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By Lawrence Cheng-Kwang Hu

"Since the only available delay detonator in Taiwan is electric delay detonator, which can beaccidentally initiated by fire, i impact force, friction, static electric, lighting, radiotransmitter, and stray current etc., that always represent fatal threatens to the blasting crew.Fire, impact, friction can be Prevented by handling carefully; lighting also can be detectedwith proper instruments. But when a blaster find an unknown extraneous current in his welllaid down blasting cable; what a horror scence will be expected especially the electricdetonators have been connected already."

Jan 1, 1993

By Lewis L. Oriard

Near the village of Villarino de los Aires, in the province of Salamanca, Spain, was an existing underground hydroelectric power plant. A major enlargement was undertaken to increase the electrical generating capacity, under a contract awarded to a joint venture of Dragados y Construcciones, S. A. (Spain), Entrecanales y Tavora, S. A. (Spain), and S. A. Conrad Zschokke (Switzerland). The enlargement required the excavation of a large and complex underground system of tunnels, shafts and chambers adjacent to existing facilities and interconnected with these facilities. The existing machine hall and transformer chamber were both extended, requiring the blasting of the existing end walls. The drilling, blasting and excavating of the underground system had to be done without damage to existing underground chambers and tunnels, or any of the existing structures, equipment or instrumentation facilities, often within just a few feet of the blasting. This required careful control of vibrations, airblast overpressures and dust.

Jan 1, 1997

By Unknown

[Executive Director’s note: According to 17th edition of the ISEE Blasters Handbook in its section on trench blasting, “...consideration must be given to the proper venting of gases generated from the blasting. Should those gases spread laterally rather than vent directly to the surface, the gases may travel underground and finally vent well outside of the planned area. Such events may be caused by the strata, soil conditions or root systems, or existing and/or abandoned utilities or other man-made structures. In the worst situation, gases resulting from the detonation such as CO2, CO, and/or NOx may travel through the strata and find their way into basements of nearby homes or businesses. The IME has recommendations on how to minimize this potential problem. Some of the points include removing the overburden and digging the rock immediately after the shot, and drilling vent holes periodically between the ditch and adjacent homes.” The Board of Directors of the International Society of Explosives Engineers has expressed its concern that blasters be made aware of the issue of migration of carbon monoxide resulting from blasting operations. What follows are excerpts from “Carbon Monoxide - The Silent Hazard”, an article that was recently included in the Safety Update, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2001, published by Nobel Insurance Services.]

Jan 1, 2002

By Greg Quinn

After a long week of work in Colorado Springs this past July, I was looking forward to flying home to start a long anticipated family vacation. As I grabbed my seat on the plane, a man sitting next to me innocently inquired, to the row as a whole and not to me in particular, “I wonder what the weather will be like in Phoenix”? To most people, this is a common (maybe the most common) topic of casual conversation. To a meteorologist that just dealt with six thunderstorm delays at a major golf event over 4 days, well, lets just say the smirk on my face said it all. After giving my flight mate a detailed forecast and a short explanation on why I would know such information, I sensed, correctly, the inevitable follow up question was coming. “Why would you need a meteorologist at a golf tournament?”

Jan 1, 2012

By Alain Duchesne, Dominique Fonfrede, Alan Broca

The technique involves the removal, in one piece, of an unwanted concrete pile section, exploiting the principle of crack propagation induced using gas pressure. The device, or pod, is made of a container in which an over-pressure is generated. After a predetermined time delay of 72 hours, gas and pressure are produced by the reaction between a calcium base chemical and water.

Jan 1, 2012

By Harry Verakis, Thomas Lobb

This paper summarizes the course of mine blasting safety, particularly in underground coal mining, in the USA for over a century of mining operations. During the late 1800's and especially in the first decade of the 1900's, a large number of mine explosions occurred in which blasting played a significant role. A contributor to the large number of mine explosions during this time period was the use of black blasting powder to extract coal and other minerals. A review is made of some of the more significant underground coal mine explosions that resulted from blasting operations during this time period up to the present day. The safety measures that were adopted and required by a series of laws as a result of mine explosion disasters in which blasting was one of the factors are examined. The time line of historical improvements in blasting safety and the tremendous reduction in fatalities and injuries over a century is illustrated and discussed. The improvements, which included the elimination of black powder and dynamite and the introduction of safer explosives termed "permissibles" occurred slowly over time and culminated from the occurrence of many coal mine explosion disasters. The blasting accident history over the past decade is discussed to show the great gains made when compared to the first decade of the 1900's. The most recent blasting accident fatality that occurred in October 2006 at a U.S. underground coal mine is also discussed. Although the blasting accident record is significantly improved from over a century ago, continual improvement is needed to reach the goal of zero fatalities.

Jan 1, 2009

By Walter Voglauer, Elisabeth Zechmeister

Description of Project: The four photos show a chimney blasting operation in Vienna’s district of Floridsdorf on May 4 2011. The blasting was done with two types of charges. An internal charge provided a force of blast which resulted in 135 single electrical blasting caps initiated detonations on the basic ensured the straight collapse of the chimney. The preparation work was done by reserve force military engineers. The series of photos were shot by Elisabeth Zechmeister. She works in the Austrian DOD but not as a professional photographer; much more she did all activities in her spare time.

Jan 1, 2013

By Benjamin Cebrian

Metallurgical testing at Cobre Las Cruces prior to production at the mill was done with overburden gossan. Some of that test gossan was a very fine material, wet by the water conditions at the bottom of the pit. When processed and stored wet at the fines material 3000 tonne (3307 tons) silo, this material cemented in a very unusual manner.

Jan 1, 2010

By Michael Weaver, Dale L. Ramsey

The Pinkerton Tunnel open cut project is part of the National Gateway Clearance Initiative improvement project to achieve a minimum of 21 feet of vertical clearance along CSX Transportation rail corridor so that double-stacked intermodal railcars can be transported between mid-Atlantic states and their ports to midwest markets in the U.S. This project involved drilling and blasting of 1.2 million bank cubic yards of rock over a 14 month period while maintaining rail traffic of two passenger and 38 freight trains daily. See story and photos, page 6.

Jan 1, 2015

By Fred C. Drury

Blasting vibrations have been a concern to those using explosives since as early as 1927. Many criteria have been used to correlate vibration levels with damage to structures. After considering many alternatives, peak particle velocity has become the most commonly used criteria.

Jan 1, 1975

By S R. "Bob" Pilshaw

Productivity is the popular "buzz" word that catches the attention of most managers when it is featured in the more popular mining and construction magazines. Engineering Task Forces and teams are formed to take advantage of productivity opportunities in almost all phases of an operation except the drilling and blasting area.

Jan 1, 1988

By M Dale White

In December at the Commonwealth of Kentucky Fifth Annual Blasting Conference of the Division of Explosives and Blasting, Department of Mines and Minerals, I delivered a paper entitled "Problems on Blasting Insurance. " Donald H. Matthews, President of Explosives Engineers, Inc. located in Sparks, Maryland came up to me before the program and said, "We explosives users know what the problems are. What we need is someone who can solve those problems. "

Jan 1, 1979

By Alan R. Cameron, William W. Forsyth, Tom H. Kleine

In the production environment, the current limits of blasting are most often defined by the ability of the operator to drill blastholes from a planned collar location to the required toe location. Many problems which are initially described as deficiencies in blasting or support are directly related to drilling. The assessment of support performance and blasting efficiency must begin with a detailed examination of drilling practices.

Jan 1, 1995

By D Reid Watson

A unique blend of theory and hands-on teaching of blast hole drilling and explosives technology is being provided at a Canadian Community College. Students graduate at an apprentice level quite capable of operating and maintaining blast hole drills and designing and executing surface blasts.

Jan 1, 1987

By Jim Simpson, John Waller, Scott Stewart

The authors review the evolution of drilling and blasting procedures at this West Virginia surface coal mine where management seeks continually to improve and update the drilling and blasting programs. Today's operations require efficient programs which include quality control to maximize production and minimize the public's sensitivity to the blasting events.

Jan 1, 1992

By Henry P. Van Ormer

This paper discusses some basic fundamentals in compressed air system design and layouts that should always be considered in planning or evaluating a compressed air distribution system in Construction and Mining. Often times, mining operations use central air or "power house" type systems that more closely resemble a typical industrial or plant compressed air distribution system. This paper does not attempt to cover this type of system.

Jan 1, 1975

By Jin Jingzhi, Wang Xuguang, Guan Li, Li Jianjin

Emulsion explosives are gaining a wider and wider commercial market and are displacing other composite slurry technologies. However, the grease-like state and essential thermodynamic instability of emulsion explosives cause inconvenience in production, transportation, storage and use and lead to gradual changes in performance. Emulsion powder explosives are designed to avoid these disadvantages. The formulation, process and properties of emulsion powder explosives made through a spin flash technology are described in this paper.

Jan 1, 1997

By Michael Swisdak, John Tatom

In a quantitative risk assessment (QRA), the ability to accurately model real-world situations is obviously critical. In the end, the model must be able to represent the effects produced by the detonation of the donor and the consequences on the target. The science that goes into such a model must be carefully thought-out and based on as much data as possible.

Jan 1, 2007

By Peter F. Bayer, Fred C. Drury

This paper deals with explosives regulations in the State of Wisconsin. As has been typical elsewhere, there has been considerable pressure to add additional restrictions over blasting in Wisconsin. What we believe to be a novel approach to the problem has been developed and is being implemented. Members of this Society have been instrumental in this approach whereby the emphasis of the regulations is directed at permissible levels of blasting resultants rather than at specific methods of blasting. It is our intent that this paper serve as a guide to others who may become involved in similar regulatory review in other states.

Jan 1, 1984

By R Wing, D Corkery

"Several mines in the region of Sudbury, Ontario, occur in or near populated areas. In anattempt to examine the effects of environmental changes and blast induced vibrations onhomes in the area, a monitoring study was conceived. The study was conducted fromNovember 1990 to May 1991 in homes located near the 880 Stope at INCO Ltd.'s CopperCliff South Mine."

Jan 1, 1993