| Rough terrain transport and discharge of explosives |
Explosives trucks could not be used to load holes on steep and uneven ground because of three main hazards:
- Explosives had to be manually handled by the shotfirer using a wheelbarrow;
- There was a risk of injury because of slips, trips or falls on the uneven terrain; and
- explosives could have spilt on route to the blast site.
The innovation selected to overcome these issues was an attachment that was made to work on the quick hitch of the telehandler.
The attachment incorporated a plastic container inside a frame which could be filled with ANFO mix. This mix could then be transported to the blast site and the telescopic arms used to position the mix over the hole. The safe working load was calculated on the maximum lift capacity of the telehandler when the jib
was fully extended.
The attachment was then lowered onto the ground to discharge any static electricity at which time the mixture could be released into the container in a controlled manner.
The mixing truck is able to remain on firm level ground to refill the container as required. This measure eliminated all of the three highlighted concerns. |