Explosive Safety Training

Industries dealing with explosives, such as ammunition and TNT, must adhere to strict safety guidelines. Explosive safety training helps to prevent serious accidents that can occur on the job from improperly handling these materials.

Significance

• Explosive safety training helps employees improve their technical skills for handling explosives. It also gives workers a greater sense of the many hazards that can occur. Employers that conduct this training as part of an overall explosives safety program reduce liability to the company and remain in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.

Types

• Industries use certain labels to identify explosives and their properties.

  OSHA states that blasters must train to move, handle and manipulate explosives. Blasters must also know the appropriate legal regulations regarding explosives. Explosive safety training involves essential skills such as explosives identification, material labeling and proper storage.

Considerations

• The military also conducts specific safety training for soldiers who work with explosives and ammunition. Soldiers attend a mandatory training series that prepares them for certification as an explosives safety officer (ESO). Soldiers in the Marine Corps, for example, attend courses on hazardous materials transportation, ammunition identification and related topics. After certification, they attend follow-up training throughout their career.