Toxic Fumes From Blasting Chamber in a mine where toxic fume measurements are conducted. Steel plates protect the chamber from shrapnel produced by detonation of a pipe bomb. International Society of Explosives Engineers, pp. Reduce worker exposure to blasting fumes by determining the causes of excessive blasting fumes and the rate of toxic fumes generation of various blasting agents under different blasting conditions. Develop strategies to minimize exposure to the fumes.
All explosives generate toxic fumes when they detonate.
Care must be taken to ensure that workers are protected from these fumes. ANFO generates more toxic fumes than high explosives, and there is no standard test to determine the quantities of toxic fumes generated by blasting agents. Additionally, surface mines have moved toward shooting larger blasts, which has caused new problems from blasting fumes. These large blasts produce proportionately larger quantities of fumes that take longer to dissipate. To address the hazards of toxic fumes, a chamber has been constructed in which up to 10 pounds of blasting agent may be detonated and the toxic fumes confined.