An unconventional career
Austin Powder’s John Newton loves blowing things up – and all the exhaustive prep work that leads up to it
Q: What is your job title and what does it encompass?
A: I am the technical sales representative for Austin Powder Ltd. at our Orillia location. We provide drilling and blasting services to many aggregate producing areas, including the Bruce Peninsula, the Carden Plains and northwards into the granite of the Muskoka region. In my role at Austin Powder I am fortunate to be involved in all aspects of our drilling and blasting activities, including everything from the initial planning stages with our customers all the way through to the blast itself.
Q: What is it about your job that other people wish they got to do?
A: Blow things up of course! Actually, the blast itself is a very brief moment in a long and careful process of blast design, drilling the pattern, and the safe and proper execution of each blast design. A successful blast is the culmination of the efforts of a much larger team and I am very fortunate to work with an excellent group of people and professionals. Drilling and blasting is also a great career for those that enjoy working outdoors year-round, which can sometimes involve some very challenging weather conditions.
Q: Describe your typical day on the job and how the work you do contributes to your company.
A: One of the greatest things about my job is that there really isn’t a typical day. Far from routine, I find that every day comes with its own unique set of tasks and challenges. Every blast starts with a meeting with our customers in order to determine the location of the next blast, the volumes involved and the timeline available for the work to be completed. A safe and effective blast design is then put together and a drill is moved in to begin drilling the blast pattern. Over the course of what can be several days, the drilling is completed and a blast date is scheduled to follow. It is always satisfying to see how our strong team can successfully work together to ensure that every challenge along the way is safely overcome and that our drilling and blasting activities go ahead as safely and efficiently as possible.
Q: How did you get interested in this field?
A: I have always been interested in the various rock types that we often see while travelling through Ontario. Drilling seemed like an excellent way to merge both my interest in Ontario’s geology with a career that involved a challenging outdoor work environment. After college I was fortunate to gain a position as a driller for Austin Powder which involved working with an excellent group of co-workers and drilling with some very advanced, GPS-enabled rock drills. As I became more involved with our daily blasting activities, I also found it interesting and challenging to work with the safe handling and application of explosives, as well as all of the careful paperwork and planning involved.
Q: What in your past has been relevant to your current job?
A: After high school I attended Carleton University where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in geography. Later, I enrolled at Fleming College where I graduated from the two-year resources drilling and blasting program. In addition to a post-secondary education, our ongoing training at Austin Powder has by far played the largest role in teaching me the skills and knowledge that I use today. Our driller and blaster training is continually updated to the latest standards as technology and blast designs have improved. Health and safety has also become a top priority throughout the aggregate industry, and ongoing safety training is a primary part of all of our jobs. What I most enjoy is that, just as every blast is unique, there is always something new to learn every day.