Appendix A

Blaster Training Requirements § 850.13(b)

The following is a list of potential topics to be covered in blaster training and testing
based of the Federal rules.

1(i) Explosives – selection of type to be used

ANFO

Emulsions

Cast Primers

Blends 25/75 50/50 75/25

Detonating Cord

Initiators

Dynamite

Pre-split

1(ii) Explosives – determination of the properties which will produce desired results
at an acceptable level of risk

Water Resistance

Gas Pressure (Detonation)

Detonation Velocity

Sensitivity

Coupling

see IC 8925

Density

Fume class

Sensitiveness

Relative Bulk strength

1(iii) Explosives – handling, transportation, and storage

MSHA Rules

ATF

US DOT

Possessor License

RESPA Registration

Internal Controls/ Accountability

Vehicle requirements

Magazine requirements

Handling requirements

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2(i) Blast designs – geologic and topographic considerations

Rock Type

Rock Integrity

Structure/Dip

Fractures

Voids

Phreatic Surfaces

Outcrops

Drilling – Logs

Equipment requirements

Overburden type, amount and placement

Steepness of slope

Old mine works

Auger holes

2(ii) Blast designs – design of a blast hole, with critical dimensions

Site Selection

Burden

Stemming

Spacing

Depth

Sub Drill

Decking

Geology

Explosive Column

Hole diameter

Deck stemming

Bench Height to burden ratio

Air decks

Drill selection

Angle holes

Guide holes / line drilling

Powder factor

Loading factor

2(iii) Blast designs – pattern design, field layout, and timing of blast holes

Drill Patterns

Location Holes (Tapes, Surveys, GPS)

Chevron, Echelon, Square, Row by Row

Left, Box-Cuts, Presplit, Coal, Conventional, Cast

Timing – Rock Response Time

Delay Intervals

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Cushion blasting

Left Lift (sinking, center pull, drop cut, sump shot)

V-Cut

Adverse effects to expect (pros and cons) and address different

Terminology for the different types

Contour

Pattern Layout Methods

Step Benches

Binder / Inner Burden / Parting Shots

Face Velocity

Boulders (block holing / mud capping)

Air Gapping

Bench Preparation

2(iv) Blast designs – field applications

Keeping blasts inside permit area

Keep within blast area

Blast for equipment type

Sediment Ponds

Haul Roads

DO NOT – rock in culvert or stuck silos

Reclamation

Secondary Blasting

Nearest Protected Structures

Design Application

Coal Blasts

Confinement of Material

Confinement Factors

Burden Pole / Laser Profiler

Free Face Conditions

Hole Deviation

3 Loading blastholes, including priming and boostering

Review Drill Logs

Communication with Driller

Direct vs. Indirect (Primer Location)

Taping the Holes

Decking

Boosters – When and Where

Primer Makeup

Primer Diameter – Optimum

Primer Location

Size of Primers

Stemming Material / Type

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Selection of Primer

Tamping Methods and Applications

Secondary Priming (Insurance)

Auger vs. Re-Pump

Loading Methods

Bulk Bag

4 Initiation systems and blasting machines

Initiation Systems

Electric (Electronic)

Non-electric
o Det. Cord
o Shell Tube

Energy Distribution

Delay Types

Lead-in Line

Remote / Wireless Systems

Site-Specific Conditions

Pros and Cons of Applications

Circuit Testing Methods

Failure Mode Analysis and Prevention

Electricity

Blasting Machines

Plunger

Twister

Capacitor Discharge

Sequential

Cap Fuse

Shot Gun Primer

5. Blasting vibrations, airblast, and flyrock

ISEE “Field Practice Guidelines for Blasting Seismographs”

Capability of the machine / interpretation of the data

Utilization of Data

Documentation and Proper Location Based on Conditions

Scale Distance Calculations

Frequency Determination

Ground Vibration Prediction and Limitations

Waveform Interpretation – Blast Identification

Weather Effects

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5(i) Blasting vibrations, airblast, and flyrock – monitoring techniques

Flyrock Monitoring

Video

Photographs

Evaluation Tools (Seismogram)

Post Blast inspections

Ground Vibration Monitoring

• Sensor placements/coupling
• Sensor location
• Blasting Seismograph
o Record duration and calibration
o Trigger levels
o Waveforms
o Frequency

Airblast Monitoring
• Microphone placement
• Microphone location

5(ii) Blasting vibrations, airblast, and flyrock – methods to control adverse affects

Flyrock - Methods to Control

Require Drill Logs

Laser Profile Face / Burden Poles

Stemming Type, Amount, Delivery, and Placement

Proper Shot Performance Documentation

Bench Height to Burden Ratio

Shot Size

Powder Factor

Face Orientation

Unconsolidated Material

Matting / Backfill / Burming

Confinement

Partial Misfires

Geology

Hole Deviation

Timing

Explosive Type

Pre-inspection of blast site
o Excessive toe
o Back break
o Weathered surface rock
Ground vibrations - Methods to Control
• Rules

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 • Distance/Charge weight
• Confinement

Airblast - Methods to Control

• Rules
• Distance/Charge weight
• Stemming type
• Initiation system
• Decking weak zones

6 Secondary blasting applications

• Big rocks into small rocks

• Airblast/Flyrock
• Mud Capping/ Confinement
• Drilling
• Limit # of holes
• Cover with blast first
• Specialty products
• Other Options
o RAM hoe
o Headache ball
o Jack hammer

7 Current Federal and State rules applicable to the use of explosives

MSHA

State specific information

ATF

OSHA

EPA

Placards (addressed by MSHA and in the ATF regulations)

8 Blast records

Focus on:

Location of blast
• Accurate sketch/Dimensions
• Distance reported
o Closest hole in pattern to nearest corner of house
o Calculating distances from blasts to homes with various coordinate
systems (State plane, local, UTM, Lat-Long)
• Amount of explosive/Hole
• Timing/Sequence of detonation
• Seismograph location at house

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 • Initiation system
Other items:

Name of operator conducting the blast

Location, date, and time of the blast

Name, signature, and certification number of the blaster conducting the

blast

Identification, direction, and distance in feet, from the nearest blast

hole to the nearest dwelling, public building, school, church, community of
institutional building outside the permit area, except those described in
816.67.

Weather conditions, including those that may cause possible adverse

blasting effects

Type of material blasted

Sketches of the blast pattern including number of holes, burden, spacing,
decks, and delay pattern

Show special relationship of blast site to surrounding area

Freeface

Resulting highwall

North arrow

Previous shot material (muck pile)

Azimuth of primary freeface

Diameter and depth of holes

Types of explosives used and amounts

Total weight of explosives used per hole

The maximum weight of explosives detonated in an e-millisecond period

Initiation system

Type and length of stemming

Mats or other protections used

Seismographic and airblast records, if required, which shall include
o Type of instrument, sensitivity, and calibration signal or certification
of annual calibration
o Exact location of instrument and the date, time, and distance from the
blast
o Name of the person and firm taking the reading
o The vibration and/or airblast level recorded

Reasons and conditions for each unscheduled blast

Detonator quantities

Booster quantities

Timing of the actual hole

Delay time sequence

Cap firing time

Hole-to-hole and in-hole delays

Explosive column / hole cross section

Firing times

Coal seam shooting down to

3-D location

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Direction to protected structures

Exact location of blast and methods of obtaining location

Document coordinates and method

Use of a blasting map / pit map

GPS

Survey

Record time (duration of the shot) for seismograph

Site security measures

Verification of what was done and the crew present for the shot

In comments document misfires

Seismograph operation should be documented

Attach the printout from the seismograph if available

Trigger levels of the seismograph

Attach the full wave form printout

Document the seismograph set up

Label multiple pages with shot number and date or some unique number

9 Schedules
• Distribute annually
• Utilities, residents.
• Warning signals
• Mail to all within ½ mile of permit area
• Audible outside ½ mile of the blast
• Awareness of permit blast plan
• MSHA joint approvals with underground mines
• Include public safety – outdoor activity, school schedule, welfare considerations
• If beyond the blast schedule, list reasons and conditions in the blast record
• State specific regulations
• Optimum blasting times (nuisance awareness and annoyance)
• Safety considerations
• Atmospheric or weather conditions (fumes / dust)
• Wind direction and temperature

10 Preblasting surveys

How to conduct surveys

10(i) Preblasting surveys – availability

Letter (certified)

½ Mile of permit area

Free to owner

Get copy to owner

Proof of offering

Right of review/Comment

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10(ii) Preblasting surveys – coverage

½ Mile of permit area

10(iii) Preblasting surveys – use of in-blast design

Historic structures/ Sensitive structures

Changing vibration limits

11 Blast-plan requirements

Address all the performance standards 816.61-68 in permit

Public safety issues

Active underground mine issues w/ MSHA

Public utilities – Consultation

Recognize site-specific requirements

Blast plan development

Prepared by a certified blaster – state specific

12 Certification and training

Rules

State specific regulations and/or federal regulations

Revocation

Time frames

Application fees

Continuing education requirements

Renewals

What a certified blaster should be training the crew on – OJT

Reinstatement

13 Signs, warning signals, and site control

Warning Signals
• Horns
o Truck
o Air
o Bugle
o Air compressor
• Conditions affecting audibility
o Wind – direct
o Atmospheric conditions
o Ambient noises
• Adequate blast area
• Location – all access points
• Define responsible parties for each aspect
• Training of flag personnel
• Individual notification before each blast (phone or in-person)
• Public notification

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 • Communication methods for site security personnel
• Pre-project meeting with the mine
• Public roads
• ATV’s

14. Unpredictable hazard including Lightening, Stray currents, Radio waves and
Misfires

Stray gas – CO, NOx

Cell phones

Lightening

Stray currents

Radio waves/RF

Misfires

Power lines

Underground voids

Gas wells/lines

Radar sites (airport)

Untrained helpers / assistants

Recognition

Ways to deal with them

Avoidance

Reporting

Remedy

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