The Journal of Explosives Engineering - January/February 2015 - 38

Blasting Fumes -
MSHA Fatality Report

SafetyTalk

The Mine Safety and Health
Administration
(MSHA) recently
released a fatality report regarding two deaths
as a result of
blasting fumes.
In the report,
MSHA issued several citations for unsafe
practices in the handling and disposing
of deteriorated explosives located in an
underground silver mine in Colorado.
The year-long investigation found that
the mine detonated over three-quarters
of a ton of explosives in an unventilated
drift. The miners died as a result of high
levels of carbon monoxide and several
more were injured in the recovery effort. Although miners had undergone
training and best practices familiarization with the explosives provider as well
as other qualified instructors, the event
serves as a grim reminder that communication throughout all levels remains
critical in preventing many incidents.
Additionally, the ISEE encourages manufacturers, transporters, and users of explosives to not only train on the proper
handling of explosives, but also to teach
and encourage integrity throughout
their operation. Too often the industry
has witnessed preventable incidents due
to shortcuts and failure to act on sound
suggestions in improving safety. In this
case, two miners lost their lives for those
reasons. While no operation or procedure can be completely free of risk, managers and supervisors must routinely undertake measures to ensure unsafe acts
or conditions are adequately addressed
in a timely fashion. These risks can be
mitigated with training and equipment,
but most importantly, it requires a relentless effort in establishing and enforcing
routine safety practices.
The ISEE wishes to commend the
extraordinary safety record of members
38

By Buck Hawkins,
Director of ISEE and SEE Education Programs

industry wide. While countless blasts go
unnoticed each day, it is this reminder
that in order to send all employees
home to their families each day, we
must remain vigilant in communicating
hazards. Miners must train and rehearse
emergency plans not until they get them
right, but until they cannot get them
wrong. The society wishes to encourage
discussion in establishing best practices
in all aspects of blasting and is pursuing
an online medium through which blasters are able to share lessons learned. Additionally, it is the intent of the ISEE to
discuss the issue of blasting fumes at the
Industry Panel Discussion at ISEE's 41st
Conference in New Orleans (see page
42). Further, the society continues to

grow its Children's Fund; an endowment
established to provide money for education expenses for children of people severely injured or killed in a commercial
explosives incident. Members may nominate recipients by contacting the ISEE.
Most importantly, our deepest heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families of
the deceased and all miners involved in
this particular event. Through its members, the ISEE will continue to lead the
way in developing and communicating
techniques and procedures that keep
blasters, employees and the public safe.
The entire MSHA report can be
viewed on the MSHA website.

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The Journal of Explosives Engineering

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January/February 2015

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The Journal of Explosives Engineering - January/February 2015

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