Stuff Happens

Hunter Valley, Australia

February 06, 2003

Stuff Happens A shotfirer’s truck exploded as the driver was opening the gates to the

explosives compound. The truck had been driven from the shot where the rest of the product was used back to the magazines, approximately a ten minute trip.

The truck contained three cardboard boxes of boosters with 40 boosters per box. The boxes were in a fiberglass container sitting on a wooden decking.

The boosters being used were manufactured on 14 January 2003, only three weeks old.

Opposite the boosters in another box were 23 detonators. The only other material on the back of the truck was some plastic signs and

witches hats. The driver had switched the truck off prior to opening the gates. The impact of the explosion moved the truck 7 Metres (23 FT) forward into the

compound. The investigation at the early stages indicates that the diesel fuel tank on the

truck is still intact and so is the battery. The driver sustained minor cuts, a laceration to his right leg, a perforated ear

drum but no serious bodily injuries.

I N F O R M A T I O N B U L L E T I N

A n i n c i d e n t o c c u r r e d a t a m i n e s i t e i n t h e H u n t e r V a l l e y o n F e b r u a r y6 w h i c h r e s u l t e d i n t h e i n j u r y o f a m i n e e m p l o y e e . A n u n e x p l a i n e de x p l o s i o n o c c u r r e d o n a s h o t f i r e r s l i g h t v e h i c l e w h i c h w a s c a r r y i n gb o o s t e r s a n d d e t o n a t o r s m a n u f a c t u r e d b y I n i t i a t i n g E x p l o s i v e sS y s t e m s P t y L t d ( I E S ) . T h e v e h i c l e , w h i c h w a s s t a t i o n a r y a t t h e t i m eo f t h e i n c i d e n t , h a s i n c u r r e d s u b s t a n t i a l d a m a g e .

A d e t a i l e d i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n v o l v i n g M i n e a n d O r i c a p e r s o n n e l i sc u r r e n t l y u n d e r w a y . A t t h i s e a r l y s t a g e t h e r e a r e n o f i r m i n d i c a t i o n sa s t o w h a t m a y h a v e b e e n t h e c a u s e o f t h e e x p l o s i o n .

I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h I E S , O r i c a c o n d u c t e d a n i n s p e c t i o n o f t h e r e l e v a n tb a t c h e s o f b o o s t e r s a n d n o n e l e c t r i c d e t o n a t o r s s t o r e d i n t h e o n s i t em i n e m a g a z i n e s . I E S h a s a l s o r e v i e w e d i t s m a n u f a c t u r i n g r e c o r d s i nr e l a t i o n t o t h o s e b a t c h e s . B a s e d o n t h e s e i n s p e c t i o n s a n d r e c o r d s a l lb o o s t e r s a n d n o n e l e c t r i c d e t o n a t o r s f r o m t h e s e b a t c h e s c o m p l y w i t ha p p l i c a b l e m a n u f a c t u r i n g s p e c i f i c a t i o n s .

T h e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e t o i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e i n c i d e n t w a s c a u s e d a s ar e s u l t o f a n y p r o d u c t d e f e c t o r f a i l u r e . M i n e m a n a g e m e n t h a s a d v i s e dt h a t p r o d u c t d e f e c t i s e x t r e m e l y u n l i k e l y a n d t h a t i t a p p e a r s t h ei n c i d e n t h a s a l o c a l r o o t c a u s e . W h i l e b l a s t i n g c u r r e n t l y r e m a i n ss u s p e n d e d a t t h e a f f e c t e d s i t e , b l a s t i n g w i t h t h e s e p r o d u c t s h a sr e s u m e d a t t h e m i n i n g c o m p a n i e s o t h e r o p e r a t i o n s .

T h i s e v e n t h i g h l i g h t s t h e p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t o f t h e e n e r g y c o n t a i n e di n i n i t i a t i n g e x p l o s i v e s . A s a p r u d e n t s t e p , w e r e c o m m e n d t h a ts i t e s c o n d u c t a t i m e l y t o o l b o x t a l k o n t h e s e p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s , a n dt h e a p p r o p r i a t e e x p l o s i v e s s t o r a g e , h a n d l i n g a n d t r a n s p o r tp r o c e d u r e s .

P e o p l e s h o u l d a l w a y s r e c a l l t h e k e y b a s i s o f s a f e t y i t e m s t o b ea w a r e o f w h e n h a n d l i n g E x p l o s i v e s p r o d u c t s :

F r i c t i o n I m p a c t S t a t i c H e a t

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Review: 30 CFR 77.1302Vehicles used to transport explosives: Shall have substantially constructed bodies, no sparking metal exposed in the cargo space,

and shall be equipped with suitable sides and tailgates; explosives shall not be piled higher than the side or end.

Shall be maintained in good condition and shall be operated at a safe speed and in accordance with all safe operating practices.

Shall be posted with proper warning signs. Other materials or supplies shall not be placed on or in the cargo space except for properly

secured non-sparking equipment used expressly in the handling of such explosives, detonating cord or detonators.

Explosives and detonators shall be transported in separate vehicles unless separated by 4 inches of hardwood or the equivalent.

Explosives or detonators shall be transported promptly without undue delays in transit. Explosives or detonators shall be transported at times and over routes that expose a

minimum number of persons. Only the necessary attendants shall ride on or in vehicles containing explosives or

detonators. Vehicles shall be attended, whenever practical and possible while loaded with explosives or

detonators. When vehicles containing explosives or detonators are parked, the brakes shall be set, the

motive power shut off, and the vehicles shall be blocked securely against rolling. Vehicles containing explosives or detonators shall not be taken to a repair garage or shop

for any purpose.