New Blasting Services
29 August 2007
Having reviewed the latest technology, UIE have selected the best available and restructured to deliver an exceptional level of service.
Most people within the quarrying and civil engineering industries with experience of using explosives appreciate the complexity of the task. There are many variables that directly impact upon the effectiveness and more crucially, the safety of the application. Burdens and spacings, geology, explosives types, timing of initiation, environmental considerations, desired fragmentation, throw, muckpile profile, and the list goes on. Within U.I.E., the prime consideration is safety. This will not be compromised.
With recent technological changes and the wealth of experience that our Blasting Engineers possess, a decision has been taken to review the task of quarry blasting. Starting with a blank sheet, collectively we mapped what we saw as being the ultimate best practice in blasting using today’s technology. As a result of this process, we have redefined what in future shall be our “Blasting Services”. These will provide customers with choices as to the packages that they choose. Be it a Shotfirer provided with a bulk truck, to a complete service designed to ensure that from a cost perspective, it is designed to provide the optimum yield and fragmentation, we will provide it. Safety, as always is fundamental in what we do.
Competence of personnel involved in the explosives design and execution process is recognised as being crucial. Our Explosives Supervisors and Shotfirers are qualified in respect of current legislative requirements and progressing towards the new EPIC guidelines for competent personnel in the future.
Pre drilling survey & marking out hole configuration
This service utilises the latest laser scanning technology to identify the most effective position for holes to be drilled, enabling our Engineer to locate the boreholes where the yield and fragmentation will achieve our customers requirements. In effect, it ensures that the design is correct from the outset, enabling an efficient blast. Drilling instructions are then communicated to the Driller.
Post drilling quarry face profile, downhole probe survey & Explosives Supervision
A post drilling quarry face scan will ideally be conducted 2 days before the blast, utilising the latest laser scanning technology to plot the contours of the quarry face. It locates the position of the boreholes on the face, after they have been drilled. A borehole survey is also conducted, with the front row holes being probed to provide a precise indication as to where the holes are in relation to the face. Using this technique, data relating to the actual burden and spacings becomes more comprehensive, significantly improving the safety of the blast. A post drilling survey can be conducted without the pre-drilling survey, however the effectiveness of the blast will be compromised. The hole locations would had to have been planned without the necessary information and ultimately could result in some burdens to be too light to load or too heavy to provide movement. We would therefore highly recommend that a pre-drilling survey is always conducted by ourselves. Also included within this service is Explosives Supervision. Our Engineers complete the design of the shot and provide the written instructions to the Shotfirer.
