Blasting certificates of competency are licences to practice at a South African mine. This certificate of competency is issued to a competent person who can be appointed legally to perform duties of a miner or a blaster at a South African mine as stipulated in the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act 29 of 1996) as amended and its regulations.
There are three types of blasting certificates of competency:
A candidate must meet the required number of practical mine shifts and other application requirements before an application to become a candidate is made. The candidate will be subjected to an assessment (orally and in writing) to determine competence. It is only when the candidate is found to be competent, that a certificate of competence is issued.
The process of the co-ordination of blasting certificate examinations is done at the regional offices of the Department of Mineral Resources.
Candidates or potential candidates are encouraged to contact the nearest regional offices of the Department of Mineral Resources which has jurisdiction over the mine where the candidate is employed. Contact details of the regional offices are listed under About the Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate - Regional offices.