Wis. Admin. Code Department of Safety and Professional Services SPS 305.20

Current through October 28, 2024
Section SPS 305.20 - Blasters
(1) GENERAL.
(a) No person may prepare explosive charges or conduct blasting operations unless the person complies with one of the following conditions:
1. Holds a license issued by the department as a licensed class 1 blaster, licensed class 2 blaster, licensed class 3 blaster, licensed class 4 blaster, licensed class 5 blaster, licensed class 6 blaster or licensed class 7 blaster.
2. Is under the direct supervision of a person who holds a license issued by the department as a licensed blaster in one or more of the categories specified in subd. 1.
(b) The operations and activities associated with a person who holds a license as a licensed class 1 blaster, licensed class 2 blaster, licensed class 3 blaster, licensed class 4 blaster, licensed class 5 blaster, licensed class 6 blaster or licensed class 7 blaster shall be limited to the operations or activities delineated under this paragraph.
1. A person, who either holds a license as a licensed class 1 blaster or is under the direct supervision of a person who holds a license as a licensed class 1 blaster, may conduct blasting operations and activities not closer than 500 feet to an inhabited building for stumps, boulders, ice, frost, concrete, footings, foundations, pole settings, drainage ditches, beaver dams, pot holes, seismic tests, boiler tubes, fertilizer piles, silos, dimension stone, well shooting, metal forms, black powder or coal piles.
2. A person, who either holds a license as a licensed class 2 blaster or is under the direct supervision of a person who holds a license as a licensed class 2 blaster, may conduct blasting operations and activities for stumps, boulders, ice, frost, concrete, footings, foundations, pole settings, drainage ditches, beaver dams, pot holes, seismic tests, boiler tubes, fertilizer piles, silos, dimension stone, well shooting, metal forms, black powder or coal piles.
3. A person, who either holds a license as a licensed class 3 blaster or is under the direct supervision of a person who holds a license as a licensed class 3 blaster, may conduct blasting operations and activities for underground mining, underground construction or tunnels.
4. A person, who either holds a license as a licensed class 4 blaster or is under the direct supervision of a person who holds a license as a licensed class 4 blaster, may conduct blasting operation and activities not closer than 2500 feet to an inhabited building for quarries, open pits, road cuts, trenches, site excavations, basements, underwater demolition or underground excavations.
5. A person, who either holds a license as a licensed class 5 blaster or is under the direct supervision of a person who holds a license as a licensed class 5 blaster, may conduct blasting operations and activities 2500 feet and closer to an inhabited building for quarries, open pits and road cuts.
6. A person, who either holds a license as a licensed class 6 blaster or is under the direct supervision of a person who holds a license as a licensed class 6 blaster, may conduct blasting operations and activities 2500 feet and closer to an inhabited building for trenches, site excavations, basements, underwater demolition, underground excavations or structures 15 feet or less in height.
7. A person, who either holds a license as a licensed class 7 blaster or is under the direct supervision of a person who holds a license as a licensed class 7 blaster, may conduct blasting operations and activities for structures greater than 15 feet in height, bridges, towers or any of the objects or purposes specified under subds. 1. to 6.
(c) A person who holds a valid blaster license which was issued prior to November 1, 1996 shall be deemed to hold the category of blaster license specified in Table 305.20 and may conduct blasting operations and activities under par. (b).

Table 305.20

Blaster License Categories Prior to November 1, 1996

New Blaster

License Categories

Class 1-Limited Blasting: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1g

Class 1 Blaster

Class 1-Limited Blasting: 1e, 1f, 1h;

Class 4-Precision Blasting: 4g, 4h

Class 2 Blaster

Class 2-Underground Blasting: 2a, 2b

Class 3 Blaster

Class 3-Surface Blasting: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d

Class 4 Blaster

Class 4-Precision Blasting: 4a, 4b

Class 5 Blaster

Class 4-Precision Blasting: 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f

Class 6 Blaster

Class 5-Special Blasting: 5a, 5b

Class 7 Blaster

(2) APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION. A person applying to take a blaster license examination shall submit all of the following:
(a) An application in accordance with s. SPS 305.01.
(b) An application fee and examination fee in accordance with s. SPS 305.02, Table 305.02.
(3) QUALIFICATIONS FOR EXAMINATION.
(a) A person applying to take a blaster license examination shall be at least 21 years old.
(b) A person applying to take a blaster license examination shall have one or more of the following qualifying experience:
1. At least 640 hours of experience working under the direct supervision of a person who holds a class 1 blaster license for a class 1 blaster license examination.
2. At least 640 hours of experience working under the direct supervision of a person who holds a class 2 blaster license for a class 2 blaster license examination.
3. At least 640 hours of experience working under the direct supervision of a person who holds a class 3 blaster license for a class 3 blaster license examination.
4. At least 640 hours of experience working under the direct supervision of a person who holds a class 4, class 5 or class 6 blaster license for a class 4 license examination.
5. At least 640 hours of experience working under the direct supervision of a person who holds a class 5 blaster license for a class 5 blaster license examination.
6. At least 1000 hours of experience working under the direct supervision of a person who holds a class 6 blaster license for a class 6 blaster license examination.
7. At least 2000 hours of experience working under the direct supervision of a person who holds a class 7 blaster license for a class 7 blaster license examination.
(4) EXAMINATION. A person seeking to obtain a blaster license shall take and pass an examination in accordance with s. SPS 305.09.
(5) APPLICATION FOR LICENSE. Upon notification of the successful passage of the examination for a blaster license, a person may obtain the license by submitting an application and the license fee in accordance with ss. SPS 305.01 and 305.09(7) (c).
(6) RENEWAL.
(a)
1. A person may renew his or her license as a blaster.
2. A blaster license shall be renewed in accordance with s. SPS 305.07.
(b) The renewal of a blaster license shall be contingent upon the applicant completing and passing a take home examination.
(c) The renewal of a blaster license shall be contingent upon the department's review of the applicant's criminal history record from the state department of justice.

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Safety and Professional Services SPS 305.20

Cr. Register, October, 1996, No. 490, eff. 11-1-96; cr. (2) (c), (6) (c), Register, March, 1998, No. 507, eff. 4-1-98; am. (1) (a) 1. and 2., (b) and (5), Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 5-1-00; CR 03-075: r. (2) (c), am. (6) (c) Register June 2004 No. 582, eff. 8-1-04; correction in (1) (c), (2) (a), (b), (4), (5), (6) (a) 2. made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

The department will obtain the criminal history record directly from the state department of justice.