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SUMMARY:
I- PURPOSE
II- APPLICATION
III- RESPONSABILITIES
IV- GENERALES REQUIREMENT
IV.1 TRAINNING
IV.2 MAP AND BLASTING ZONE
IV.3- INSPECTION OF THE BLASTING AREA
IV.4- BLASTING NOTIFICATION
IV.5 DETERMINATION OF THE LIMIT OF BLASTING AREA
V PRE-BLASTING MEETING
VI EVACUATION, RAKING OF THE BLASTING AREA
VII SECURING AND MAINTAINING LOCKING POSITIONS
VIII BLASTING INITIATION
IX PATTERN CHARGING AND NIGTH SURVEILLANCE

Reference documents : Registration documents :

Group EPC Health and Safety Manual Blast Guard and Blast Controller Training Form
Blaster's Manual Pre-Blasting Meeting Form
Blast hole loading procedure Blasting operations checklist

Propuse of the revision :

-
-

Points of diffusion:
Secretariats  : Directions – Structures (Drill and blast – QHSE )
display area  : Supervisor’s Office
other  :
DATE OF SIGNATAIRE
APPLICATION
Writer Controller Approving Validator
……./….…/……. Name: Name : Name: Name:
Surname: Surname: Surname : Surname :
CANCEL VERSION Date / visa : Date / visa : Date / visa : Date / visa :

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I. PURPOSE
 
                The purpose of this procedure is to safely manage access to the firing zone.
 
 
II. APPLICATION
             
         This procedure applies to all blasting and to all mine workers.
 
 
III. RESPONSIBILITIES
 
Sentinels or blast guards are in charge of:

 Blocking traffic to the area assigned to them ,      

 Understand and reiterate the mission entrusted to them ,      
 Follow the instructions without deviating from them ,      
 Stop the tripping process in case of deviation from the locking plane.      
 
The Blast Controller is responsible for:

 Safely supervise the blasting operation,      

 Inform all employees and the surrounding populations of the date and time of the blast 24 hours before
the blasting, and this on a dedicated board,      
 Clear the area affected by the blasting starting at the explosion site,      
 Understand and reiterate the instructions attached to its mission ,      
 Evacuate all personnel and equipment in the affected area,      
 Physically borrowing equipment from the mine to ensure that no one is on board (good
practice); especially on excavators. If there is a concern that the Blast Controller is unfamiliar with the
inside of a excavator, the supervisor responsible for that excavator will be contacted and can confirm
that all persons under their responsibility have been evacuated.      
                                         
 
IV. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 
 
IV.1- TRAINING
 
All blast guard and Blast Controller must have completed documented training before being assigned to these
responsibilities

IV.2- MAP AND BLASTING AREA

 
A mining engineer will verify that the blasting plan map accurately represents the blasting pattern in the field
(i.e., number of holes, locations, problematic holes). The evacuation distance for equipment and personnel
will be determined by each site based on the blasting specifics of the site (200 m for equipment and 500 m for
personnel) are typical horizontal distances; however, they may be greater depending on blasting practices and
the risk of fly rock.

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IV.3 - INSPECTION OF THE BLASTING AREA

 
Inspections of the blasting site will be conducted before the blasting process can begin. These will be
documented in the blasting summary sheet or other appropriate form. During the inspection, access to the
blast site and evacuation routes will be assessed and appropriate measures will be taken to ensure safety prior
to blasting.
 
 
IV.4 - BLASTING NOTIFICATION
 
The mining engineer must prepare and mail the blasting notice to all employees and subcontractors 24 hours
prior to the blast.
 
 The notification will indicate:

 Blast ID and location in the pit      

 Day and time of blasting  
 Name and phone of the Bast Controller
 Shofire's name and phone number      
 Area affected by blasting      
 Image showing all the infrastructure, the blast diagram and the safety limit (red circle 500 m radius
from the center of the diagram) and the position of the explosion protection      
 
 The blast notification board must be updated 24 hours before the blast.
 At the morning meeting, the supervisor must inform all operators that a blast is about to occur and
exact time of the blast and pit clearance.
 The blasting crew must meet at least 60 minutes prior to any blasting to verify the time of the blasting,
detail of evacuation of personnel, machinery, equipment and community, the location of the blasting and
the safe area for monitoring.
 If blasting is to be cancelled or postponed more than an hour after the scheduled blasting time,
notification should be sent to all employees and contractors with the new blasting time and the reason for
the cancellation or postponement. The blasting notification table must also be updated.

IV.5 – DETERMINATION OF THE LIMITS OF THE BLASTING AREA

The following elements will be taken into account in determining the boundaries of the blast area:

 Shock wave of the blast,      

 Potential projection distance of rocks,      
 Emanations, ventilation and prevailing winds,      
 Noise of detonation,      
 Adjacent infrastructures,      
 Equipment locations and maintenance activities,      
 Noise and vibrations,      
 Geological characteristics,      
 Underground or surface work nearby,      
 Risks associated with the loading scheme,      
 Weather conditions         

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V. PRE- BLASTING MEETING
 
The objective of this section is to ensure that all personnel involved in the evacuation and initiation of
blasting know precisely what their mission is, are properly equipped and fully master their responsibilities.
 
 Participation : 
The Blast Controller will lead the meeting. This meeting will be face-to-face and will include all blast guards.

NOTE: In special cases where equipment operators serve as blast guards and are unable to attend the meeting
due to long distances, it is permissible for them to be briefed individually by the mining engineer. All blast
guards will remain in the meeting until the end of the meeting.
 
 Assignment : 
Each blast guard will receive their assignment at the meeting and the Blast Controller will ask them to repeat
their assignment and responsibilities.
 
 Equipments : 
Safety signs will be provided at each blocking position to block the full width of the road. A flag and a radio
will be given to each blast guard to secure access.

VI. EVACUATION, RAKING OF THE BLASTING AREA

 
   The purpose of this section is to ensure that the blasting area is properly cleared and that all affected
personnel are informed.
 
Evacuation for a shot will be supervised by the blast Controller. Evacuation of an area for blasting will begin
at the blasting site and continue outward. Notification required, all affected personnel will be notified prior to
evacuation to allow orderly preparation and evacuation of the blasting area. All affected equipment will be
positioned or moved to a safe location to prevent damage from fly rocks or vibrations resulting from
blasting. During the evacuation, all previously evacuated entrances will be guarded to prevent re-entry into
the evacuated area (the "back exits" will be monitored).

VII. SECURING AND MAINTAINING LOCKING POSITIONS

 
The purpose of this section is to ensure that blocking positions are never compromised and that clear and
concise communication is maintained between the blast Controller and each blast guard.
 
Prior to the pre-blast meeting, the Blast Controller should : 
 Determine the blocking locations and assign a unique number to each location.      
 Maintain a blast guard’s checklist s and use it to verify the tasks.      
 Perform a redundant check with each blast guard prior to the last pre-blast warning.      
 Instruct each blast guard to maintain its position in case of delay in the blasting procedure,      
 At the end of the delay, consult each blast guard before proceeding with the final blast warning,      
 Do not allow anyone to enter the secure area without the Blast Controller's authorization.      

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VIII. BLASTING INITIATION

 
The purpose of this section is to ensure that all detonators are connected, that the blast area is clear, and all
blocking positions are secured.

 All blasting will be done during the day and not at night.

 Special authorization must be granted by the mining manager if the blasting takes place outside the set
time.
 The blasting crew must ensure that all blast holes are charged or will be charged before the evacuation
begins.
 1 hour prior to blast time and after the meeting with the blast crew, the Blast Controller will announce
the blast schedule on the radio to all personnel working on the pit.
 1 hour before the blast time, the Blast Controller must close the access to the danger zone within 500
meters of the blasting operation to prevent access of the local population, personnel and vehicles.

 The Blast Controller must evacuate the shift at least 45 minutes before blasting
 The Blast Controller will select the competent persons as blast guards and will indicate the extent of the
danger zone affected by the blast, its location and its duties and responsibilities
 The blast guard must be equipped with a radio, a red flag a safety sign in place when the road is closed.
 The Blast Controller will announce the warning 30 minutes warning to blast and request radio silence.
“Attention all personnel. Attention all personnel. There is going to be a blast in…..Pit in 30 minutes
time. All personnel not involve in the blast please leave the area and don’t use the radio only in case of
emergency. Blast Guards can you confirm your position;” ;  
 Blast guards will respond in numerical order 1-2, 3, 4,.... to confirm that the area is secure: "in position
and secure’’
 The Blast Controller must perform a visual check and ensure that the blast area is clear;
 The Blast Controller will ask all blast guards to secure their access and in turn will announce on the
radio to confirm the road closure point in numerical order, 1, 2,3,4,5, area to close the roads
completely;
 Once all blast guards have completed their response and the Blast Controller has confirmed that their
points are secure, the Blast Controller's vehicle siren must be turned on in the zone to inform
latecomers of the need to leave the zone;
 If the Blast Controller has seen a person or vehicle inside the pit while the siren is operating, the Blast
Controller must instruct the person or vehicle driver to exit the zone. Upon exiting, the Blast Controller
must signal to the Blast Controller by the blast guards that he is now outside the blasting affected zone,
 The siren should be on for up to 5 minutes before the shot is fired;
 At 5 minutes before firing, the Blast Controller will again announce, "Attention all personnel.
Attention all personnel. There is going to be a blast in …….Pit within the next 5 minutes. All
Blast Guards proceed to your positions. All personnel not involve in the blast please leave the
area. And blast guard shall reply in Numerical Order from 1 to 2, 3, 4,… to confirm that areas
are secured: “ in position and secure”;

 Blast guards will respond in numerical order 1-2, 3, 4,.... To confirm that the area is secure: "IN
POSITION AND SECURE";
Once all blast guards have confirmed that all zones are secure, the Blast Controller will make a radio call to the
blaster to give him permission to initiate the shot: “Shotfirer the area is secured you can now initiate the
charge”

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 If the Shotfirer is ready he will respond that "Roger, blasting machine is connected and the fire will
go in the next 5 seconds from 5 seconds counting down from 5 to 0 : 5,4,3,2,1,0 fire";
 After firing and waiting for all fallout to stop before leaving his shelter, the Shotfirer will announce
"Blast Controller, shot has been fired authorization to inspect the blast";
 The Blast Controller will say, "You have authorization to inspect the shot after the fumes cleared."
 Once the blast has been inspected and found to be in compliance, the blaster will announce: "The
blast has been inspected and is in compliance".
 The Blast Controller will then respond: "The shot is all clear at... pit and blast guards 1, 2, 3, 4 ...
may stand down".
 Blast guards will respond: "Blast guard 1, 2, 3, ... in position and access released".
 The Blast Controller will then call "The blast in... pit is over. All mining activities can resume
again. Radio silence is now lifted. Thanks you blast crew and thank you blasts guards. »
 The Blast Controller will then clear the blast boards; the time and date of the blast.
 In case of a misfire, the blast controller must inform everyone: "Attention all personnel, a misfire
has occurred in the pit... and will be re-initiated. Can all personnel please clear the blast area!
Could all blast guards be in position and confirm".

 Blast guards will respond "In position and secure".

IX. PATTERN CHARGING AND NIGHT SURVEILLANCE

The purpose of this section is to ensure that loaded patterns are safely managed at night.

The shot can be left overnight for the following reasons :

 Preloading
 Unfinished drilling and loading
 Breakdowns preventing the movement of equipment, weather conditions, darkness before the time of
the shot

Shots left overnight will be guarded by at least one person and barricaded to prevent unauthorized access to
the area.
All detonators must be free and unconnected.
In the event of an approaching thunderstorm, the designated Shift Supervisor will be responsible for
evacuation of the blasting area as for evacuation during a blast.

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