Field Studies of CO Migration from Blasting

Details

• Journal Article:
  Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique
• Personal Author:
  Harris, Marcia L. ; Mainiero, Richard J. ; Sapko, Michael J.
• Description:
  Since 1988, there have been 13 documented incidents in the United States and Canada in which carbon monoxide (CO) is suspected to have migrated through near-surface strata into structures or other enclosed spaces as a result of nearby trench blasting or surface mine blasting. In addition, there are 30 suspected or medically verified CO poisonings and 1 fatality associated with these incidents. To better understand the variables contributing to this hazard, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) carried out a small-scale field study to identify key factors that may contribute to the migration of CO through the ground. NIOSH conducted single-hole, heavily confined experimental test shots to measure the radial pressure pulse as it propagated through surrounding monitoring holes to determine if a relationship existed between the pressure pulse and resulting CO measurements afterwards. NIOSH also monitored blasts at an airport construction site. Following the detonations, the concentrations of CO, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide were monitored for several days in the surrounding satellite holes. The peak CO measurements relative to distances from the shots were compared. Pressure histories and peak particle velocities (PPV) were measured at monitoring boreholes. It was found that the differential pressures recorded within the boreholes give some indication as to the likelihood of CO appearing, whereas the PPV measurements do not seem to be as good an indicator for potential CO migration. In this limited study, changes in barometric pressure had very little influence on removing the trapped detonation products, whereas applying a vacuum to the monitoring holes was effective in reducing the entrapped CO concentration. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Construction Industry
  • Explosions
  • Explosive Agents
  • Hazardous Substances
  • Mining
  • Occupational Health
  • Safety
• Keywords:
  • Explosives; Gases; Toxic-gases; Mining-industry; Construction; Blasting; Poison-gases
• Source:
  Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique, Orlando, Florida, February 6-9, 2005, 2005 Feb; 2:1-21
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PRL - Pittsburgh Research Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  21 pdf pages
• Volume:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20025992
• Contact Point Address:
  NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
• CAS Registry Number:
  • Carbon monoxide (CAS RN 630-08-0)
  • Methane (CAS RN 74-82-8)
  • Nitric oxide (CAS RN 10102-43-9)
  • Nitrogen dioxide (CAS RN 10102-44-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/8792/cdc_8792_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 736.44 KB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b9bd2ccbe7b06eaa7808cf020610daf3de7998009febd713d895b3b1b2912cc27698e6f02a7212e0070c1d0a919081c36ec421a7ffb14e6b713a407abbf2a9f2