SQA Blast Management Plan - Alafua Quarry

Blast Management Plan – Alafua Quarry
Submitted by:
Samoa Quarry Aggregates Ltd
December 2022
Controlled Blasting Plan
Introduction
This Blast Management Plan has been prepared for Fire Emergency Services Agency (FESA) for the
purpose of issuance of Hot Works permit.
The blast will be conducted by Samoa Quarry Aggregates Ltd (SQA).
The controlled blast is scheduled to take place at a time and date specified by SQA and Ministry of
Police.
Drilling and blasting is the controlled use of explosives to break rock for excavation. The blast will
produce fractured rock of appropriate dimensions. The blast will be tailored to minimize
over-blasting that can result in excessive excavation, handling of excavated material and fly-rock.
Location of Quarry
SQA Alafua Quarry, End of Alafua Road, Apia, Samoa.

Coordinates -13.872682, -171.800269
Picture 1 - Quarry Location.
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Safety and Security
Safety and security arrangements are necessary to ensure safety of workers, the public near the site
and surrounding properties.
The direction of this blast is crucial due to the location of a dwelling 400 meters north and east of the
quarry. The quarry face to be blasted faces south-west. The controlled blast design will be tailored to
prevent any possible fly-rock towards the east and ‘drop’ the rock into the middle of the quarry floor.
A 500-meter exclusion zone around the blast area must be established before blasting can commence.
All persons, excluding those that have a responsibility for planning, preparation and conducting any
aspects of the blast, MUST be removed to an area that is safe and secure outside of the exclusion zone.
Please refer to Picture 3 for a satellite image of the exclusion zone.
Local police will be under the instruction of the Shot-Firer (Ian Burrow of SQA), to ensure roadblocks
are in place where necessary and no less than 500 meters from the quarry entrance.
All personnel responsible for handling explosives and present in and around the blasting area will be
fully informed, trained and confident in applicable safety precautions/procedures.
Before blasting, the Shot-Firer will ensure the blasting area is clear and access in and around the
blasting area will be restricted to prevent people from entering.
Following detonation, the blasting area will be inspected for undetonated or misfired explosives by
the Shot-Firer, the blasting area will also be inspected for hazards such as falling rock.
Once the area has been inspected and any issues have been addressed, the “all-clear” signal will
sound, and personnel will be able to safely re-enter the blast zone and exclusion zone.
Sirens will be activated before and after the blast as an added safety measure.
Picture 2 – Neighbouring Properties
Page | 2
Picture 3 – Exclusion Zone (No unauthorised persons in this zone).
Page | 3
Identified Risks and Controls
A risk assessment will be completed to ensure that the systems for the safe management of explosives
are robust.
A formal risk assessment will be completed for the blast, identifying the hazards and controls at each
stage, including the extent of the blast exclusion zone during the firing sequence.
Any risk assessment and subsequent hazard controls will be agreed to and approved by all the relevant
parties involved in the blasting process before blasting.
Identified risk Risk controls

Unauthorised access to blast Cone, signs and blast guards in place.
area and zone. Visual checking of the site.
Signage.
Vehicle identification.
Safety exclusion zone.
Access restrictions.
Pre-notification to affected parties.
Unauthorised access to Secure storage.

explosives store/portable Security arrangement to prevent unauthorised access.
magazine.
Inadequate training and Ensure shot firers are licensed.
competency for staff. personnel are trained in explosives products and blast design.
Use tools to test blast eg model blast pattern technology tool.
Develop and implement procedures to check training and competency.
Inconsistency in performance Use reliable supplier.
of explosives. Test explosives.
Develop procedures for use of explosives.
Ensure shot firers are licensed and experienced.
Unreliable firing methods. Use reliable products.
Test safety fuses, if used, and other equipment.
Ensure equipment is maintained by competent people.
Develop procedures for checking firing method.
Hot ground causing Use appropriate firing method and types of explosives.
premature firing. Test in hot conditions.
Check ground before designing the blast.
Damage to structures. Evaluate the effect of ground vibration and air blast overpressure on
structures or ground conditions.
Revise blasting procedure to minimise damage.
Risk of fly-rock. Calculate quantity of explosives, stemming and capping.
Set up exclusion zones.
Page | 4
Emergency Procedure
Picture 4 – Copy of ERP
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) will be on site throughout the drill and blast campaign for the Hazardous Substances, these will outline what actions are
required in the event of an accident and/or environmental emergency.
Page | 5
Procedures
The following Procedures will be followed throughout the drilling and blasting campaign. The purpose
of these Safe Work Practices is to provide consistent rules and procedures for effective and safe
blasting.
BLAST01 – Blasting procedures
BLAST02 - Drilling, temperature logging and charging over hot areas
BLAST03 – Blast guarding and warning procedures

BLAST05 – Management of the explosives magazine
BLAST06 – Blow loading ANFO
BLAST07 – Lightening procedure
Copies of these procedures will be available on site when drilling and blasting.
Consultation
All effected parties must be notified by SQA Ltd
Contact Details
Mr. Ian Burrow, SQA Ltd, PO Box 6396, Apia, Samoa. +68530505
Page | 6

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Blast Management Plan – Alafua Quarry

The blast will be conducted by Samoa Quarry Aggregates Ltd (SQA).

SQA Alafua Quarry, End of Alafua Road, Apia, Samoa.

Picture 1 - Quarry Location.

Safety and Security

Picture 2 – Neighbouring Properties

Picture 3 – Exclusion Zone (No unauthorised persons in this zone).

Identified risk Risk controls

Unauthorised access to Secure storage.

Picture 4 – Copy of ERP

BLAST01 – Blasting procedures

BLAST02 - Drilling, temperature logging and charging over hot areas

BLAST03 – Blast guarding and warning procedures

All effected parties must be notified by SQA Ltd

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