More than 80 explosives industry professionals and six exhibitors packed the Embassy Suites Hotel in Huntsville, Ala., on Thursday, March 27 for the first Southeast Blasting Workshop.

Held by the ISEE, the workshop was a full day of presentations covering explosives safety, vibration control, electronic detonators, blast reporting and updates from the ATF and MSHA. Workshop attendees qualified for blaster’s training recertification hours from several states.

Sponsors included Sauls Seismic; TN Volunteer ISEE Chapter; Blasters Tool and Supply; and APT Research. 

Hazmat Training

Hazmat was the focus on Friday, March 28, as ISEE sponsored the Class 1 Explosives Specific Hazmat Safety Training at the National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR).

The half-day program satisfied the major requirements of the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 49 CFR Part 172.704.Topics included hazmat preparation, documentation, hazard communication, handling, emergency response, cargo segregation and security awareness. 

Tom Snyder, Austin Powder Company and COHMED award-winning hazmat professional, and Tom Dunaway, former FEMA specialist and DOT consultant, led discussions including the hazmat table, marking, labeling and placarding and security plan components. Each module included a test. Attendees received a certificate of training, as well as a workbook and a copy of the 2012 Emergency Response Guide, compliments of Austin Powder Company.