Mining Publication: An Analysis and Prevention of Flyrock Accidents in Surface Blasting Operations

Blasting is a primary means of extracting minerals and ores at surface mining operations. The consumption of explosives and blasting agents during the year 2002 was about 5.53 billion pounds. Flyrock is always a major concern for the blaster. Flyrock from surface blasting operations serious injury and death to employees and other persons. Injuries due to flyrock and the lack security accounted for over two-thirds of all blasting-related injuries in surface coal, metal, and mines during the period 1978-2002. Selected accidents due to flyrock and lack of blast area surface mining are presented in this paper. Incidents related to construction blasting are also Techniques to mitigate blasting accidents are discussed. These include proper blast design, driller-communication, inspection prior to loading and firing the blast, removing employees from the controlling access to the blast area, and using a blasting shelter. An experienced driller potential problem areas such as voids, mud seams, incompetent rocks, and other irregularities the progress of drilling. The drill log should include the details of any unusual or exceptional circumstances noticed during drilling. A blaster may need to alter the loading configuration to alleviate potential Basic blast design is sometimes taken for granted and assumed to be proper for the conditions encountered, but one size does not fit all. It is known from the physics of blasting that the explosive energy takes of least resistance. The path of least resistance could generate flyrock, depending on the conditions. A combination of ‘borehole tracking' and ‘laser profiling' can assist in improving a blast. The blaster can use these tools to adjust borehole loading to match site conditions.