BEST PRACTICE –

MISFIRED CHARGES
Red Deer 2005

Michelle Stroo
Misfired Charges Best
Practice
Why a Best Practice for Misfired
Charges?

• Unexploded Charges have been a

problem in the industry for many years

• This Best Practice was prompted by a

change in the legislation of British
Columbia

• This was simply a catalyst

Best Practice Definition

What is a Best Practice?

• A set of guidelines developed by

industry and government on various
areas of operations.

• Not regulations, however they are

considered by any court when
evaluating what is done in the industry
as a whole.
Purpose
What is the Purpose of this Best
Practice?
• Provide information and guidance to
enhance worker and public safety when
encountering or dealing with Misfired
Charges

• Increase awareness for all interested

parties of:
• potential hazards
• legislated requirements
• industry standards
associated with Misfired Charges
Purpose cont’d
• Emphasis is on PREVENTING
misfires through proper handling
and detonation

• Also includes guidance on

proceeding if a charge will not
detonate
Scope
• Intended for application in:
• Canadian Seismic Industry
• any situation where Misfired Charges
may occur and pose a risk to workers
or the public

• Guidance to minimise the risk of

misfired charges for:
• Employers
• Prime contractors
• Owners
• Public
Definitions
Misfired was the term used for the
purpose of this Best Practice.

It also represents “Unexploded” and

“Unfired”.
A Misfire is defined as:
An explosive material or part of an explosive material
which on initiation, failed to completely detonate or
function as per manufacturers specifications.
Legislation – British Columbia WCB

Part 21 Blasting Operations

21.84 Seismic Blasting

3. In a seismic blasting operation a misfired or unfired

charge may be left unfired only if:

a) it cannot be conventionally and safely detonated,

b) it is in an isolated location,

c) it is at a depth sufficient to minimize the risk of

injury to workers or other persons,

d) its location is effectively marked, and

e) a permanent record of the location is kept

Legislation – British Columbia WCB

Dangerous Incident Reporting

• The BC Workers’ Compensation Board will also accept the

CAGC Report of Unexploded Charges

• The employer must also file with the BC Oil and Gas
Commission, the OGC Report of Unexploded Charges
Legislation – Alberta OH&S

Abandoned Charge

512(1) An employer must ensure that a misfire or

misfired charge is abandoned only if it cannot
be detonated safely.
(2) If a blaster cannot safely detonate a misfire or
an unfired charge in a drill hole, the employer
and the blaster may abandon it if
(a) the blaster cuts its detonator lead wires and
places them in the drill hole beneath the surface
(b) the drill hole is covered with surface cuttings,
(c) the drill hole’s location is marked and
(d) a permanent record of the misfire and its
location is kept by the employer
Legislation – Alberta OH&S

Dangerous Incident Reporting

• The permanent record kept by the employer

responsible for the explosive charge should be the
CAGC Report of Unexploded Charges.
Legislation – Saskatchewan OH&S

Explosives Left in Shot Holes

58(1) No personal shall leave explosives unattended in a shot
hole unless that person has taken appropriate measure to
prevent unauthorized detonation.

(2) If an explosive charge fails to discharge, the holder of an

explosives permit shall:
(a) immediately attempt to detonate it by another shot or;
(b) if it is impossible or unsafe to carry out the detonation, bury the charge and
any wires remaining attached to the charge in the shot hole and plug the hole in
accordance with section 39

(3) If a shot hole containing an unexploded charge within 4.5

meters of the surface of the land is abandoned, the holder of the
explosives permit responsible for the shot hole must report the
location of the shot hole to the minister within 10 days after the
abandonment, giving the size and depth of the unexploded
charge and the condition in which the shot hole was left.
Legislation – Saskatchewan OH&S

Dangerous Incident Reporting

• The permanent record kept by the employer

responsible for the explosive charge should be the
CAGC Report of Unexploded Charges.
Summary of Procedures
1. Product
2. Qualifications, Certification And Training
3. Handling Explosives
General
Drilling
Priming the Charge
Loading
Detonating
Detonating Cord
Patterns
4. Misfired Charges
5. Abandoning Misfired Charges
6. Above Ground Explosive Material
7. Risk Management
1. Product

When using explosives in a seismic operation,

careful consideration must be given to:
• the product type
• characteristics
• long term implications in the event of a misfire

Different explosive and detonator types are

better suited to different data acquisition
requirements, work site conditions and terrains.

An Explosives supplier can assist in providing

technical knowledge to help determine the best
product for the seismic operation.
2. Qualifications,
Certification & Training
Certified Blasters Require:
• Seismic Blaster Safety Training certified through ENFORM

• Minimum 18 years of age

• Minimum six months experience in seismic blasting

operations

• Current Standard First Aid certification or equivalent

• Be physically capable of safely carrying out the duties of a

blaster

• Blasters must obtain and maintain a personal log of all

blasting work that they have performed
3. Handling Explosives

General
• Includes procedures for certified blasters in the
drilling and recording operations

• Emphasis is on those procedures that will

prevent misfires, such as:
• not pulling excessively on the legwires
• ensuring that circuit is complete immediately after
loading
• ensuring patterns are detonated in series rather than
parallel
4. Misfired Charges

Includes guidelines such as:

• Wait the amount of time allowed by regulation before

attempting to detonate after a misfire

• Re-check using an approved galvanometer

• Approved/Certified Blaster can attempt to detonate

5. Abandoning a Misfired Charge

• If following a thorough risk assessment the results determine that the

misfired charge cannot be safety detonated, that it is located in an
isolated location and will not pose a risk to the area where it is
located, the charge may be abandoned.

• All regulatory requirements regarding abandoning misfired charges

must be followed in the abandonment process.

• Basic requirements for abandoning a misfired charge include but are

not limited to:
1. The detonator lead wires must be cut and placed in the drill hole beneath
the surface
2. The surface must be covered with drill cuttings
3. A Lost Hole Marker must be placed in or beside the shot hole
4. Lost Hole Makers are available through local Explosive suppliers
5. A permanent record of the misfire which includes information on the
location, explosive type and depth must be kept by the employer

• Required reports must be submitted to appropriate regulatory

6. Above Ground Explosives

• If explosives are found during seismic

cleanup:
• Follow safe procedures
• If a certified blaster is on site, may be detonated
• Use only an approved blasting machine or hand held
blaster (from explosives supplier)
• If non-seismic explosives are found at
any time (cleanup or regular
operations):
• Follow safe procedures
• Notify the proper authorities to deal with it
7. Risk Management
• When considering the risk involved in dealing with a
misfire, it is important to perform a risk assessment to
determine a course of action.

• A guideline has been included, however if a more

detailed procedure exists that meets or exceed this
standard it may and should be used.
Risk Management cont’d

Severity Potential Impact Definition

Multiple Fatality
May include more than one fatality in close succession due to the incident, or multiple
(more than
at the time of the incident.
5 one)
Critical

Fatality/
Permanent Permanent total disability or one fatality
4 Disability
Serious

Major injury which includes permanent partial disability, prolonged absence from
Major Injury
work, or amputation
3
Major

Minor Injury Lost time or restricted work

2
Moderate

Minor Injury Slight injury, including first aids and medical aids, not affecting work performance
1
Minor
Risk Management cont’d

  People Access Charge Size Charge Depth Product Life Ground Humidity

Multiple
Fatal Public Access 11 kg + 0 to 6 metres 60 years + Dry
5 ity
Critical

Secondary 10 kg and
Fatality 7 to 10 metres Up to 30 years Damp
Highway under
4
Serious

Limited/Recreati
onal 5 kg and
Lost Time 11 to 14 metres Up to 10 years Static Water
Road under
3 Access
Major

Cutline or Heli
3 kg and
Medical Aid Access 15 to 20 metres Up to 5 years Flowing Water
under
2 Only
Moderate

Heli Access 1 kg and Less than 3 Muskeg or Open

First Aid 21 metres +
Only under years Water
1
Minor
Risk Management cont’d

5
Critical        

4
Serious        

3
Major        

2
Moderate        

1
Minor        

A B C D
  Remote Unlikely Likely Frequent
Risk Management cont’d

• A sample risk assessment form

will also be included with the Best
Practice.

• If a company’s own system meets

or exceeds this assessment they
should use their own.
Disclaimer
• This BP provides information to
members of the CAGC wishing to
establish or adopt a set of guidelines
for Misfired Charges.

• This document is not intended to

be all-inclusive, but only a guide.
What Stage is the BP?
The Misfired Charges Best Practice has been sent out to
the membership and regulators, and we are
awaiting final comments.

Expected Date to Finalise:

October 2005
Acknowledgement
• Allan Stanley, Austin Powder
• Boris Humenjuk, Western Explosives
• Jeff Oshust, Shell Canada Limited
• Len McBeth, Ace Explosives
• Lucy Hart, Encana Corporation
• Mike Doyle, Canadian Association of
Geophysical Contractors
• Steve McLeod, Explosives Ltd.
Conclusion
• We welcome any input – please send
comments to Mike Doyle at the CAGC

THANK YOU!

ANY QUESTIONS?