Blasting

Updated July 29, 2024

Blasting involves the controlled use of explosives to change the landscape. What you need to know:

  • Regulation and Safety: WorkSafeBC oversees all blasting activities in British Columbia, ensuring workplace safety and certifying blasting professionals.
  • Insurance Compliance: Blasting companies must also follow their insurance companies’ requirements.
  • Permits: A Blasting Notification Permit is needed before any blasting work can begin.
  • Wildfire Act: Blasting must comply with provincial regulations under section 6 of the Wildfire Act due to its high-risk nature.

Contact

Once a blasting permit is issued, further questions regarding blasting should be directed to the blasting contact noted below or WorkSafe BC. This includes the duration of blasting, pre-blast surveys, property damage and warning signals.

Blasting is provincially regulated:

In addition to WorkSafeBC, blasting companies must also comply with the requirements of their insurance companies. Insurance companies have requirements for blasting notification, pre-blast surveys and intensities of allowable blasts. Blasting companies are responsible for recording information for every blast by using a seismograph on the worksite – an instrument used to measure the intensity of the blasts.

Blasting Information

Blasting Permits
  • No person may blast, carry on blasting operations, or use any explosive agent within the District of Sooke without first obtaining a blasting permit.
  • To apply for a blasting permit, a person must submit a blasting permit application in the form accompanied by the application fee “District’s Fees and Charges Bylaw”
  • An applicant for a blasting permit must hold a valid Provincial Blasting Certificate.
  • An applicant for a blasting permit must provide proof of liability insurance for the term of the permit with a minimum coverage of $2,000,000 per occurrence and naming the District of Sooke as an additional insured.
  • Where blasting is required for excavation for the construction of a building, a holder of a blasting permit must first obtain a building permit for the proposed building.
  • A permit expires and the right of the permit holder under the permit is terminated one year after the date the permit is issued.
  • A permit is deemed invalid if the insurance provided under section 5 has expired and the permit holder has not submitted a new Certificate of Insurance for the remainder of the term of the permit.
Blasting Regulation and Safety
  • Safe blasting practices are dictated by WorkSafeBC and enforced by the same. Those that complete the blasting are certified and are issued blasters certificates through WorkSafeBC. Please contact WorkSafeBC (Victoria) with any safety concerns.
  • A person may only blast, carry on blasting operations, use an explosive agent, or operate drills, compressors or other equipment used to prepare land for blasting, during the times specified in section 3.2(g) of the Noise Control Bylaw.
  • No person may blast, carry on blasting, or use an explosive agent without giving notice at least 24 hours before the blasting commences to
    • (a) owners and occupants of any building within a radius of 100 m of the blasting site;
    • (b) the School District, Principal or person in charge of a school within a radius of 300 m of the blasting site; and
    • (c) the District of Sooke in writing, including the site location and site contact information.
Forms
Bylaws

Notifications

Anticipated END DateDurationArea (Address)Documents/Contact
May 12, 2025Starting April 14, 2025 for approximaetly 1 monthPhillips RoadContact:
Bill Coates, 250-720-6033
November 30, 2025Starting November 30, 2024 for approximately 1 yearMaple Park TerraceContact:
Chris Conley, Little Rock Drillings and Blasting Ltd.
250-365-9833
December 4, 2024Starting December 4, 2024 for 2 weeks1000 Sooke Point PlaceContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
November 30, 2024Starting November 30, 2023 for 1-yearMaple Park TerraceContact:
Chris Conley, Little Rock Drillings and Blasting Ltd.
250-365-9833
August 13, 2024Starting Monday, July 29, 2024 for 2 weeks2770 Phillips RoadContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
August 6, 2024Starting Tuesday, July 23, 2024 for 2 weeks1720 Connie RoadContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
July 31, 2024Starting Wednesday, July 17, 2024 for 2 weeks2600 Nickson WayContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
June 25, 2024Starting Tuesday, June 18, 2024 for 1 week7440 Thorton HeightsContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
June 7, 2024Starting May 21, 2024 for Approximately 14 days2600 Nickson WayContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
May 24, 2024April 24, 2024 for approximately 4 weeks7440 Thornton HeightsContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
April 10, 2024Starting March 26, 2024 for approximately 2-weeks2600 NIckson WayContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
April 8, 2024April 8, 2024 for approximately 1 days6228 Wadams WayContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
March 22, 2024Thursday February 29, 2024 for 3 weeks1720 Connie RoadContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
March 1, 2024Starting February 8, 2024 for 3 weeks7440 Thornton HeightsContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
February 27, 2024Approximately 1 day, 8am-4:30pm5204 Sooke RoadContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
Feburary 12, 2024Starting January 12, 2024 for approximately 1 month2480 Carpenter RoadContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
December 15, 2023Approximately 1 day, 8am-4:30pm5315 Basinview HeightsContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
October 31, 2023Starting October 19, 2023 for approximately one-week2303 Hudson TerraceContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
July 11, 2023Blasting will continue for an additional 3-months, Mon-Fri, 8am-4:30pm (posted April 11, 2023)2600 Nickson WayContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
May 6, 2023Starting Thursday, April 6, 2023 for approx. 1-month2024 & 2026 Stone Hearth LaneContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
May 1, 2023Starting Monday, April 17, 2023 for approx. 2-weeks7215 Sea Cliff RoadContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
April 27, 2023Starting Thursday, April 6, 2023 for approx. 3-weeks7160 East Sooke RoadContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
March 9, 2023Starting Monday, February 23 for 2 weeks7050 Brailsford PlaceContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
Starting Friday, February 3 for 3 weeks3058 Phillips RoadContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
Starting January 23, 2023 for approx. 2-weeks5315 Basinview HeightsContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
Starting December 13, 2022 for 6 weeks2600 Nickson WayContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
Between December 13 2022 and December 30 for 2-5 business days5080 Sooke RoadBig Bear Blasting Ltd.


Mike Koff Owner/Operator Big Bear Blasting Ltd:
250-884-1353
Starting Tuesday, November 15, 2022 for 1 week, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.2182 Church RoadContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
Starting October 25, 2022 for approximately 6 weeks2600 Nickson WayContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
Starting October 3 for approximately 1 year, Monday to Saturday between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except statutory
holidays.		Maple Park TerraceChris Conley
Owner
250-365-9833
Littlerockdrilling2020@shaw.ca

Blasting Notice (PDF)
September 20, 2022 for one weekArea of Blythwood, Dixon and BruleContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
July 12, 2022 for approximately 1-week2287 Evelyn LaneContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
June 23, 2022 for about 3 weeks5202C Sooke RoadContact:
Dave Purnell
Superintendent, HHS Drilling & Blasting Ltd., 250-727-1752
June 2-18, 20222200 Erinan Blvd.PDF
May 31-June 14, 20221080 Silver Spray WayPDF
May 4-18, 20227510 Ocean Park PlacePDF
April 4, 2022 for one month6310 Riverstone DrivePDF
December 1, 2021 for two weeks7375 Boomstick AvePDF
November 3, 2021 for approximately 2-weeks5666 Woodlands RoadPDF
October 21, 2021 for approximately 3-weeks2755 Sooke River RoadPDF
September 27, 2021 for approximately 2-weeks5380 Basinview HeightsPDF
September 27, 2021 for approximately 2-weeks7330 Spartree WayPDF
Month of June 2021, Monday through Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (No blasting on Sundays or Statutory Holidays)7049 Maple Park TerraceContact: Tony Miller
Western Grater Contracting Ltd., 250-478-4225
March 25, 2021 for approximately 1-month6310 Riverstone DrivePDF
March 22, 2021 for approximately 1-month7330 Spartree WayPDF
March 22, 2021 for approximately 1-month2001 Stone Hearth LanePDF
February 16-23, 20216914 Burr Dr.PDF
February 8-15, 20212770 Phillips Rd.PDF
February-December 20212150 & 7004 Melrick Pl.LINK
January 27-February 11, 20212405 Dixon RdLINK