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By Mark Bosse

This is a paper demonstrating the use of a fixed wire and trolley system to deliver 2 or 5 lb cast primers (with 2 meter cap/fuse assemblies) deep into avalanche terrain. This avalanche terrain is mitigated using explosives prior to being opened to guests.

Feb 1, 2020

By Tom Snyder, John Brulia

Part 4 is the final article by the authors on hazardous materials (HM)transportation safety and compliance for U.S. shippers and carriers who offer and transport commercial explosives in commerce on public highways. This article covers hazardous materials (HM) cargo segregation and securement of non-bulk packaged explosives.

Jan 1, 2015

By Natalie Zeleznik, Brian Hawkins, David Bradley, Rachel Gooding, Patrick Wilson, Brian Somes

"To perform a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA), a method of quantifying the risks associated withinfrequent, high consequence events, consequence models that generate representative estimates of human health consequences for a wide variety of representative scenarios are commonly used. Criteria that suitable models must possess include: (1) input requirements necessary to generate large volumes ofprobabilistic simulations; (2) the capability to output injuries with the necessary details and resolution;(3) the ability to capture the variety of different scenarios inherent in an assessment; (4) acceptablecomputational requirements; and (5) sufficient stakeholder buy-in for community acceptance."

Jan 1, 2017

By James Rowland, Marcia Harris, Richard Mainiero

This paper reviews the potential hazards posed by the toxic fumes produced by detonating explosives in surface mining and construction operations. Blasting operations produce both toxic and nontoxic gaseous products; the toxic being mainly carbon monoxide (CO) and the oxides of nitrogen (NO x ). The quantity of toxic gases produced by an explosive is affected by formulation, confinement, age of the explosive, and contamination of the explosive with water or drill cuttings, among others. Techniques to protect workers and the public from the potential hazards of explosive-related toxic fumes are discussed.

Jan 1, 2007

By John Montgomery

This paper discusses the major changes to the Commissioners Rules and Regulations, Chapter 120-3-10 “Rules and Regulations for Explosives and Blasting Agents”; how the changes came about, and a summary of the status of the blasting industry in Georgia.

Jan 1, 2003

By R. Alford

In the modern world of demolition safety is paramount and unnecessary or unquantifiable risks are not accepted (FasterCapital, 2024) and all risks must be kept As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) (BSI, 2017). This principle has led to a huge reduction in deaths in the last 50 years and the statistics continue to improve although this is starting to plateau (Beal, 2007). Under normal circumstances, this is now simply part of the normal way work is done and systems are in place to ensure both safety and economic profits are assured. What happens when the environment is less controlled and risks are unknown, such as after a natural disaster, war, an accident or a stand-up from a failed demolition attempt? A dangerous structure cannot responsibly be left alone with a fence around it so some action must be taken, but how can this be done safely and responsibly? An incident in Didcot, England in which half of a power station’s boiler house being prepared for an explosive demolition collapsed suddenly, killing four men in 2016 provides a useful case study of how technology, creativity and planning can be used to conduct complex demolition fully remotely to avoid any further risk to life.

Jan 21, 2025

By R. F. Favreau, Patrice Favreau

In many quarries and construction sites visited by the authors over the last 50 years, the latter have observed muck piles from blasting with explosives, which included numerous large blocks, in some cases of dimensions larger than the input to the crusher. The names of these sites cannot be given in the article because the owners insist that data obtained on such visits be kept confidential. Often the blasters felt that the natural fissures in the rock would compensate for the use of a low powder factor, and they asked the authors to explain why such blocks were present. A detailed analysis of the situation often indicated that the cause of the blocks is that explained by figures such as 6 and 7 below in the article.

Jan 1, 2018

By Baohua Guo, Xuelin Yang, Tingkan Lu, Hailin Sun

The work presented in this paper mainly involves two parts. Firstly, the fundamental characteristics of the high pressure carbon dioxide gas fracturing technique (CO2 technique), including, a proposed method of TNT equivalence calculation, which is used to calculate the TNT equivalence of discharge of CO2 technique, and the comparison of the explosion volume generated by dynamite and expansion volume of liquid carbon dioxide is conducted to show the differences of fragmentation capacity between the two of them. Secondly, the coal seam fragmentation mechanisms of CO2 technique are proposed, including, 1) Gas jet cutting and penetration by shaped charge, 2) Gas volume expansion by changing phases of carbon dioxide, 3) Coal seam softening by destress blasting and 4) Coal seam fragmentation by discharge vibration, associating with the mechanisms, the equations for calculating fragmentation radius are developed and verified.

Jan 1, 2017

By Natalie Zeleznik, Brian Hawkins, David Bradley, Rachel Gooding, Patrick Wilson, Brian Somes, Kevin Wegman

"To perform a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA), a method of quantifying the risks associated withinfrequent high consequence events, consequence models that generate representative estimates of human health consequences for a wide variety of representative scenarios are commonly used. Criteria that suitable models must possess include: (1) input requirements necessary to generate large volumes ofprobabilistic simulations; (2) the capability to output injuries with the necessary details and resolution;(3) the ability to capture the variety of different scenarios inherent in an assessment; (4) acceptable cost and computational requirements; and (5) sufficient stakeholder buy-in for community acceptance."

Jan 1, 2017

By Jay Smerekanicz, Florin: Pedersen Gheorghiu, Alan Cameron

In order to expand the capacity of Modern Landtill, a groundwater extraction system consisting of a linear system of pumping wells over 2,700 feet long had to be replaced. The new system would be covered by landtill cells to a depth of approximately 400 feet, and therefore would have to be maintenance free. In addition, the new system had to be proven to be more effective than the previous system, groundwater extraction had to be maintained during construction and construction could not disturb either the landfill operation or nearby residential neighbors.

Jan 1, 2001

By C. Adcock, R. Farnfield, G. Adderley

The use of explosives to create special effects in the film industry is a well-known past time. A recent production required simulation of a large scale water splash from the effect of a statue falling from a cliff edge and impacting on an open body of water. This was to be achieved through the use of precisely delayed explosions detonated near the surface of the water. A survey of the area revealed a breeding farm for sea bass approximately 250 metres (273 yards) from the intended blast area. It was initially thought that the water pressures produced for the detonation of the explosives may cause harm to the fish. Much work has been carried out over the past few decades on the effect of open water blasting and its effects on aquatic wildlife; this includes water pressure modelling techniques which can be used as predictive tools.

Jan 1, 2010

By Harry Thompson

In using explosives to blast stumps from the ground in order to prepare it for farming, it is comparatively easy to place the charge under a stump having a semitaproot or a lateral system of rooting by boring or digging a hole in the earth to a point under the center of resistance and deep enough to give the desired effect.1

Jan 1, 2015

By Kerina Taylor

Due to their high amount of stored energy, explosives have been the cause of many serious injuries and fatalities over the last centuries. Despite safety advances and awareness in the last decades, injuries and fatalities continue to occur at mining operations due to blasting. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, from 1978 to 2001, blasting incidents claimed 106 lives and were responsible for over 1000 injuries in mines in the US. The main causes of incidents found today are flyrock, blast area security and premature detonations. The concerted efforts of the mining and explosives industries and labour and government agencies have greatly improved the safety record of blasting in mines.

Jan 1, 2011

By Robert B. Hopler

Reefs, exposed rocks, and fast currents made the Hell Gate section of New York's East River a treacherous passage ever since man attempted to sail through the area. As the harbor's importance grew, attempts to improve the channel were made, starting in 1851. This paper discusses the first major organized effort to clear the area, which began in 1869 and culminated in a single large blast in September 1876.

Jan 1, 1981

By Luana Ferreira de Carvalho, Aurelio Manço Garcia, Gustavo Sampaio Lopes, Jose Silvio Corsini, Davi Bastos Martins de Oliveira

The Enaex Mining Technical Solutions (EMTS) team, in partnership with the Anglo American Iron Ore Brazil drilling and blasting team, has developed a study aiming to optimize the blast design applied at the Minas-Rio project. The study consists of modeling the dynamic behavior of one lithological domain to determine the best configuration of drilling pattern, charge configuration, timing and sequencing of the blast designs applied at the mine in this particular rock. The first stage of the study was the recognition of the rock blast process in question, assessing key parameters that characterize this whole operation: geomechanical characteristics of the rock mass, implementation quality for drilling pattern and explosives charging (collar position, hole depth, explosive charge length and stemming size) and recognition of current blast designs. The central element of this study was the creation of a vibration attenuation and seed wave model which has allowed the characterization of this particular rock mass present in a region determined by the Minas-Rio team. The model is based on a near field vibration test, constituting a powerful tool in the design of blast parameters. The blast design developed from the damage model simulations basically modified the timing and sequencing. The aim of this study was to improve the fragmentation resulted by the blasting, considering the particle size requirements demanded by the primary crusher and to increase the productivity of the loading and hauling operations. The results were analyzed considering the effective productivity of the two different fleet types of shovels, where the authors have analyzed more than 46000 values of productivity from September 2017 to August 2018, taken from the Dispatch system. A significant increase in effective productivity of these load equipment was observed, 7% to the PC4000 fleet and 2% to the PC5500 fleet, values supported by statistical parameters and hypothesis tests.

By Bill Loviza, Jimmy Sanders

This report is not everything we would like it to be. Access to information concerning unresolved legal actions is a sensitive matter. Obtaining the information presented in this report was a challenge alone. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Division of Fire Prevention, the firms and individuals that elected to share information did so with various assurances of nondisclosure, confidentiality or anonymity. All those providing information did so with the expectation that the industry and ultimately the public would benefit from this effort. We offer special thanks to Assistant Commissioner, Fire Prevention, Emmett Turner, recently retired Director, Bomb and Arson, Dick Gardner and Director, Codes Enforcement, Randy Safer for support that made this endeavor possible. We make no claim with regard to being a scientific study. We did the best we could with available information. Our task was one of assembly, sorting and reporting. Where collateral information was available we used it.

Jan 1, 2004

By Jeff Hiedeman, Clint Sestrich, Christopher Hyle

Westslope Cutthroat trout have declined in distribution and abundance across their range and currently occupy about 59% of their historic habitat. Due to hybridization with non-native species such as rainbow trout, genetically pure populations persist in only 10% of that range. A westslope cutthroat trout population with relatively high genetic purity (97%) and conservation importance persists in less than two linear stream miles in the headwaters of the South Fork Madison River in southwest Montana. The relative purity of this population has been maintained through the presence of a downstream intermittent reach. However, spring flows fill the intermittent reach, creating a connection between occupied westslope cutthroat trout habitat in the headwaters and the habitat of competing trout species downstream.

Jan 1, 2011

By ISEE

Micrometer Crack Response to Vibration and Weather, by Prof. Charles H. Dowding of Northwestern University, adds to Prof. Dowding’s already important contributions to the industry with his “Construction Vibrations” books. This new book reports and interprets important data on crack response that are essential for differentiating the unseen effect of weather on structural cracking from the usually much smaller effect of vibration. In addition, the book contains detailed descriptions of data collection methodology.

Jan 1, 2010

By Terri Jordan, Gregory Hempen, Thomas Keevin

Water-borne blast pressures from confined blasts were recorded as part of a submerged blasting program in Florida for channel deepening. The blasting was confined within the rock floor by stemming. Shot patterns of stemmed borings were recorded, as were two open-water shots. One hole of one shot was not confined properly, which allowed comparison of confined and a poorly confined larger charge weights per delay. The pressure data were intended to gain information on typical pressure measures from the rock removal program relative to impacts on marine organisms. Water-borne pressures from actual confined, rock-removal shots validate the hypothesis of lessened impacts to aquatic and marine biota.

Jan 1, 2007

By Tom Treleaven

This guide presents numerous patterns that provide 8 millisecond separations between initiated charges. The guide is tabulated in seven sections to provide quick reference by number of decks or bunch blasting. The pattern is presented in the section where the highest number of decks works. It should be noted that patterns applicable to multiple deck shootings are also applicable for fewer decks.

Jan 1, 1997