Blasting and Explosives Inspector at Commonwealth of P…

Job details

Location: Schuylkill County or Pottsville or Harrisburg or
Work type: Hybrid
Compensation: $60,538 - $92,010/yr
Posted: 2 weeks ago
Apply on: governmentjobs.com

About this role

About the Department

As a Blasting and Explosives Inspector for the Department of Environmental Protection, you will take part in meaningful work that supports safe blasting practices throughout the region. This position offers a steady and engaging mix of site inspections, investigations, and regulatory review. You will work closely with professionals across mining, construction, and public safety. Join a role where every day brings purpose and responsibility.

Position Duties

This position ensures safe storage, handling, and use of explosives by monitoring sites and enforcing regulations. The role supports community safety through inspections, investigations, and compliance actions across a wide range of blasting activities. As a Blasting and Explosives Inspector, you will perform the following duties:

Site Inspections: Conduct inspections at mining, construction, and storage locations to evaluate explosive material compliance
Complaint Investigations: Investigate citizen complaints and determine whether blasting practices meet required standards
Enforcement Actions: Identify violations and implement corrective measures in accordance with laws and regulations
Permit Reviews: Examine permit and storage applications and recommend appropriate regulatory actions
Accident Analysis: Investigate explosive-related incidents to determine causes and prevention measures
Public Communication: Provide information during hearings and presentations regarding blasting operations and regulations

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

Full-time employment
Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) full-time. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Pottsville. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $60,538 (before taxes).
You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Minimum Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

Four years of experience in the handling and use of explosives, including a minimum of two years as a lead blaster, blasting foreman or blasting operations supervisor; or
A bachelor's degree in engineering or physical sciences.
Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Special Requirements:

This position requires possession of a valid Pennsylvania commercial driver's license with hazardous materials (H) endorsement.
This position requires possession of a of a Class A "General" blaster's license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Other Requirements:

PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:

Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

Other Qualifications

Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
You must provide complete and accurate information or:
- your score may be lower than deserved.
- you may be disqualified.
You may only apply/test once for this posting.
Your results will be provided via email.

Benefits

Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this short video!

See the total value of your benefits package by exploring our benefits calculator.

Health & Wellness

We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.*

Compensation & Financial Planning
We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.

Work/Life Balance
We know there’s more to life than just work! Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S. holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.*

Values and Culture
We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.

Employee Perks
Sometimes, it is the little “extras” that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.

For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visit www.employment.pa.gov and click on the benefits box.

*Eligibility rules apply.

Supplemental Questions

01

You must complete the supplemental question(s) below. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. You must complete the application and answer the supplemental question(s). Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score. All information you provide on your application and supplemental question(s) is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. Read the question(s) carefully. Determine and select the option that most closely represents your highest level of experience/training/certification. The option you choose must be clearly supported if requested. If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions. If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our FAQ page.

Yes

02

Necessary Special Requirement - Do you possess a valid Class A "General" blaster's license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? If you are claiming licensure, you must attach a copy of your license to support your claim. You must attach your license prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add your license to the application after it has been submitted.

Yes
No

03

Necessary Special Requirement - Do you possess a valid Pennsylvania commercial driver's license with hazardous materials (H) endorsement? If you are claiming licensure, you must attach a copy of your license to support your claim. You must attach your license prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add your license to the application after it has been submitted.

Yes
No

04

Have you completed a conferred bachelor's degree (or higher), or are you within three months of completing a bachelor's degree (or higher), in engineering or physical sciences (such as Chemistry, Geology, Geological Science, Hydrogeology, or Physics)? If yes, you must upload a copy of your certificate of completion for this training to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your certificate(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add attachment(s) to the application after it has been submitted. If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting https://www.naces.org and clicking the Evaluation Services link.

Yes
No

05

If you are within three months of completing a bachelor’s degree (or higher), in engineering or physical sciences (such as Chemistry, Geology, Geological Science, Hydrogeology, or Physics), on what date do you expect to graduate? If this does not apply to you, please type N/A in the text box.

06

Do you possess four or more years of full-time experience in the handling and use of explosives?

Yes
No

07

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

08

Do you possess two or more years of full-time experience in the handling and use of explosives as a lead blaster, blasting foreman, or blasting operations supervisor?

Yes
No

09

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerCommonwealth of PennsylvaniaAddress 613 North Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120 Website http://www.employment.pa.gov

About Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Schuylkill County or Pottsville or Harrisburg or

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