ROADBLOCKS: INCREASING PRODUCTION, REDUCING PROBLEMS

摘要

As the Explosives Industry continues to evolve and condense, those involved, such as Blasters, Contractors, Distributors and Consultants, continue to be challenged by both internal and external forces. Increased pressure by government agencies, higher safety standards, new levels of technology and mandatory certification programs, are forcing us to expand our awareness and increase our levels of efficiency. These higher standards require increased awareness. Increased awareness requires better training programs and better supervision with emphasis on production and the employee. This means the desire to improve must be instilled from the top down, this paper will explore the current impediments to this goal and discuss the possible solutions for achieving greater safety awareness, increased production and higher levels of personal achievement. Through the use of audio/visual aids, I will attempt to show the discrepancies as well as the solutions.The common practice of choosing a laborer who shows some promise, and "putting him on the drill" without so much as a day's instruction has proved to be an ill-fated decision for more than one contractor or superintendent. Using large numbers of untrained personnel to get "a shot loaded quickly" has cost many company's thousands of dollars in misfires, lost production and injuries, the long held adage of 'cheapest price' no longer applies when it comes to purchasing explosives. Distributors must become actively involved with their client's and aware of shortcomings requiring attention. Users of explosives must understand how vital it is to keep up with technology while maintaining above standard levels of training and safety. A ten step program to achieve this is proposed in this paper. Also emphasized are the areas that managers and owners are neglecting that are costing them money in lost time, down time and higher production costs. Explosives personnel must receive adequate training and supervision before being given the responsibility of running a D&B operation. Unfortunately, this often not the case, and it is the purpose of this paper to shed light on the situation and bring greater awareness to the problems that plague our industry.