Blasting safely with proper

Blasting safely with proper

techniques
techniques


Module one
Module one

The most important responsibility of the

blaster in charge is to prepare and fire
safely. They are to practice safety in
transportation, storage, handling, and the
proper use of explosives.
Module Two
Module Two
Preparing and using blast design.
Preparing and using blast design.

a! "dentify characteristics of overburden#material which

lies above the deposit of material desired. $oc% quarry
may identify this as waste.

b! &ard to brea% roc% loo%s regular in shape and easy

to brea% roc% loo%s shattered and bro%en. 'rill
penetration is a good indication of hardness. "f drill
penetrates ( to ) feet per minute the roc% is soft. "f drill
vibrates and is noisy roc% is hard.

c! 'etermine the si*e and drill pattern of the blast.

Three common patterns are square, rectangle, and
staggered. +eep blasting rate up with the production
rate. ,hen choosing patterns %now faces and cuts, and
%now order of shot.

d! -hoose the type of blasting agent or explosives.

Most important is if hole is wet or dry. Bul% ./01 is
most common.

e! Benching # the process of excavating where

terraces or ledges are wor%ed in step patterns.

f! Burden 23.)x&ole diameter, or, B245xd673 can be

3(,45,48

g! spacing27.)x burden, or, s2bx7.3 to 7.9

h! stemming2.:xburden, or, st2.: to 7.x burden

i! powder factor2pounds of powder6cubic yards of roc%.

;! compute scaled distance factor# w2d6ds!3 w2weight

of explosives. '2distance in feet. 's2scaled distance on
chart. 5#457 feet is )5. 457#)555 feet is )). )557 feet
and beyond is 8).

%! -ubic yards per hole 2 burden x spacing x face

height 6 3:

l! pounds of explosives per hole is cubic yards per hole

times selected powder factor 2 pounds per hole.

m! <oading density lb.6ft.2.4( x density x diameter

squared.

n! Total lbs. of powder6delay2distance to nearest

dwelling685 squared.!

o! . well designed delay patterns can affect the

direction that the overburden moves, fragmentation,
flyroc%, noise, vibration, explosives used, how well the
toe is pulled, the condition of the new face.

p! dec% charges may be used to reduce ground

vibrations. "f using dec% charges, fire the bottom first.

q! The four types of firing systems are electric,

detonating, nonel, and hercudet. &ercudet is hardly any
longer used.
0ederal <aw $equirements
0ederal <aw $equirements
Pre blast survey regulation. 0ederal law requires that a mine
operator conduct a pre blast survey on any home within one#half
mile of the permit area, if the owner requests. . report must be
submitted to the regulatory authority and to the person ma%ing the
request.
Blasting schedule publication. The mine operator must publish a
blasting schedule before beginning a blasting program. The
blasting schedule must be published in a local newspaper of general
distribution. The schedule

must be distributed to all property owners and utilities within one#half

mile of permit area. -opies of the blasting schedules that are sent
to residents must be accompanied by information advising the
owner of how to request a pre blast survey. The schedule must be
republished and redistributed at least every twelve months, or
whenever there is a change in the schedule.
Blasting schedule contents should identify the location of the
blasting site and the time periods when blasting will occur. "t should
also include the methods to be used to control access to the blast
site.
Minimum 'istance for blasting.
Minimum 'istance for blasting.

.ccording to federal law even if you are

granted a waiver, 455 feet is the absolute
minimum distance you can mine from
structures that are not operator#owned. "f
you blast closer than 455 feet to a
structure or pipeline of the types
mentioned in the regulations, you are
violating federal law.
<ist of information that 0ederal law requires you to
<ist of information that 0ederal law requires you to
have on the blasting record.
have on the blasting record.

7. <ocation

3. /umber of holes

4. 'iameter and depths of holes

(. Total weight of explosives

). Maximum weight detonated in an 9#ms

period.

8. Maximum number of holes detonated within

any 9#ms period.

:.=%etch of the delay pattern.

&andling, transporting, and storage
&andling, transporting, and storage

a! .s blaster#in#charge ma%e sure all the

explosives you need are at the blast site.

b! .s blaster#in#charge you will be in charge of

the maga*ines.

c! Ta%ing deliveries, storing, records,

cleanliness of maga*ines.

d! =tac% boxes correctly, M=&. says 9 ft. high,

1'M says 8 ft. high.

e! The .T0 says to chec% maga*ines every

three days.
>sing electric firing system
>sing electric firing system

a! using a blasting galvanometer, the amount of

electricity that can flow through material depends on the
resistance of the electric blasting caps and cap circuits.
Ma%e sure to *ero the galvanometer .

b! using blasting machines# there are 3 types of

blasting machines, generator type and capacitor
discharge.

c! using a blasters multimeter# This is a test instrument

that can measure resistance and voltage in electric
blasting system. /ever let a cell or battery come into
contact with electric blasting caps. >se only a
manufacturer?s recommended multimeter and follow
manufacturer?s recommendations for replacing the cell or
battery.
<oading bore holes
<oading bore holes

a! chec% bore holes for depth, obstructions, water,

open holes, and hot holes.

b! <oad primers# <ower the primers into the holes by

using the detonating cord or tubing. -lip the detonating
cord or hercudet tubing so that about 3( inches will be
left outside the holes. Tie the cord off to something
stationary to %eep from slipping into the hole.

c! <oad explosives# choose the proper explosives for

the ;ob. 0or wet holes load an explosives that is water
resistance. "f using ./01 line holes with plastic bags.
0or holes with voids, cartridged or pac%aged explosives.

d! <oad and tamp stemming materials. 'amp sand,

crushed roc%, and drill cuttings are all good for
stemming. ,hen tamping holes ma%e sure to not hit
directly on cap.
'etonating cord firing system
'etonating cord firing system

a! -hoose detonating cord for down lines

and trun% lines.

b! -hoose delay devices

c! -hoose primers

d! Ma%e up primers

e! &oo% up system

f! 0ire shot
>sing an electric firing system
>sing an electric firing system

a! =pecifying type

b! -hoosing primers

c! Ma%ing up primers

d! -omputing the resistance

e! -onnecting leg wires

f! -onnecting firing circuit

g! Test the complete circuit

h! 0ire the shot

>sing /onel firing system
>sing /onel firing system

a! /onel is a non#electric initiation system

made up of plastic tubing coated internally with a
light dusting of explosive powder.

b! -hoose delay devices

c! -hoose detonating cord for down lines

d! -hoose primer

e! Ma%e up primers

f! &oo% up system

g! 0ire shot
&ercudet firing system
&ercudet firing system

&ercudet is no longer in use.

'etecting and handling misfires
'etecting and handling misfires

a! Burning explosives# "f you see a steady rise

of smo%e you probably have a misfired hole.

b! Poor fragmentation# "f overburden does not

move li%e it should this could be a misfire.
M=&. regulations state that if using electric
caps %eep the area clear for 7) minutes. "f you
used safety fuse %eep the area clear for 45
minutes.

c! 'etonating cord# "f you find detonating cord

that goes into the ground, the hole has misfired.
$e#firing misfired holes
$e#firing misfired holes

a! "f a misfire occurs the first thing that you

have to determine is whether or not you can use
the existing caps and primers. "f so re#connect
the line and fire, ma%ing sure that the burden
hasn?t been reduced enough to cause excessive
fly roc%.

b! "f you decide that you cannot re#fire the

existing caps and primer cord, you may remove
the stemming material from the blast hole with
an air compressor. Move the blow tube up and
down until all stemming material is gone. "f
using bul% ./01, this will not wor%. Put new
primer in and shoot.
=econdary blasting
=econdary blasting

a! "dentify the need for a secondary blast

b! 0ind and mar% the spot for holes to be

drilled. -hoose the explosives you wish to
use. <oad hole and blast using the proper
procedures of which type of blasting that
you choose.