General Assistant

Job Description

The purpose of this role is to assist the truck operator in collecting products from the silos and delivering them to the blasting face. The individual will be responsible for the housekeeping and maintenance of the vehicle, refilling area, and other work areas. All tasks and duties must be performed in compliance with statutory, legal, client, and BME requirements and standards, without any shortcuts.

• Matric / Grade 12 with Mathematics
• Preferable – Code B or EC Licence
• Preferable – Competent A & Blasting assistant certificate (MQA)

• 1 year experience in blasting / mining environment
• 1 year blasting assistant experience

• Risk assessment and Safe work declarations to be done with the blaster at the place of work before entering the workplace as per client requirements.
• Assist MMU with charging up blasting holes and filling up MMU with products.
• Assist the blaster for preparing the blast / charge-up area by meeting all statutory, legal, client and BME requirements/standards/prescriptions.
• Together with the Blaster, inspect the site to determine the target block and plan the blasting process.
• Mark off the working area by erecting prescribed barricading material as specified by the client.
• Map the holes to ensure all required holes are correctly placed.
• Measure and check the depth of the holes, ensuring they are all correctly drilled within prescribed parameters.
• When deviations from prescriptions are detected, act assertively and take necessary steps to rectify matters, e.g., by communicating with mine staff, drill contractor or the Foreman.
• On instruction from the Blaster, collect the correct accessories to carry out the blasting assignment successfully.
• Place all detonators and boosters at the collar of the hole to prepare for priming of the blast holes as per the blast plan issued by the mine.
• Prime the holes by carefully inserting detonators into boosters, attaching weigh-down material to the primer, and lowering the primer in the hole under the supervision of the blaster.
• Perform any additional ad hoc duties within the specified timeframe.

• Business Acumen – Essential
• Conflict Management – Essential
• Customer Focus – Essential
• Timely Decision Making – Essential
• Functional Technical Skills – Mastery
• Developing Direct Reports and Others – Strong Focus
• Innovation Management – Essential
• Meeting Deadlines – Essential
• Motivating Others – Essential
• Problem Solving – Essential
• Drive for Results – Essential

• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• Numerical skills
• Attention to detail
• Strong communication/interpersonal skills
• Report‑writing abilities