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| Flyrock damage to a haul truck |
Background
Flyrock injuries and fatalities can result when a worker is struck by rock thrown much further than expected. An indirect cause of flyrock injuries and fatalities is a lack of blast area security prior to a blast. Such incidents result when a worker who was supposed to have left the area of a blast remains within the area and is injured by flyrock. Between 1994 and 2003, flyrock and a lack of blast area security were responsible for 12.8% of the fatalities and 41.6% of the injuries related to blasting.
Miners must be made aware of the importance of blast area security and the hazards of flyrock, as well ways to protect personnel. Training materials to raise blasters' awareness of flyrock hazards and the importance of good blast area security have been developed and will be distributed during FY05.
Potential Outcome
As miners are alerted to the hazards of flyrock and poor blast area security, the frequency of this type of accident will decrease. Since flyrock represents the majority of blasting-related injuries and fatalities, the training materials being developed are expected to result in a significant reduction in accidents.