The All Important Warning System

Even though Nxburst and the Fragmentor are head and shoulders safer to handle, transport and use relative to their high explosive counter-parts, they are still a powerful tool that can have unintended consequences if not treated with the proper respect and planning. One of, if not the biggest aspects of safety is to control your blast site and communicate to personnel within it. In comes the warning system, a preplanned signaling procedure to alert and communicate all the important information regarding the status of your blast.

If no one is in harm's way, no one gets harmed!

The first thing to do is control the flow of people and vehicles within your blast site, placing guards at all access points allow you to ensure no one inadvertently wanders into the site. Once the guards are posted at entrance points and all equipment and personnel have been moved to a safe place and the area/site is declared secure by the shot firer in charge, the audible warning system can commence.

1.    One long horn or siren is sounded to further secure the area by advising the guards to stop any vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

2.    The shot firer will then check the site/area and once assured the area is secure a second long horn or siren is then sounded.

3.    The shot firer once again checks the site and guards to further assure that the site/area is secure.

4.    The shot firer will then initiate a third horn or siren to advise that the event is about to take place.

5.    Following the third horn or siren being sounded the shot firer will visually check the site/area and once assured that the site/area is secure the shot firer will initiate the shot.

6.    Upon completion of the event, the shot firer will check to make sure all charges have been initiated.

7.    Once the shot firer is assured that there was a successful initiation a fourth horn or siren is sounded to allow guards and personnel back to the site.

 At any time following the initial three warning horns or sirens, the shot firer can cancel the event by sounding the fourth horn or siren. 

This system is simple which is why it works, and we use it ourselves. When you develop your own system make sure you take into account any site specific variables that may need to be addressed.

Coogar Sales & Services is the proud distributor of The MacLean MDA Rock Drill, Nxburst?, Fragmentor? and QuikDraw? throughout Canada, US and Mexico and has the stock to meet your needs. With our staff having a practical drill and blast experience we can guide you through even the most delicate of jobs safely and effectively helping you and your bottom line.

Give us a call at (866) 762-5835 or visit www.coogarsales.com