Drilling and Blasting Course

Lesson 1 • Industry Overview and Applications

Covers the scope of drilling and blasting across mining, quarrying, tunneling, and civil works. Establishes context for all subsequent technical content.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory and Safety Framework

Outlines the regulatory environment, licensing requirements, and safety obligations governing explosives use. Establishes compliance expectations before any practical work begins.

Lesson 3 • Rock Properties and Classification

Introduces physical and mechanical rock properties that govern drillability and blastability. Connects material behavior to design decisions made throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Drilling Parameters and Control

Teaches feed force, rotation speed, flushing pressure, and penetration rate optimization. Controlled parameters directly affect hole straightness and explosive loading accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Drill Rig Types and Selection

Compares rotary, percussive, and rotary-percussive rigs across application scenarios. Guides selection based on rock strength, hole diameter, and depth requirements.

Lesson 3 • Drill Bit and Steel Selection

Covers bit geometry, button configurations, and steel grades suited to varying rock conditions. Proper selection reduces cost per meter and improves hole quality.

Lesson 4 • Drill Rig Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Covers preventive maintenance schedules, hydraulic system checks, and common fault diagnosis. Minimizes unplanned downtime and extends equipment service life.

Lesson 1 • Classification of Commercial Explosives

Distinguishes primary, secondary, and blasting agent categories by sensitivity, composition, and regulatory class. Classification determines storage, transport, and use requirements.

Lesson 2 • Explosives Storage and Transport

Details magazine construction standards, compatibility segregation, and transport regulations for explosives. Compliance prevents accidental initiation and legal liability.

Lesson 3 • Initiation Systems

Covers electric, non-electric, and electronic detonator systems, including delay timing principles. Initiation system choice controls fragmentation, vibration, and safety.

Lesson 4 • Safe Handling and Misfire Procedures

Establishes protocols for charging, stemming, and responding to misfires and hangfires. Correct procedures protect personnel from the most common explosive-related fatalities.

Lesson 1 • Fragmentation Prediction Models

Introduces empirical models such as Kuz-Ram and crush-zone approaches for predicting fragment size distribution. Predictions guide design adjustments before committing to a blast.

Lesson 2 • Powder Factor and Energy Distribution

Explains powder factor as a design control linking explosive mass to rock volume. Balancing energy distribution prevents overbreak, underbreak, and toe problems.

Lesson 3 • Geometric Design Parameters

Defines burden, spacing, subdrill, stemming length, and bench height as interdependent variables. Correct geometry is the primary driver of fragmentation and muck pile shape.

Lesson 4 • Blast Design Documentation

Establishes requirements for blast plans, charge sheets, and post-blast records. Proper documentation supports regulatory compliance and continuous improvement.

Lesson 1 • Quarry and Aggregate Production Blasting

Adapts bench blast design to aggregate quality, crusher feed size, and production rate targets. Fragmentation control directly affects downstream processing costs.

Lesson 2 • Exclusion Zone and Blast Clearance

Defines exclusion zone calculation, personnel evacuation, and all-clear procedures for surface operations. Exclusion zone management is the primary flyrock fatality prevention control.

Lesson 3 • Post-Blast Inspection and Assessment

Establishes systematic post-blast inspection for misfires, flyrock damage, and fragmentation quality. Assessment data feeds back into design improvement cycles.

Lesson 4 • Bench Blasting Setup and Execution

Covers hole loading sequence, primer placement, stemming, and surface tie-up procedures for bench blasts. Correct execution translates design intent into field results.

Lesson 1 • Development Heading Rounds

Covers drill pattern design, delay sequencing, and loading for full-face development headings. Efficient rounds maximize advance per blast and minimize re-drill.

Lesson 2 • Underground Blast Design Fundamentals

Adapts surface design principles to confined geometry, single free face, and limited burden conditions. Cut design is the critical difference from surface bench blasting.

Lesson 3 • Underground Ventilation After Blasting

Explains toxic fume generation, re-entry time calculation, and ventilation system requirements. Inadequate ventilation is a leading cause of underground blast-related fatalities.

Lesson 4 • Underground Misfire and Emergency Response

Details misfire protocols specific to underground confined spaces, including waiting times and disposal methods. Emergency response planning is mandatory before any underground blast.

Lesson 1 • Dust and Fume Hazard Control

Addresses blast-generated dust, nitrogen oxide fumes, and carbon monoxide as occupational health hazards. Control measures include product selection, water use, and exposure monitoring.

Lesson 2 • Hazard Management Plan Development

Guides students through writing a site-specific blast hazard management plan integrating all identified controls. The plan format meets regulatory submission requirements.

Lesson 3 • Airblast and Overpressure Management

Explains airblast generation from exposed detonating cord, inadequate stemming, and face conditions. Overpressure limits protect structures and community amenity.

Lesson 4 • Ground Vibration Monitoring and Control

Covers peak particle velocity measurement, scaled distance law, and vibration limit compliance. Vibration control protects structures and maintains community and regulatory acceptance.

Lesson 1 • Root Cause Analysis of Blast Failures

Applies structured root cause analysis to poor fragmentation, toe problems, and overbreak events. Identifying root causes prevents recurrence and drives design refinement.

Lesson 2 • Fragmentation Measurement Techniques

Covers image analysis software, sieve analysis, and muck pile profiling for quantifying fragmentation. Accurate measurement is the foundation of evidence-based design improvement.

Lesson 3 • Design Modification and Trial Blasts

Structures controlled trial blast programs to test design changes with measurable outcomes. Trial blast methodology isolates variables and validates improvements statistically.

Lesson 4 • Blast Performance KPIs and Benchmarking

Defines key performance indicators including powder factor, advance per round, and cost per tonne. Benchmarking against industry norms identifies improvement priorities.