Pennsylvania Code › Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY › Part I - Department of Labor and Industry › Chapter 5 - BLASTING, DEMOLITION, FIREWORKS AND EXPLOSIVES › Subchapter A - BLASTING OPERATIONS › GENERAL PROVISIONS › Section 5.3 - Examining boards and examinations

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) The
					 Department will appoint examining boards for the purpose of conducting
					 examinations for blaster's licenses and issuing credentials to eligible
					 persons. There will be established in each district office of the Bureau of
					 Inspection, an examining board consisting of five members, one to represent
					 manufacturers of explosives, one to represent the mining and quarry industries,
					 one to represent highway and heavy construction industries, one to represent
					 insurance underwriters and a representative of the Department who will be
					 chairperson. Three members attending a board meeting will constitute a
					 quorum.
(b) The examining boards
					 shall hold regular meetings quarterly in each district office and shall at that
					 time conduct the examination of applicants for blaster's licenses. Special
					 meetings for the purpose of conducting examinations may also be held if in the
					 judgment of the chairperson, the number of applicants for examination warrants
					 the action.
(c) The questions
					 comprising examinations will be prepared by the Division of Mines, Quarries
					 Explosives of the Department and will be forwarded to each district office,
					 with acceptable answers, in sealed envelopes, which seals are not to be broken
					 until the start of the examination. A score of 70% or more will establish a
					 successful applicant.
(d) Forms for
					 application will be furnished on request by the Bureau of Inspection, Division
					 of Mines, Quarries and Explosives, Labor and Industry Building, 7th and Forster
					 Streets, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Applications shall be mailed to the Chief of
					 the Division at the above address and shall be accompanied by a check or money
					 order in the amount of $10, payable to the Commonwealth.
(e) Each application for a blaster's license
					 shall be accompanied by a signed statement from the employer of the applicant,
					 or other responsible person, certifying that, in the opinion of that person,
					 the applicant is qualified by experience and is physically and mentally fit to
					 hold a license for general blasting.
(f) Applicants for blaster's license will be
					 notified as to when and where to appear for examination. Each applicant shall
					 appear personally before the assigned examining board on the date designated
					 and take the examination then given.
(g) Applicants failing to appear for
					 scheduled examinations forfeit the fee paid unless they have submitted either
					 written notice to the Division prior to the examination date or a valid
					 certified medical excuse, also in writing. Final determination of refund of fee
					 or admittance to subsequent examination without a reapplication fee will be at
					 the discretion of the examining board.
(h) Examining boards may issue blaster's
					 licenses without examination to applicants who have had at least three years
					 experience in the handling and use of explosives prior to the effective date of
					 the act. An applicant for a blaster's license on the basis of prior experience
					 shall attach to his application an affidavit itemizing the experience,
					 indicating dates and employers.
(i)
					 Applicants will be notified in writing as to whether they have qualified for
					 the license. Applicants failing to qualify in examination may apply for
					 reexamination by submitting a new application accompanied by a fee of
					 $10.
This section cited in 34 Pa. Code §
													5.4 (relating to issuance and
						  status of licenses).