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Blasting Safety Toolbox Complete PDF
Blasting Safety Toolbox Complete PDF
Blast Safety
Instructor's Guide
Objectives:
To improve blast safety by providing information about blasting to those who work around blast sites.
Target audience:
~ Workers
~ Blast crew members
~ Trainees
Contents:
4 pamphlets with tear-o off cards:
A. What is flyrock?
B. Recognize the blast area and blast signals
C. Clear the area
D. Protect yourself
On one side of each pamphlet is a description of the dangers and safety problems that could
exist around blasting. On the reverse side, there is a list of Best Practices and a set of Talking Points.
3 sets of postcards:
There is a set of postcards for 3 of the pamphlets. These postcards contain related
photos and drawings. You may want to improve these safety talks by adding photos
on your site – for example, photos of blast warning signs or flyrock damage.
1 record sheet:
This sheet can be photocopied and used to record training activities.
The tear-off card that is attached to each lesson can be used for
suggestions and/or comments or you may send your comments to:
Marcia Harris, Chemical Engineer
NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory
P.O. Box 18070
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
Phone: (412) 386-5780 Fax: (412) 386-6561 e-mail: MHarris@cdc.gov
TOOLBOX TALK RECORD SHEET
BLAST SAFETY:
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NAME: DATE: _________ _________ _________ _________
Fees paid
PHS/CDC
G-284
FLYROCK is anything that is Flyrock Travels Far and High
thrown by a blast and lands Flyrock has been known to land a
outside the blast area half mile farther than planned. In
Kentucky, flyrock killed a blaster
The BLASTER-IN-CHARGE defines the by flying high enough to clear a
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Tool Box Lesson A BLAST AREA. For safety reasons, all 200-foot bench and hit him standing
people must leave that region before the 550 feet away.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
called FLYROCK. Any object is rock traveled 1,200 feet from the
called flyrock if it travels outside
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
___________________________________
COPIES OF THIS BROCHURE CAN BE OBTAINED FROM: To receive more information about
U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration occupational safety and health topics, contact NIOSH at:
National Mine Health and Safety Academy NIOSH -- Publications Dissemination ___________________________________
1301 Airport Road 4676 Columbia Parkway
Beaver WV 25813 Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998
E-mail: MSHADistributionCenter@DOL.gov
Phone: 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674)
___________________________________
Phone: (304) 256-3257
Fax: (304) 256-3368 Fax: 513-533-8573
READ THE POSTCARDS WITH E-mail: Pubstaft@cdc.gov
___________________________________
MATCHING SAFETY DESIGN
National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health
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WH AWHAT
T I S F LISY -FLYROCK?
ROCK?
W H A T I S F L Y ROCK?
Flyrock can be big or small. It may even
look like the rest of the shot rock. If it lands
outside the blast area, it is flyrock. This is
the result of a flyrock incident in Kentucky.
The rocks rolled down the hill into this
community, gaining speed as they traveled.
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WHAT IS FLYROCK?
W H A T I S F L Y ROCK?
Flyrock can be stones, rocks, mud, or
even water. This boulder in Kentucky
which measures 12’ x 7’ x 5’ rolled down
the hill along with other rocks to the trailer.
The home owners were not hurt because
they were out shopping.
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Recognize the Blast Area
and Signals
FIRST CLASS
Postage and
Permit NO.
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Fees paid
PHS/CDC
G-284
When the BLASTER-IN-CHARGE is The Early-Warning Signal
about to set off a blast, the BLAST AREA An early-warning signal occurs 5
is cleared of everybody (blasters can or 10 minutes before the shot is
take cover within the blast area if fired. It warns that the holes have
they have safe shelter). The site been loaded with explosives and
supervisors know the scheduled time
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
enough time to clear an area. stopped traffic coming into the area.
Tool Box Lesson B
Attention: Marcia Harris, Chemical Engineer
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
the area is cleared and blast guards given before the blast. This will be
are posted. Then the blast warning given 1 or 2 minutes before firing.
P.O. Box 18070
Fees paid
PHS/CDC
G-284
The purpose of blasting is to break up The Blast Area
large rock so that the rock can be
It is the blaster’s job to determine
removed easily. Sometimes a blast is
the area that might get hit with
set up to move (or cast) the rocks away
rocks. The blaster calls this area the
from the work area. But usually, we
BLAST AREA. It is very important
Tool Box Lesson C blast just to break rocks small enough
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
right size and that place them in the The law requires that the blast area
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
z
miners, laborers, fishermen, and
to be placed in each hole
visitors. The Mine Safety and Health
National Institute for
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CLEAR THE BLAST AREA
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CLEAR THE BLAST AREA
Damage
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FIRST CLASS
Postage and
Protect Yourself
Permit NO.
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Fees paid
PHS/CDC
G-284
Protect Yourself Even Beyond
the Blast Area
During a blast, the BLASTER-IN- next to a hidden mud seam or a crack
CHARGE has carefully figured and or old construction, it can cause a
declared the BLAST AREA. By law, blowout. This can cause flyrock.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
unless they are in a blast shelter or When you work on or near a blast site,
Attention: Marcia Harris, Chemical Engineer
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
other safe location. Being in the blast don’t take safety for granted.
area during a blast is not safe.
Protect Yourself
Before the time of the blast, the
Pay attention to the area you will be
company will stop work and clear the
in during a blast. Even though you
blast area. Workers are moved out and
Pittsburgh Research Lab
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PROTECT YOURSELF
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PROTECT YOURSELF
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PROTECT YOURSELF
DISPOSING 1.3%
MISC
MISC10.1%
10.1% Blasting Injuries
MISFIRES 11.4% in Surface Mining
PREMATURE BLAST 15.2% From 1994 to 2001
FLYROCK 21.5%
Source: H Verakis and T Lobb,
MSHA, “An Analysis of Blasting
Accidents in Mining Operations,”
BLAST AREA International Society of Explosives
SECURITY 40.5% Engineers, 2003
PROTECT YOURSELF
The greatest cause of blasting accidents in surface mining hap-
pens because someone is in the blast area during a blast.
From 1994 to 2001, there were 49 blasting accidents. Of these,
32 people were injured or killed because they were in the blast
area during a blast. Another 17 people were injured or killed from
flyrock—rocks that hit people outside the blast area. More than
half of blasting injuries were due to flyrock and to not clearing the
blast area.
There were more injuries from flyrock and from not clearing the
blasting area than from any other cause of blast accident. Stay out
of the blast area during blasts and even when you are outside of
the blast area, stay alert!
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