Matthew Leck

Introduction Training
Why training is important Training Programs Requirements Costs Manuals Laws and Regulations

Introduction - Safety
Importance of Safety Relationship between Safety and Training Examples Dos and Donts

Importance of Training

Comply to laws and regulations that govern blaster safety for the area of the blast Economics Ensure safety of work environment

Training Programs

Training course Examination Provincial or national standards Through the government Companies

Companies Enform

Oil and gas British Columbia and Alberta Training, certification, health, and safety

Training Requirements

Check with the regional governing body Federal rules and regulations Appendix A 850 Blaster Training List

Appendix A 850
1 Explosives 2 Blast designs 3 Loading blastholes, including priming and boostering 4 Initiation systems and blasting machines

Appendix A 850
5 Blasting vibrations, airblast, and flyrock 6 Secondary blasting applications 7 Current Federal and State rules applicable to the use of explosives 8 Blast records 9 Schedules

Appendix A 850
10 Preblasting surveys 11 Blast-plan requirements 12 Certification and training 13 Signs, warning signals, and site control 14 Unpredictable hazard

Training Costs

From the Manitoba Government Blaster Certification Course Fee (includes GST): Course & Exam $52.50 Blaster Training Course - $26.25 Blaster Examination / Rewrites - $26.25

Training Manuals

Many available online and in book format

BLASTERS TRAINING MANUAL For Farmers, Ranchers, Prospectors, Engineers, Small Construction Contractors By R.K. [Ken] House, S.E.E. [Retired], Emeritus Member of International Society of Explosives Engineers 1998

Training Manuals

Intro to Explosives Non-Electric/Electric firing of Explosives Calculations Components Techniques Types of Explosives Applications

Laws and Regulations

Provincial example from British Columbia National Department of Justice Canada

Authorization and

Testing Licenses and Permits

Provincially - BC
Valid Blaster's Certificate issued by WorkSafeBC Other Canadian jurisdictions

register, complete an application form, and

familiarize

Non-Canadian jurisdictions
proof of experience

Nationally
Explosives Regulations Act C.R.C, c. 599 Part 2 Authorizations and Testing Part 3 Licenses and Permits www.justice.gc.ca

Training Summary

Courses and exams for permits, and qualifications for provincial and national standards

Importance of Safety

To meet regulations and codes Public Relations Employee Trust Economics To reduce accidents

Relationship of Safety and Training

Training leads to better understanding of safety and safety regulations If accidents occur, training aids in safe actions of employees

Safety Dos

Do keep the firing circuit completely insulated from the ground or other conductors Do test all electric blasting caps, either singly or when connected in a series circuit

Do be sure that all wire ends to be connected are bright and clean. Do keep the electric cap wires or leading wires disconnected from the power source and short circuited until ready to fire.

Safety Donts

Don't uncoil the wires or use electric blasting caps during dust storms or near any other source of large charges of static electricity. Don't uncoil the wires or use electric blasting caps in the vicinity of radio-frequency transmitters, except at safe distances Don't have electrical wires or cables of any kind near electric blasting caps or other explosives except at the time and for the purpose of firing the blast.

Safety Donts

Don't use in the same circuit either electric blasting caps made by more than one manufacturer Don't attempt to fire a single electric blasting cap on a circuit of electric blasting caps with less than the minimum current specified by the manufacturer.

Case Study

Nonmetal Mine, Lancaster County, PA December 21, 1999, 32-year-old equipment operator One of the blastholes blew-out causing a massive amount of flyrock

Case Study

Nonmetal Mine, Madison County, IL On May 23, 1994, a 21-year-old crane operator was fatally injured by flyrock that struck him in the back Standing at a distance of about 120 ft from the nearest blasthole. The need to remove all employees from the blast area and to provide blasting shelter for employees

Improvements

Blasting Plan Highwall and Bench Inspection Loading and Firing Post Firing Inspection Blasting Log

References

Appendix A 850, Blaster Training Requirements,

www.arblast.osmre.gov/.../Blaster%20Certi fication/Appendix%20A%20850%20Blast er%20Training%20List.doc

BLASTERS TRAINING MANUAL For Farmers, Ranchers, Prospectors, Engineers, Small Construction Contractors By R.K. [Ken] House, S.E.E. [Retired], Emeritus Member of International Society of Explosives Engineers 1998

References

Bajpayee, T.S., et al. Fatal Accidents Due To Flyrock And Lack Of Blast Area Security And Working Practices In Mining. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/fad tf.pdf Department of Justice Canada, www.justice.gc.ca

References

Enform website http://enform.ca/britishcolumbia

Manitoba Labour and Immigration, http://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety/courses /index.html Workers Compensation Board of BC, 2010, Work Safe BC, http://www2.worksafebc.com/Topics/Certific ationTraining/Certification.asp?ReportID=3 5470

Questions