NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Safety issues in blasting.

Rehak TR; Bajpayee TS

NOIRS 2000--Abstracts of the National Occupational Injury Research Symposium 2000, Pittsburgh, PA, October 17-19, 2000. Pittsburgh, PA: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2000 Oct; :76

20021049

Annually, billions of pounds of explosives are used in the United States by the mining and construction industry. Blasting, although hazardous, is considered a very essential component of these operations. Each blast is associated with fragmentation. In many instances, rocks thrown (flyrock) beyond expected bounds result in fatalities or serious injuries. Several of the reported incidents involved innocent bystanders. Accident reports/information collected from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, other Government agencies, and through Internet searches have been gathered. A detailed trend analysis of blasting injuries in both the mining and construction industry was tabulated. The data demonstrates the severe nature of all blasting incidents. In addition, factors/parameters such as: insufficient stemming; poor shot design; burden mismatch; improper firing sequence; improper drilling have been studied. This information, along with why there is a lack of blast area security will be presented and discussed in the context of defining likely blasting scenarios.

Accidents; Accident prevention; Injuries; Traumatic injuries; Injury prevention; Mining industry; Construction industry; Blasting agents; Explosives; Explosives industry; Explosive devices

20001017

Abstract

2001

PRL

NOIRS 2000 Abstracts of the National Occupational Injury Research Symposium 2000, Pittsburgh, PA., October 17-19, 2000

PA