Flyrock, or wild flyrock, is rock that is ejected from the
blast site in a controlled
explosion
An explosion is a rapid expansion in volume associated with an extreme outward release of energy, usually with the generation of high temperatures and release of high-pressure gases. Supersonic explosions created by high explosives are kno ...
in
mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef, or placer deposit. The exploitation of these deposits for raw material is based on the economic ...
operations. The term refers in particular to rock that flies beyond the blast site, causing injuries to people and damage to property. This is considered a significant issue in mining; between 1994 and 2005, 32 miners were injured by flyrock.
Flyrock can vary in mass from marble-sized to car-sized.
Accident data from the
Mine Safety and Health Administration indicate that flyrock and lack of blast area security were the main causes of blasting-related injuries in
surface mining. Fatal injuries due to lack of blast area security were caused mainly by failure to clear the blast area or inadequate access control to the blast area.
[{{Cite web, url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nioshtic-2/20024383.html, title=NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search - 20024383 - Fatal accidents due to flyrock and lack of blast area security and working practices in mining., website=www.cdc.gov, language=en-us, access-date=2017-01-24] Proper planning can reduce the incidence of flyrock.
See also
*
Stone damage, damage to vehicles from flying gravel and small stones in traffic
References
''This incorporates public domain content from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention''.
Mine safety