Product Overview

Summary: This Drill and Blast Safety Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, step‑by‑step method for planning and executing drilling and blasting activities safely on Australian worksites. It helps high‑risk operations meet WHS obligations, control explosive and geotechnical hazards, and protect workers, plant, and surrounding infrastructure from preventable incidents.

Drilling and blasting is one of the highest‑risk activities undertaken in mining, quarrying and civil construction across Australia. Misfires, flyrock, ground vibration, dust, noise and poor control of explosives can lead to serious injury, fatalities, structural damage and regulatory shutdowns. This Drill and Blast Safety Safe Operating Procedure provides a comprehensive, practical framework for managing these risks from initial design through to post‑blast clearance. It sets out how to plan blasts, verify ground conditions, handle and store explosives, control exclusion zones, and coordinate communication so that every blast is conducted in a controlled and defensible manner.

Developed with Australian WHS legislation and industry practice in mind, this SOP helps businesses demonstrate due diligence for high‑risk work involving explosives. It supports consistent, repeatable processes across crews and shifts, reducing reliance on informal practices and “tribal knowledge”. By implementing this procedure, organisations can minimise the likelihood of misfires and near misses, reduce community complaints about vibration and noise, and provide clear guidance for training, supervision and incident response. The result is safer drill and blast operations, improved productivity, and stronger compliance with regulator expectations.

Key Benefits

• Ensure drill and blast activities are planned and executed in line with Australian WHS and explosives legislation.
• Reduce the risk of misfires, flyrock, unplanned detonations and other serious incidents.
• Standardise drill and blast practices across sites, shifts and contractors for consistent safety performance.
• Improve communication, exclusion zone control and coordination between drill and blast crews and wider site operations.
• Demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and insurers through a documented, auditable procedure.

Who is this for?

• Drill and Blast Supervisors
• Shotfirers and Explosives Engineers
• Open Cut and Underground Mine Managers
• Quarry Managers
• Civil Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Explosives Magazine Keepers
• Geotechnical Engineers
• Site Supervisors and Leading Hands
• Training and Competency Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Unplanned detonation of explosives during handling, loading or stemming
• Misfires and delayed detonations posing post‑blast safety risks
• Flyrock impacting workers, plant, public roads or nearby properties
• Ground vibration and airblast overpressure affecting structures and communities
• Exposure to hazardous dust, fumes and gases generated during blasting
• Noise exposure from drilling and blasting operations
• Falls from height and slips, trips and falls around drill rigs and blast patterns
• Vehicle and mobile plant interactions in drill and blast zones
• Manual handling injuries when lifting, carrying or loading explosives and accessories
• Environmental contamination from explosives residues and poor blast hole dewatering practices
• Fire and ignition risks from static electricity, hot work or incompatible equipment near explosives
• Poor visibility and loss of situational awareness in blast areas, particularly in low‑light or adverse weather conditions

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Application
• 2.0 References, Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Pre‑Planning and Blast Design Requirements
• 5.0 Site Assessment, Survey and Ground Conditions
• 6.0 Drill Rig Set‑up, Operation and Pattern Drilling
• 7.0 Explosives Storage, Transport and Security
• 8.0 Loading of Blast Holes, Stemming and Tie‑in Procedures
• 9.0 Exclusion Zones, Barricading and Traffic Management
• 10.0 Communication Protocols and Blast Notification
• 11.0 Environmental Controls (Vibration, Airblast, Dust and Noise)
• 12.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 13.0 Pre‑Blast Checks, Clearance and Firing Procedure
• 14.0 Post‑Blast Inspection, Misfire Management and Clearance to Re‑enter
• 15.0 Emergency Response and Incident Management for Drill and Blast
• 16.0 Training, Induction and Verification of Competency
• 17.0 Documentation, Recordkeeping and Reporting
• 18.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the SOP

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) – High Risk Work and Hazardous Chemicals (including explosives) provisions
• Relevant state and territory Explosives Acts and Regulations (e.g. QLD Explosives Act 1999, NSW Explosives Act 2003)
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work: Code of Practice
• AS 2187.1: Explosives – Storage, transport and use – Part 1: Storage
• AS 2187.2: Explosives – Storage, transport and use – Part 2: Use of explosives
• AS/NZS 60079 series: Explosive atmospheres (for electrical equipment in hazardous areas)
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 1801: Occupational protective helmets
• AS/NZS 1270: Acoustics – Hearing protectors
• AS/NZS 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems (ISO 45001)