CSCS Shot Firing cheat sheet

Explosives are licensed and controlled in most jurisdictions; shot firing typically requires a competent, appointed shot firer named on a permit or licence.

Statutory duties generally follow a hierarchy: eliminate the hazard, then reduce risk, then control residual risk - documentary risk assessment underpins the blast plan.

Explosives must be stored, transported and used in accordance with the governing explosives regulation; quantity limits and separation distances are prescribed, not discretionary.

Explosive precursors and some accessories are separately controlled; records of receipt, issue and use are a legal requirement in most regimes.

Notifiable incidents (misfires, theft, loss, injury, uncontrolled explosion) usually carry a strict reporting deadline to the regulator and police.

Approved codes of practice and industry standards are admissible as evidence of the standard reasonably expected; deviation requires documented justification.

A blast plan and method statement are the operational expression of the legal duty of care and must be site-specific and signed off before firing.

Competence is defined by training, qualification and experience together; a certificate alone does not establish competence for a specific task.

High explosives detonate (shock-driven, supersonic reaction); blasting agents and propellants deflagrate or are sensitised to detonate under confinement.

Sensitivity, velocity of detonation (VoD), density, water resistance and fume class are the key selection properties of a bulk or cartridge explosive.

ANFO is a prilled ammonium nitrate/fuel oil blasting agent: low cost, poor water resistance, requires a strong primer and confinement.

Emulsion and water-gel explosives are water-resistant; density and energy can be adjusted by sensitiser content and gassing.

Detonators are classed by delay: instantaneous, short-period (milliseconds) and long-period; electronic detonators give far tighter timing scatter.

Explosives and detonators are stored in separate, licensed magazines; detonators are kept apart from bulk explosives and from detonating cord.

Magazine controls include stock reconciliation, segregation by compatibility group, protection from impact, heat, moisture and unauthorised access.

Transport requires approved packaging, placarding, segregation from incompatible loads, a consignment note and a trained, licensed driver.

Initiation options are safety fuse with plain detonators, shock tube (non-electric), electric and electronic; each has its own hazard profile and test regime.

Electric detonators require circuit testing for continuity and resistance, isolation from stray currents, radio-frequency exclusion and lightning shutdown.

Shock tube systems are immune to stray current and RF but must be protected from kinking, cutting, abrasion and hot work.

Electronic detonators are programmed and tested individually; the blasting machine and logger record timing, continuity and fault codes.

Exploders and blasting machines must deliver the rated current/voltage for the circuit; capacity must never be exceeded and machines are function-tested before use.

Shotfiring cables and lead-in wires must be kept shorted, insulated and clear of rails, pipes and power lines until the firing point is ready.

Detonating cord is rated in grains per foot (or g/m); it initiates downlines and trunklines and must be handled as an explosive in its own right.

All initiation hardware is inspected before use; damaged, expired or suspect items are quarantined, not fired.

Key design parameters are burden, spacing, bench height, subdrill, hole diameter, hole depth, explosive type and powder factor (mass explosive per unit rock volume).

Burden must exceed the critical distance for the explosive/rock combination; excessive burden causes overconfinement, misfires and flyrock.

Spacing-to-burden ratio typically falls around 1.0–1.5 for bench blasting; the pattern is adjusted to the required fragmentation and wall control.

Stemming length is generally at least the burden, or a prescribed minimum, and must use angular, non-combustible material free of voids.

Charging must maintain the designed explosive column and primer position; primers are placed to give reliable initiation of the full column.

Air decking, decked charges and pre-split/trim blasting are used to control confinement, wall damage and overbreak.

Holes are inspected for depth, water, caving and obstructions before charging; wet holes require water-resistant explosives or liners.

Powder factor and timing sequence are recorded on the blast plan so results can be reconciled with design after firing.

The exclusion zone radius is set from the blast design and site conditions; it must account for flyrock, fumes, airblast and the firing point itself.

Clearance is confirmed by physical search of the zone, sentries at all access points and a positive count before the firing signal is given.

Standard audible signals: warning, firing, and all-clear; no one re-enters until the all-clear is sounded by the shot firer.

A misfire is declared when the full round has not detonated after the expected delay; the area is treated as live and re-entry is delayed per procedure.

Misfire procedure: isolate the firing circuit, keep the exclusion zone, wait the prescribed time, then investigate and re-blast or safely recover under supervision.

No smoking, naked flame or hot work within the blast area; fume (carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen) can persist in confined or low-wind conditions.

Emergency plan covers injury, premature or uncontrolled explosion, fire at the magazine and loss of explosives, with named responsibilities and contacts.

After firing, the shot firer inspects the muckpile for undetonated explosives, cut-offs and misfires before the all-clear is given.

Ground vibration is controlled by maximum instantaneous charge (MIC) per delay, distance and delay sequencing; peak particle velocity (PPV) is the usual measured parameter.

Scaled distance = distance / square root of maximum charge per delay; it is used to compare blasts against site-specific vibration limits.

Airblast (overpressure) is reduced by good stemming, avoiding exposed detonating cord, and firing with favourable wind and weather conditions.

Flyrock controls: adequate burden and stemming, correct delay sequence, no overcharging, and clearing the zone to the design radius.

Blast-induced vibration and airblast are monitored with calibrated seismographs sited at sensitive receptors, with records retained.

Dust is controlled by water sprays, wetting muckpiles, restricting blasting in adverse wind, and dust suppression on haul roads.

Blasting near structures, services or protected areas may require pre-blast condition surveys and agreed vibration limits.

Weather (wind, temperature inversion, lightning) is checked before firing; inversions can carry airblast and fumes long distances.

Blast records typically include date/time, location, shot firer, design, hole data, explosive and detonator quantities, delays, and results.

Explosives accounting is a chain-of-custody record: receipt, issue, return and reconciliation of stock against use.

Misfires, incidents, near-misses and complaints must be recorded, investigated and reported to the regulator where required.

Competence records include training, qualification, authorisation, medical fitness where applicable and refresher/supervision history.

The blast plan, risk assessment, method statement and records must be retained for the statutory retention period and be available for inspection.

Communication includes a pre-blast briefing, warning signals, liaison with neighbours and notification to site personnel and relevant authorities.

Handover between shifts or shot firers must be documented, including live rounds, misfires and magazine status.

Records must be legible, contemporaneous and signed; retrospective amendment requires clear identification and justification.

High explosives detonate (shock-driven, supersonic reaction); blasting agents and propellants deflagrate or are sensitised to detonate under confinement.

Sensitivity, velocity of detonation (VoD), density, water resistance and fume class are the key selection properties of a bulk or cartridge explosive.

ANFO is a prilled ammonium nitrate/fuel oil blasting agent: low cost, poor water resistance, requires a strong primer and confinement.

Emulsion and water-gel explosives are water-resistant; density and energy can be adjusted by sensitiser content and gassing.

Detonators are classed by delay: instantaneous, short-period (milliseconds) and long-period; electronic detonators give far tighter timing scatter.

Explosives and detonators are stored in separate, licensed magazines; detonators are kept apart from bulk explosives and from detonating cord.

Magazine controls include stock reconciliation, segregation by compatibility group, protection from impact, heat, moisture and unauthorised access.

Transport requires approved packaging, placarding, segregation from incompatible loads, a consignment note and a trained, licensed driver.

Initiation options are safety fuse with plain detonators, shock tube (non-electric), electric and electronic; each has its own hazard profile and test regime.

Electric detonators require circuit testing for continuity and resistance, isolation from stray currents, radio-frequency exclusion and lightning shutdown.

Shock tube systems are immune to stray current and RF but must be protected from kinking, cutting, abrasion and hot work.

Electronic detonators are programmed and tested individually; the blasting machine and logger record timing, continuity and fault codes.

Exploders and blasting machines must deliver the rated current/voltage for the circuit; capacity must never be exceeded and machines are function-tested before use.

Shotfiring cables and lead-in wires must be kept shorted, insulated and clear of rails, pipes and power lines until the firing point is ready.

Detonating cord is rated in grains per foot (or g/m); it initiates downlines and trunklines and must be handled as an explosive in its own right.

All initiation hardware is inspected before use; damaged, expired or suspect items are quarantined, not fired.

Key design parameters are burden, spacing, bench height, subdrill, hole diameter, hole depth, explosive type and powder factor (mass explosive per unit rock volume).

Burden must exceed the critical distance for the explosive/rock combination; excessive burden causes overconfinement, misfires and flyrock.

Spacing-to-burden ratio typically falls around 1.0–1.5 for bench blasting; the pattern is adjusted to the required fragmentation and wall control.

Stemming length is generally at least the burden, or a prescribed minimum, and must use angular, non-combustible material free of voids.

Charging must maintain the designed explosive column and primer position; primers are placed to give reliable initiation of the full column.

Air decking, decked charges and pre-split/trim blasting are used to control confinement, wall damage and overbreak.

Holes are inspected for depth, water, caving and obstructions before charging; wet holes require water-resistant explosives or liners.

Powder factor and timing sequence are recorded on the blast plan so results can be reconciled with design after firing.

The exclusion zone radius is set from the blast design and site conditions; it must account for flyrock, fumes, airblast and the firing point itself.

Clearance is confirmed by physical search of the zone, sentries at all access points and a positive count before the firing signal is given.

Standard audible signals: warning, firing, and all-clear; no one re-enters until the all-clear is sounded by the shot firer.

A misfire is declared when the full round has not detonated after the expected delay; the area is treated as live and re-entry is delayed per procedure.

Misfire procedure: isolate the firing circuit, keep the exclusion zone, wait the prescribed time, then investigate and re-blast or safely recover under supervision.

No smoking, naked flame or hot work within the blast area; fume (carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen) can persist in confined or low-wind conditions.

Emergency plan covers injury, premature or uncontrolled explosion, fire at the magazine and loss of explosives, with named responsibilities and contacts.

After firing, the shot firer inspects the muckpile for undetonated explosives, cut-offs and misfires before the all-clear is given.

Ground vibration is controlled by maximum instantaneous charge (MIC) per delay, distance and delay sequencing; peak particle velocity (PPV) is the usual measured parameter.

Scaled distance = distance / square root of maximum charge per delay; it is used to compare blasts against site-specific vibration limits.

Airblast (overpressure) is reduced by good stemming, avoiding exposed detonating cord, and firing with favourable wind and weather conditions.

Flyrock controls: adequate burden and stemming, correct delay sequence, no overcharging, and clearing the zone to the design radius.

Blast-induced vibration and airblast are monitored with calibrated seismographs sited at sensitive receptors, with records retained.

Dust is controlled by water sprays, wetting muckpiles, restricting blasting in adverse wind, and dust suppression on haul roads.

Blasting near structures, services or protected areas may require pre-blast condition surveys and agreed vibration limits.

Weather (wind, temperature inversion, lightning) is checked before firing; inversions can carry airblast and fumes long distances.

Blast records typically include date/time, location, shot firer, design, hole data, explosive and detonator quantities, delays, and results.

Explosives accounting is a chain-of-custody record: receipt, issue, return and reconciliation of stock against use.

Misfires, incidents, near-misses and complaints must be recorded, investigated and reported to the regulator where required.

Competence records include training, qualification, authorisation, medical fitness where applicable and refresher/supervision history.

The blast plan, risk assessment, method statement and records must be retained for the statutory retention period and be available for inspection.

Communication includes a pre-blast briefing, warning signals, liaison with neighbours and notification to site personnel and relevant authorities.

Handover between shifts or shot firers must be documented, including live rounds, misfires and magazine status.

Records must be legible, contemporaneous and signed; retrospective amendment requires clear identification and justification.

Explosives are licensed and controlled in most jurisdictions; shot firing typically requires a competent, appointed shot firer named on a permit or licence.

Statutory duties generally follow a hierarchy: eliminate the hazard, then reduce risk, then control residual risk - documentary risk assessment underpins the blast plan.

Explosives must be stored, transported and used in accordance with the governing explosives regulation; quantity limits and separation distances are prescribed, not discretionary.

Explosive precursors and some accessories are separately controlled; records of receipt, issue and use are a legal requirement in most regimes.

Notifiable incidents (misfires, theft, loss, injury, uncontrolled explosion) usually carry a strict reporting deadline to the regulator and police.

Approved codes of practice and industry standards are admissible as evidence of the standard reasonably expected; deviation requires documented justification.

A blast plan and method statement are the operational expression of the legal duty of care and must be site-specific and signed off before firing.

Competence is defined by training, qualification and experience together; a certificate alone does not establish competence for a specific task.