprentice or the blaster journeyperson.

Transition

10   (1)    A person who on the coming into force of these regulations holds a valid First Class Certificate under the former blasting regulations is deemed to be the holder of a Blaster (1st Class) blaster certificate under these regulations that is valid for 2 years after the expiry date of the First Class Certificate.

 

       (2)    A person who on the coming into force of these regulations holds a valid Second Class Certificate under the former blasting regulations is deemed to be the holder of a Blaster (2nd Class) blaster certificate under these regulations that is valid for 2 years after the expiry date of the Second Class Certificate.

 

       (3)    A person who on the coming into force of these regulations holds a valid Third Class Certificate under the former blasting regulations is deemed to be the holder of a Blaster (3rd Class) blaster certificate under these regulations that is valid for 2 years after the expiry date of the Third Class Certificate.

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