Hazards of Lightning to Drill and Blast Operations
(Room Concorde A)
30 Jan 16
8:00 AM
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9:15 AM
Tracks:
Blasters Training Seminar
Lightning is a major concern in the explosives industry. The enormous amount of energy delivered to the Earth from a single bolt of lightning is more than capable of detonating explosives. Although explosives incidents caused by lightning strikes are rare, lightning is of great concern to blasting professionals who spend many hours working on or near loaded blast patterns. There are numerous products on the market to help blasting professionals determine when it is no longer safe to be in the vicinity of a blasting area due to lightning hazards. Although there are various products and systems available, lightning warning systems can be grouped into two technologies: lightning detection and lightning prediction. These technologies utilize different atmospheric analysis methods to initiate a lightning warning. It is essential to understand the methods of operation for each when selecting a lightning warning system. Blaster’s safety hinges on respecting the enormous power of the atmosphere and what it is capable of doing. There are various technologies on the market that will provide lightning warnings and it is imperative that the facts of each technology are understood prior to selecting a lightning warning system for your site.