Branch
Report: 13th
December 2006
Explosives Regulations & Qualification Update
A presentation was given to
the branch on the route to maintaining shotfiring qualifications by Helen
turner of the H.S.E., topics discussed were as follows:
1 -
Current Shotfirers
Currently (April 2006)
there are two qualifications underpinning the appointment of Shotfirers:
EPIC Shotffiring Certificates issued pre 2002 and EPIC Shotfiring Cards &
Certificates issued post 2001 which were issued following successful
completion of the Shotfiring examinations and were used as a basis for
appointing Shotfirers
Under the new measurement of
competence EPIC Shotfiring Certificates issued before the 1st
January 2002 (i.e. the “Old Style Shotfiring Certificates”) will no longer
be recognised as being the basis upon which a person can be recognised as
competent to be appointed as a Shotfirer from 31st December
2006.
Shotfirers currently holding
a pre 2002 EPIC Shotfiring Certificate must therefore, by 31st
December 2006 either obtain the relevant Units, or the full NVQ Level 3 in
Shotfiring or take and pass the “New Style” Shotfiring examination, but
will then have to complete the relevant Units or the full NVQ Level 3 in
Shotfiring by 31st December 2010.
Similarly, EPIC Shotfiring
Certificates and Cards issued after the 1st January 2002 (i.e.
the “New Style Shotfiring Certificates and Cards”) will no longer be
recognised as being the basis upon which a person can be recognised as
competent to be appointed as a Shotfirer from the DATE OF EXPIRY OF THEIR
CURRENT CARD or CERTIFICATE.
Shotfirers currently holding
a post 2002 EPIC Shotfiring Certificate or Card must therefore, before the
date of expiry of their current Certificate or Card, either obtain the
relevant Units, or the full NVQ Level 3 in Shotfiring or take and pass the
“New Style” Shotfiring Examination, but will then have to complete the
relevant Units, or the full NVQ Level 3 in Shotfiring by 31st
December 2010.
2 -
Current Explosives Supervisors
Currently (April 2006) there
are two qualifications underpinning the appointment of Explosives
Supervisors:
EPIC Blast Design
Certificates issued pre 2002 and EPIC Explosives Supervisor Cards &
Certificates issued post 2001 which were issued following successful
completion of the Explosives Supervisor examinations and were used as a
basis for appointing Explosives Supervisors
Under the new measurement
of competence EPIC Blast Design Certificates issued before 1st
January 2002 will no longer be recognised as being the basis upon which a
person can be recognised as competent to be appointed as an Explosives
Supervisor from 31st December 2006.
Explosives Supervisors
currently holding a pre 2002 EPIC Blast Design Certificate must therefore,
by 31st December 2006 either as a minimum, obtain the Unit
“BL11 –Supervise the Blasting Operation” or take and pass all modules 2,3
and 4 of the “new” (post 2001) “Explosives Supervisor “ examinations (it
is also recommended that module 1is also completed to ensure Explosives
Supervisors are up to date with the latest techniques and regulations
dealing with shotfiring) but will then have to obtain, as a minimum the
Unit “BL11 –Supervise the Blasting Operation” by 31st December
2010.
Similarly, EPIC Explosives
Supervisor Certificates and Cards issued after the 1st January
2002 (i.e. the “New Style Explosives Supervisor Certificates and Cards”)
will no longer be recognised as being the basis upon which a person can be
recognised as competent to be appointed as an Explosives Supervisor from
the DATE OF EXPIRYOF THEIR CURRENT CARD or CERTIFICATE.
Explosives Supervisors
currently holding a post 2002 EPIC Explosives Supervisor Certificate or
Card must therefore, before the date of expiry on their current
Certificate or Card, either obtain, as a minimum, the Unit BL11 –Supervise
the Blasting Operation or take and pass all 4 modules of the “new” (post
2001) “Explosives Supervisor examinations, but will then have to complete,
as a minimum, the Unit BL11 –Supervise the Blasting Operation by 31sr
December 2010.
3 - New
Shotfirers from 31.12.2006
The only measure by which
new Shotfirers can be appointed as from 31st December 2006 will
be to become appointed as a Trainee Shotfirer (as described under the
Quarries Regulations 1999), complete a programme of training, which will
include obtaining the NVQ Level 3 in Shotfiring, and then apply for an
EPIC Shotfirer Competency Card which would then be the basis on which the
person can then be appointed as a Shotfirer. The training programme for a
Trainee Shotfirer could include, but not necessarily, a course and, or, an
examination to cover the underpinning knowledge required for the NVQ Level
3 in Shotfiring.
Candidates wishing to become
an Explosives Supervisor would:
a) Successfully complete a
course in Blast Calculation and Design and Ground Vibration and Air Blast
Overpressure.
b) Register and complete
Unit BL8 (Determine the Blast Requirements) and BL9 (Design and arrange
for the Authorisation of the Blast Specification) from the Units within
the Blasting Operation Occupational Standards.
c) On completion of Units
BL8 and BL9 candidates can apply to EPIC for an “interim” EPIC Explosives
Supervisor Competency Card which will have a one year expiry date during
which time the candidate will have to complete Unit BL11 (Supervise the
Blasting Operation). Until the candidate has passed Unit BL11 they should
preferably be under the direct supervision of an Appointed Explosives
Supervisor. If a candidate does not complete BL11 within the one year
period, they must apply for a further “interim” EPIC Explosives Supervisor
Competency Card. This application must be accompanied by a letter from the
candidate’s assessor giving specific reasons as to why the candidate has
not been able to complete Unit BL11 within the 12 month period. EPIC
reserves the right NOT to issue a new “interim” EPIC Explosives Supervisor
Competency Card if, in Epic’s representative’s opinion, the reasons for
not completing BL11 within the previous 12 month period are not justified
d) On successful completion
of Unit BL11 the candidate can then apply for a “full” EPIC Explosives
Supervisor Competency Card with a 5 year expiry date which would then be
the basis on which a person could be appointed as an Explosives
Supervisor.
