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Work Stoppages & Blasting Risk Mitigation
Work Stoppages & Blasting Risk Mitigation
Published on September 8, 2017

Adopting the right measures for risk mitigation helps avoid project stoppages (consequently reducing the risks and costs related to stoppages), reduces the operational costs since organizational targets are met (fixed cost distribution), and also helps meeting project schedules and targets. Stoppages in work should be avoided at any cost, since these are extremely costly to an organization.

In the rock breaking process, ground vibrations, air blasts (noise), and fly rock are the parameters that require efficient and reliable control, consistently, whether the blast is big or small. Excessive ground vibrations/ air-blasts may cause damage to structures located in the vicinity of the project. A reliable and acceptable method of data measurement, documentation and periodic analysis should be an essential part of every Mining & Infra project in order to address the concerns of the neighbors and inform them about the reality of proper blast planning.

The Mining & Infra industry projects have a greater risk of work stoppage ranging from a few hours in a day to a few days in a month (may even last longer) and have a greater risk of project closure too, if risks perceived by the neighbors (people living closer to projects) are not appreciated by the project team and the right preventive measures not considered and implemented. The Mining & Infra projects usually need to take up the task of convincing the neighborhood, local administrative set ups, and regulatory authorities, throughout the project period (prior to commencement on some occasions), that their activities are well controlled and do not cause any damage to the surroundings.

What is essential in a situation like this, is the presence of a third party organization that not only helps resolve conflicts but also monitors, records data and offers solutions to put an end to long delays and stoppages in work that cost an organization heavily. It then becomes the responsibility of the third party organization to collect data, verify and convince the local authorities and neighbors whenever instances of discrepancy or doubt arise.

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