Blasting Course

Lesson 1 • History and Industry Overview

Traces blasting from early black powder use to modern precision techniques. Provides context for why current standards and methods evolved as they did.

Lesson 2 • Core Blasting Terminology

Defines essential vocabulary used across all blasting disciplines. Accurate terminology enables clear communication with crews, engineers, and regulators.

Lesson 3 • Regulatory and Licensing Framework

Outlines the structure of blasting regulations, licensing requirements, and compliance obligations. Learners recognise the regulatory bodies and documentation they will encounter.

Lesson 1 • Explosive Compatibility and Mixing

Addresses rules for combining explosive products and on-site mixing of bulk agents. Incompatible combinations can cause misfires or unintended detonation.

Lesson 2 • Safe Handling and Inspection Procedures

Details pre-use inspection, handling techniques, and rejection criteria for damaged product. Correct handling prevents premature initiation and product degradation.

Lesson 3 • Storage and Transportation Requirements

Covers magazine construction, segregation rules, and transport regulations for explosives. Proper storage and transport prevent accidents and ensure regulatory compliance.

Lesson 4 • Chemical and Physical Properties

Examines detonation velocity, density, water resistance, and oxygen balance. These properties determine performance and compatibility with site conditions.

Lesson 1 • Detonator Construction and Function

Examines internal components, delay elements, and firing mechanisms of detonators. Component knowledge enables correct selection and identification of defective units.

Lesson 2 • Types of Initiation Systems

Surveys electric, non-electric, and electronic detonator systems and their operating principles. System selection affects timing precision, safety, and site suitability.

Lesson 3 • Timing and Delay Sequencing

Explains how delay intervals control fragmentation, vibration, and flyrock. Correct sequencing is the primary tool for optimising blast outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Circuit Design and Testing

Teaches series, parallel, and combination circuit layouts for electric systems. Proper circuit design ensures all detonators receive adequate firing current.

Lesson 1 • Bench Blasting Design

Integrates geometry, charge, and timing into a complete bench blast design. Bench blasting is the most common surface blasting scenario students will encounter.

Lesson 2 • Drill Pattern Layout and Hole Design

Covers square, staggered, and echelon drill patterns and hole inclination options. Pattern selection affects fragmentation uniformity and face stability.

Lesson 3 • Underground Blast Design Basics

Adapts surface design principles to confined underground headings and stopes. Confinement and limited free face require specialised cut and relief hole arrangements.

Lesson 4 • Powder Factor and Charge Calculation

Teaches methods for calculating explosive charge per hole and overall powder factor. Accurate charge calculation balances fragmentation goals with cost and vibration limits.

Lesson 1 • Drilling Equipment and Selection

Reviews rotary, percussive, and rotary-percussive drill types and their application ranges. Equipment selection determines achievable hole diameter, depth, and accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Drill Hole Logging and Documentation

Covers recording of drill penetration rates, rock conditions, and water presence. Logging data informs charge design adjustments before loading begins.

Lesson 3 • Hole Deviation and Accuracy Control

Identifies causes of hole deviation and methods to measure and correct it. Deviation from design increases burden variability and degrades fragmentation.

Lesson 1 • Deck Loading and Air Decks

Covers the use of stemming decks and air decks to control energy distribution. Decking reduces vibration and improves fragmentation in variable rock conditions.

Lesson 2 • Priming Techniques

Explains bottom, top, and mid-column priming positions and their effect on detonation. Primer placement determines column coupling and energy distribution.

Lesson 3 • Stemming Materials and Placement

Evaluates crushed stone, drill cuttings, and plug stemming for retention effectiveness. Adequate stemming confines gases and maximises energy transfer to rock.

Lesson 4 • Loading Records and Verification

Establishes procedures for recording explosive quantities, primer locations, and hole conditions. Accurate records support post-blast analysis and regulatory compliance.

Lesson 1 • Flyrock and Airblast Control

Examines causes of flyrock and airblast and engineering controls to minimise both. Uncontrolled flyrock and airblast are leading causes of blasting fatalities.

Lesson 2 • Emergency Response Planning

Develops site-specific emergency response plans for blast accidents and injuries. Prepared crews reduce injury severity and ensure rapid emergency service notification.

Lesson 3 • Exclusion Zones and Access Control

Defines minimum exclusion distances for personnel, equipment, and public roads. Enforcing exclusion zones is the primary barrier against flyrock injury.

Lesson 4 • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Applies systematic hazard identification and risk ranking to blasting operations. Risk assessment outputs drive control selection and safety planning.

Lesson 1 • Blast Design Optimisation Strategies

Applies iterative design adjustment based on monitoring and fragmentation feedback. Optimisation reduces cost per ton while meeting vibration and fragmentation targets.

Lesson 2 • Airblast and Noise Measurement

Covers overpressure monitoring equipment, measurement units, and community impact limits. Airblast data supports neighbour relations and regulatory reporting.

Lesson 3 • Post-Blast Analysis and Reporting

Structures a systematic post-blast review comparing predicted and actual outcomes. Documented analysis creates an institutional knowledge base for continuous improvement.

Lesson 4 • Fragmentation Assessment Methods

Applies visual grading, sieve analysis, and image analysis software to measure fragmentation. Fragmentation data quantifies blast efficiency and guides design changes.