This 20-hour course provides participants with basic training for blasting in the crushed stone and construction industries. It is of invaluable use for individuals concerned with other aspects of blasting, such as those used by underground mines and utility companies.

The course also acquaints participants with federal and state licensing, purchase, transportation and storage regulations. Experienced blasters and engineers may use the course as both a refresher and an update on new products, blasting techniques, and regulations, as well as to enhance their blasting knowledge and skills. Refresher training is good for one year before renewal of license and renewal may be made six months in advance.

The Blasters Seminar is approved by the State of Missouri and fulfills the training requirement portion of State Blasters licensing.

Since 1913, Missouri S&T’s experimental mine has allowed access to activities and demonstrations in underground workings and small-scale quarries, including extensive magazine facilities and has been regularly listed as one of Popular Science magazine’s most “awesome labs.” The new Kenndey Experimental Mine Building opened in 2016. This 15,000 sq ft facility houses a mine rescue laboratory, mucking stations, separate mine dry houses for men and women, three new classrooms, offices, warehouse space and a historic center for the mining industry.

This facility also provides much-needed and newly established classroom space to accommodate courses, such as Blasters Training, as well as the increased number of students enrolled in Missouri S&T’s mining and explosives engineering programs.  Enrollment in these programs has more than doubled since 2006 and supports S&T’s teaching and research initiatives in mine ventilation and atmospheric control, rock mechanics and ground control, drilling and blasting, explosives, mine survey, transportation and infrastructure, mineral processing, mine power and drainage, and surface and underground mining methods.