Reducing Impacts Potentially Triggered by Blasting

Abstract

Ore extractions, rock excavations and structures’ demolitions have been quickly and cost-effectively conducted by blasting. Blasting, when cautiously performed, will have lessened the potential of vibratory impacts to nearby structures. Adverse impacts may not only affect structures, but may involve workers’ harm, the public’s response, historic or vibration-sensitive features, geologic hazards (slope instability, sinkhole collapse, …), and natural-resource (flora and fauna) concerns. Documented cases have noted these adverse impacts triggered by blasting. Merely monitoring air blast and vibration has no ability to identify or minimize the array of potential adverse impacts. The three primary and many secondary impacts (described in the paper) can be controlled by the blasting parameters used and, for some projects, by additional mitigating measures. Typically, the Blasting Contractor has the understanding and capability to avoid the impacts to workers and structures, and to lessen the public’s response. Achieving the required goal of the blasting project may require reduced blasting efficiency to minimize the risk of inducing secondary impacts. Detailed investigations of the potential impacts, geophysical assessments of both the sites and triggering parameter levels for those potential impacts, and/or the necessity for mitigating actions may be required for some blasting projects. Two case histories cite the proper approach toward lessening the potential for human, geologic-hazard, natural-resource, and structural impacts without diminishing the capacity to effectively perform the blasting. Blasting can be conducted to achieve the project’s goals with a low potential of triggering adverse impacts.