The first training should be by at least January of 1999. The blasting program will be going more and more to nonelectric and two-component products as technology changes. This will eliminate storage and transportation problems and enhance the safety of the program. Some Districts have no internal blasting program and do not see the need to maintain an in-house capability. When needed they use contractors or blasters from other Districts and feel that this approach works the best for them.
Some Districts feel they have too many certified blasters for the current and foreseeable work load.
They said they would consider reducing the number of blasters and also review which work groups the remaining blasters would come from. All Districts with certified blasters were concerned that at times it is difficult for blasters to maintain certification due to not getting the 3 shot per year requirement. All agree that reducing the number of blasters should help remedy this situation. All Districts with internal blasting programs expressed concern that the trainees in the program are not progressing towards full certification adequately. Too little blasting is going on to gain the necessary experience.