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Eastern Pa Chapter of the International Society of Explosives Engineers |
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Comments From the chief |
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The Department’s goal is to have an effective explosives regulatory program. This goes beyond having well written regulations and policy. It requires communication and cooperation between the Department and the regulated industry. Pennsylvania’s regulations were written with the intent of protecting persons, including workers, from injury and protecting property from damage. It is in everyone’s best interest for the explosives regulations to be complied with. This includes the explosives industry, citizens of the Commonwealth and Department personnel.
Incidents that occur in PA or other states often raise concern of regulators, the explosives industry and people who live nearby blasting. Recently in PA, there have been two cases where people who live near blasting would not move away to a safe area prior to the detonation of blasts. The Department’s primary concern is for the safety of the individuals who may be in harm’s way as a result of the detonation of the blast. In these cases, if a blast is detonated and an adequate blast area has not been secured, a serious violation has occurred. It is not the Department’s role to clear the blast area or take any part in doing so. That obligation belongs to the blaster-in-charge of the blast. Often when these incidents occur it is a result of a dispute between the parties conducting the blasting and the nearby property owner. Good PR (communication) can usually go a long way towards preventing these issues. However, we recognize that disputes can exist regardless of good PR. No matter what the reason for neighbors not vacating their own properties when blasting is about to be conducted nearby, the obligation to clear an adequate blast area lies with the blaster-in-charge. |
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Department of Environmental Protection |