PURPOSE:  Protect miners from hazards associated with blasting at surface operations involving coal, metal, and nonmetal mining.

RESEARCH SUMMARY:  This project represents an extension and expansion of research that was formerly investigated by two projects: "Investigation of Flyrock Injuries and Fatalities" and "Toxic Fumes from Blasting."

In recent years, the use of explosives near housing developments has increased. To prevent flyrock that will damage homes or nearby businesses, the blaster ensures that the blast is well confined, i.e., the ground barely moves as it is blasted. However, this provides no way to release the blasting fumes. Thus, the fumes stay in the ground and may travel underground to nearby homes and other confined spaces. The composition of these fumes typically includes carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ammonia (NH3). Since 1988, there have been at least thirteen documented incidents of toxic fumes migration into homes and other confined spaces resulting in several hospitalizations and one fatality. Research is being conducted on the migration of CO and other toxic fumes from blast sites to provide blasters with guidelines for protecting workers and neighbors from fumes poisoning.

An ongoing hazard in blasting, flyrock and the lack of blast area security, account for the majority of blasting-related injuries and fatalities in surface mining. During FY2001, flyrock and blast area security issues in the mining industry were reviewed and reported. This review of flyrock and blast area security issues is being extended to the construction industry. A training video detailing the hazards due to flyrock and the lack of blast area security will be prepared in cooperation with industry.

Partners/collaborators in the project are the Mine Safety and Health Administration, Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME), and United Mine Workers of America (UMWA).