Assess blast design, exclusion zones and vibration monitoring against site safety requirements.
Occupational Health & Safety
Quarry and Surface Mine Safety for Blasting, Haul Roads and Processing Plant
Learn to manage blasting exclusion zones, haul road design, processing plant guarding and dust control in quarries and surface mines.
🗓️Duration5 training days
📚Content4 modules · 8 sessions
🎓On completionAccredited attendance certificate
About the programme
Course Overview
A haul truck that cannot see a light vehicle in its blind spot and a processing plant guard removed for a quick clearance are among the most common ways a quarry incident becomes a fatality, and both are preventable with disciplined design and enforcement rather than additional signage. This course teaches quarry managers, mine safety officers and processing plant supervisors how to control the major risks of a surface mineral extraction site, from blast design and exclusion zones to haul road geometry, mobile plant segregation and processing plant guarding. Participants cover ground vibration and airblast monitoring around blasting operations, shot firer competency requirements, and the collision avoidance measures that keep haul trucks separated from light vehicles and pedestrians. The course addresses respirable crystalline silica control in crushing and screening operations, bench stability inspection, and the isolation procedures required before processing plant maintenance. Practical exercises include reviewing a haul road design against sightline and gradient criteria and assessing a processing plant guarding scheme against current condition. By the end, participants can identify where a site's controls have drifted from the standard that keeps blasting, haulage and processing operations safe.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Evaluate haul road geometry, including width, gradient, berms and sightlines, for safe operation.
Apply mobile plant and pedestrian segregation measures across a working quarry site.
Identify processing plant guarding requirements for crushers, screens and conveyors.
Control respirable crystalline silica exposure in crushing, screening and stockpile areas.
Inspect bench stability and geotechnical conditions as part of routine site monitoring.
Sequence isolation procedures before processing plant maintenance or blockage clearance.
Who Should Attend
Quarry managers and surface mine supervisors responsible for site safety compliance.
Mine safety officers auditing blasting, haulage and processing plant operations.
Shot firers and blasting engineers coordinating exclusion zones and vibration limits.
Processing plant supervisors managing crushing, screening and conveyor operations.
Haul truck operators and traffic management coordinators on extraction sites.
Geotechnical and engineering staff monitoring bench and slope stability.
Course Modules
Select any module to see its sessions and points.
01Blasting Safety and Ground Control
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Designing and Controlling the Blast
- Review blast design parameters against the ground conditions and proximity to site boundaries.
- Set exclusion zones and access control points before charging and firing a blast.
- Confirm shot firer competency and certification before authorising a blasting operation.
- Coordinate blast warnings and all-clear signals with site personnel and neighbouring operations.
Session 2Monitoring Vibration and Airblast
- Position ground vibration and airblast monitoring equipment to capture representative readings.
- Compare monitored vibration and airblast levels against site and regulatory limits.
- Investigate a blast that exceeds agreed limits before authorising the next firing.
- Record blast monitoring data to demonstrate ongoing compliance over time.
02Haul Road and Mobile Plant Safety
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Designing Safe Haul Roads
- Assess haul road width, gradient and berm height against the largest vehicle using the route.
- Check sightlines at junctions, ramps and tipping points for adequate stopping distance.
- Maintain haul road surface condition to reduce loss of control and dust generation.
- Review lighting and signage adequacy for haul roads used during low visibility conditions.
Session 2Segregating Plant and Pedestrians
- Apply physical segregation or exclusion zones between mobile plant and pedestrian routes.
- Assess proximity detection or collision avoidance systems fitted to haul trucks and loaders.
- Brief light vehicle drivers on blind spots and right-of-way rules around haul trucks.
- Control pedestrian access to active loading, tipping and processing areas.
03Processing Plant Guarding and Dust Control
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Guarding Crushers, Screens and Conveyors
- Inspect fixed and interlocked guards on crushers, screens and conveyor transfer points.
- Apply isolation procedures before clearing blockages or accessing guarded machinery.
- Check emergency stop and pull-cord systems along conveyor routes for function and access.
- Review maintenance permit procedures for work inside or near processing plant.
Session 2Controlling Respirable Silica and Dust
- Identify processing tasks that generate respirable crystalline silica above acceptable levels.
- Apply water suppression, extraction or enclosure controls at identified dust sources.
- Select respiratory protective equipment appropriate to residual dust exposure levels.
- Monitor worker exposure and health surveillance data to check control effectiveness.
04Ground Stability and Site-Wide Management
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Inspecting Benches and Slopes
- Conduct routine visual inspection of benches and slopes for signs of instability.
- Escalate geotechnical concerns to a competent person before continuing work below a face.
- Adjust extraction sequencing when monitoring indicates a change in slope behaviour.
- Maintain exclusion zones below faces identified as at risk of failure.
Session 2Coordinating Site Safety Management
- Align blasting, haulage and processing schedules to avoid conflicting high-risk activities.
- Audit contractor compliance with site rules for blasting, haulage and plant access.
- Investigate incidents across blasting, haulage and processing to identify systemic causes.
- Review site safety performance against Quarries Regulations requirements on a scheduled basis.
What the participant receives
4 course modules
A structured syllabus
8 training sessions
across 5 days
32 detailed points
Applied, detailed content
Accredited attendance certificate
On completing the programme
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