Library

Several of our members have published technical papers and safety information that might be of benifit to you and your company. Some are available here and can be printed at no charge; others you can purchase from the ISEE webpage for a fee, just follow this link  to the Blasters Library.

SURVIVING AN ATF AUDIT 
By Robert Pumpelly ATF Explosives Industry Liaison, retired
 
During my nearly 30 years with ATF, (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives), I conducted hundreds of inspections. In many cases hours of time were wasted because the licensee or permittee, who had basically done everything right, was not prepared for the audit. In these cases, required documents were scattered, personnel were unprepared and no plan was in place. This paper will provide some simple steps to avoid these embarrassing delays. A list of common violations is also provided. This paper provides advice in dealing with the ATF investigators and presents a list of common violations. Being better prepared for the audit will same time and assure a more favorable outcome.
Copyright © 2010 International Society of Explosives Engineers 2010G Volume 2 - Surviving an ATF Audit

Planning to Demonstrate Why High PPVs Work for Close-In Blasting
By Chris D. Breeds, President, SubTerra, Inc.,Jerry Wallace, President, Wallace Technical Blasting, Larry Leone, Project Engineer, SubTerra, Inc.
Project Owners typically require General and Detailed Blast Plans when blasting close to important structures and specify the maximum allowable peak particle velocity for each potentially affected structure. Low, residential level PPV limits may be specified which significantly restricts the potential for blasting to be effectively used. Contractor’s responding to these contract conditions typically cite historic case studies which may, or may not, apply to the specific situation and/or types of structures for which limits have been set. A long submittal cycle typically follows. This paper examines approaches to developing General Blast Plans that respond to varying levels of allowable PPV; overviews pertinent historic data and case studies; details methods and procedures for estimating PPV, frequency, and stresses and strains in concrete structures; and presents test blasts designed to demonstrate compliance with limits. Case studies are presented where this blast planning process has been successfully applied with higher than typically allowable PPVs and a case where limits were not raised but blasting was successfully performed, albeit at a higher cost than if higher PPVs had been allowed. This blast planning process also focuses on demonstrating the acceptability of higher than commonly specified PPV limits. The Authors hope that this paper will be of help to Owners preparing Controlled Blasting specifications and Blasting Contractors involved with close-in blasting work on small and large projects. Copyright © 2010 International Society of Explosives Engineers 

HAZARD ASSEMENT AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION AT UNUSUAL SHOOTING SITES FOR DISPLAY FIREWORKS
By J Larry Mattingly©
In the last several years there have been a number of incidents/accidents in which technicians working on fireworks displays have been injured or killed. Perhaps the guidelines contained here will help reduce these incidents. This document is written primarily for the “pyrotechnician in charge”, but should be useful to management and all those who work on display fireworks.
Mr. Mattingly has allowed this article to be printed for personal use only, please no reproduction and distribution without his express permission.

Levee Removal by Explosives, Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon
Quentin Rhoton, Lead Blaster, Wallace Technical Blasting, Woodland, WA
ABSTRACT: To benefit two endangered fish species, waterfowl and other wildlife, and water quality in the lake and downstream, the decision was made to remove levees that had been in place since the 1950s. Because the levee material was mainly dredged up lake bottom peat, it was decided to pare down the sites chosen for breaching with dozers and trackhoes. This material was spread out onsite instead of expensive removal by dumping elsewhere. Because of the instability of the final pared down levees and the lake level being at a ten-year low, it was decided to use explosives to breach four of the sites. After over five months of earthmoving and two weeks of loading holes, the levees were detonated the day before Halloween, 2007. Somehow pumpkins showed up to be part of the explosive activities.
A combined effort of multiple local, state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, water districts, fishermen, farmers, ranchers, hunters, and tribal members, culminated in the purchase of the 2,850 hectares (7,000 acres) in question by The Nature Conservancy, and led to the flooding of 1,420 hectares (3,500 acres). This effort set a precedent, combining the use of explosives with environmental conservation and habitat restoration in an extremely positive and successful light.
Copyright © 2009 International Society of Explosives Engineers 2009G Volume 1 - Levee Removal by Explosives, Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon
 
EVOLUTION OF THE AVALAUNCHER
John Brennan
Avalanche Mitigation Services
ABSTRACT: The Avalauncher has been an integral tool for avalanche mitigation work for close to 50 years. With their ability to place a kilogram of high explosives up to two thousand meters away, they routinely serve as a short range alternative to military artillery. The Avalauncher’s roots can be traced to a pneumatic baseball pitching machine used by Major League Baseball teams in the United States in the late 1950s. Throughout the decades, many modifications have been made to both the launcher and its projectiles. Current technology has allowed the Avalauncher to attain greater accuracies and operational range. In this paper I plan to cover not only the history of the Avalauncher but also explore its potential future. KEYWORDS: Avalauncher, avalanche mitigation, avalanche control.
Copyright © 2009 International Society of Explosives Engineers
2009G Volume 2 - Evolution of the Avalauncher
 
History and Current Trends on Explosives Use for Avalanche Control in the USA
Presenters and Contributors: Gus Gilman: Chair NSAA* Avalanche Explosives user Committee, Alta Ski PatrolDirector, 25 years experience Larry Heywood: Consultant, former Alpine Meadows Operations Dir. 36 years experience
Kerri Kuntz: Data Collection Doug Richmond: Vice Pres. AAA**, Bridger Bowl Assist. Patrol Dir./AvalancheForecaster, 36 years experience Bill Williamson: Ski Area Chair AAA**, Schweitzer Mt. Resort Operations Director,31 years experience NSAA*- National Ski Areas Association, AAA**- American Avalanche Association
ABSTRACT  “Detached snow drags the men to the abyss and snow falling rapidly from the high summits engulfs the living squadrons.” Silicus Italicus (A.D. 25-101.) This was a description by the poet of what occurred over two centuries earlier to Hannibal’s troops as he passed through the Alps. Interestingly, the pass that many
feel is the route that Hannibal chose, Col de la Traversette, is the sight of possibly the earliest avalanche mitigation known. Monastery records describe a tunnel built in 1470, near the top of the pass designed to protect pilgrims from the upper slopes. For the next several centuries, avoidance and reinforced structures were the primary tactics to defend from avalanches.
Copyright © 2009 International Society of Explosives Engineers
2009G Volume 2 - History and Current Trends on Explosives Use for Avalanche Control in the USA

BLASTING FOR AVALANCHE  CONTROL ABOVE SNOQUALMIE PASS AND CHINOOK PASS IN WASHINGTON STATE
By Craig Wilbour, Lee Redden, Rob Gibson, and John StimberIS
INTRODUCTION: An avalanche is a snow slide. A simple explanation is that the snow on a slope will slide (avalanche) when the snow strength can no longer support its own weight.Snow avalanches happen when the load from snowfall or ram on a snow slope increases faster than the strength of the bonds between snow crystals. Avalanches can also happen when the strength of a buried layer decreases. Active avalanche control is the intentional triggering of slides. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), does avalanche control to minimize the chance of natural avalanches into traffic. Avalanche control work is done all over the world by: highway departments, ski resorts, railroads, mining operations, utility companies, and other activities threatened by avalanches. The majority of active avalanche control is done with skis, by explosives, or exploding projectiles. Blasting techniques and practices have evolved to fit the specific needs of avalanche contro l . Passive avalanche control is the use of engineered s t r u c t u res such as snow sheds, bridges, or snow supporting devices, to permanently protect a specific location from avalanches. The problem is that these structures are extremely expensive. There are a variety of passive avalanche control measures as well as the active m e a s u res used to protect the highway over Snoqualmie Pass. As traffic volume and use expectations increase, m o re extensive passive measures will be needed to keep avalanches from affecting the highway.
In general terms, the purpose of our avalanche control is to decrease hazard to motorists and highway maintenance workers from avalanches, and to reduce highway closure time caused by avalanches.
Copyright © 2009 International Society of Explosives Engineers
2002G Volume 1 - History and Current Trends on Explosives Use for Avalanche Control in the USA.

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