Mine Explosives and Blasting Safety Audit Checklist

Comprehensive explosives and blasting safety audits should be conducted bi-annually, with more frequent assessments (monthly or quarterly) for high-risk areas or when significant changes in blasting practices occur. Daily pre-blast inspections and post-blast analyses should be part of routine operations.

This checklist covers explosives storage facilities, transportation protocols, blast design and planning, initiation systems, blast area security, environmental monitoring (vibration, noise, dust), post-blast inspection procedures, misfires management, explosives inventory control, personnel training and certification, and emergency response planning for blasting incidents.

The audit should be led by a certified blasting engineer or explosives safety specialist. The team should include the mine manager, blast crew supervisors, safety officers, and environmental specialists. For comprehensive audits, it may be beneficial to involve external explosives experts or regulatory authorities.

The checklist includes items to evaluate the use of advanced blast design software, electronic detonation systems, and blast modeling techniques. It assesses the balance between fragmentation goals and vibration/flyrock control measures. The audit also examines the effectiveness of continuous improvement processes based on post-blast analysis data.

Yes, this checklist is designed to be applicable to various types of mining operations, including open-pit, underground, and quarry operations. However, it should be customized to address specific blasting challenges and regulatory requirements associated with different mining methods, rock types, and proximity to sensitive areas.