Drilling & Blasting SWMS (Shotfiring)
Surface and underground drilling, charge-up, initiation, exclusion zones, post-blast re-entry, misfire procedure, fume re-entry, fly-rock and vibration monitoring. Aligned to AS 2187.0/1/2 and AEISG Code of Practice for open-cut mines and quarries.
SWMS variants reference your state's WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
This SWMS covers the full scope of drill-and-blast work on Australian mine and quarry sites — surface bench drilling on open-cut coal, metalliferous, and quarry operations, underground development and production drilling, explosives magazine receipt and storage, charge-up and priming of blastholes, electric and electronic initiation, exclusion-zone setup and sentry management, pre-blast inspection, shotfiring, post-blast fume gas monitoring and re-entry, misfire investigation and rendering-safe, secondary rockfall response, and community vibration and airblast monitoring at sensitive receivers. It is written for licensed shotfirers, drill-rig operators, charge-up crews, powder-magazine supervisors, blast engineers, open-cut supervisors, and the contractor workforce engaged on drill-and-blast work under the site's Principal Hazard Management Plan and Blasting Management Plan. Every control in this document has been authored against Australian Standard AS 2187.0/1/2, the AEISG Code of Practice — On-Bench Practices for Open Cut Mines and Quarries (November 2015), and the state Dangerous Goods regulations.
Drilling and blasting is unique among mining activities because it triggers both a Schedule 1 High-Risk Construction Work category AND a mining principal hazard simultaneously. Under the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) Schedule 1, Category 16 — the use of explosives — is an explicit HRCW requiring a SWMS before work commences under Section 299, kept available on site, and provided to the Principal Contractor on request. In addition, explosives and inrush are nominated principal hazards under the NSW WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 and the QLD Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017, requiring a dedicated Explosives Management Plan or PHMP. Licensed shotfirers are required in every Australian jurisdiction under state Dangerous Goods or Explosives legislation. This SWMS addresses both the HRCW obligation and the PHMP operational detail, giving supervisors a defensible, auditable document for daily pre-start briefings, blast-plan authorisation, regulator inspections, and post-incident review.
Hazards identified
12 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Fatal premature detonation during charge-up or tie-in; historically the mechanism behind multiple Australian shotfirer fatalities and the driver of AS 2187.2 RF-exclusion rules.
Delayed detonation during post-blast inspection, re-entry, or subsequent drilling; fatal strike or amputation from detonation at close range.
Fatal strike on crew, light vehicles, or community receivers outside the blast radius; historically the cause of quarry flyrock fatalities across Australia.
Structural damage to buildings, community nuisance complaints, regulatory investigation, and potential operating-licence suspension; monitored continuously at sensitive receivers per state regulation.
Acute pulmonary oedema from NO2 inhalation, CO poisoning from incomplete ANFO detonation, and fatal collapse during premature re-entry; the driver of the mandatory gas-monitoring re-entry protocol.
Fatal fall from benches commonly 10-15 metres in height; managed under edge protection, setback rules, and AS/NZS 1891 fall-arrest where applicable.
Fatal crush from rig rollover on soft ground or near the crest; amputation from rotating rod, feed mechanism, or dust collector during maintenance.
Ammonium-nitrate product compromised by water ingress or sulfide-rich ore generating elevated NOx, detonation failure, or in extreme cases reactive-ground self-heating events.
Fatal electrocution during surface drilling near transmission or distribution powerlines; historically a major cause of drill-rig fatalities in Australian quarry and construction sectors.
Delayed rockfall during post-blast inspection, scaling, or support install; managed under the GCMP re-entry protocol.
Explosives diverted to unlawful use; statutory notification and investigation under state Dangerous Goods (Explosives) legislation with maximum penalties up to $250,000 and 10 years imprisonment.
Permanent noise-induced hearing loss from blast overpressure; managed under double hearing protection and minimum 500-metre exclusion distance for the shotfiring team.
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Operate strictly within the site Blasting Management Plan (BMP) authored per AS 2187.2-2006 and the AEISG Code of Practice. The BMP defines hole diameter, burden, spacing, stemming, delay timing, initiation system, exclusion zone, and monitoring; it is signed by the Mine Manager or SSE and is non-negotiable.
- 2Shotfirer licence verification: every charge-up and shotfiring activity is led by a state-licensed shotfirer (QLD Shotfirer certificate, NSW Explosives User Licence, WA Shotfirer Certificate of Competency, VIC Blaster licence). Two-person rule for charge-up with minimum one licensed shotfirer and one trained assistant.
- 3Pre-blast inspection and bench audit by the shotfirer: hole-by-hole depth and diameter check, stemming verification, surface layout confirmed against the blast plan, tie-in integrity tested where applicable, and a signed pre-blast sign-off against the BMP before initiation.
- 4Exclusion zone setup per flyrock and vibration modelling: minimum 500 metres for typical open-cut bench blasts, extended where hole diameter, depth, or stemming conditions indicate. Sentries positioned at every access point with two-way radio, road blocks on public roads where applicable, and confirmation of exclusion before arming.
- 5Radio-frequency exclusion per AS 2187.2 Appendix B: 2-way radio transmitters restricted to permitted distances from electric detonators, mobile-phone restrictions around the bench during tie-in, and electronic detonator systems preferred over electric for RF-sensitive environments. RF silence enforced during arming.
- 6Electronic detonator initiation systems preferred over pyrotechnic or electric where practicable. Two-way communication detonators enable misfire detection and verification of each cap firing; this significantly reduces post-blast misfire risk compared with conventional pyrotechnic systems.
- 7Post-blast re-entry protocol is time-dependent AND gas-dependent. Minimum 30-minute ventilation purge in underground; surface re-entry only after visual confirmation of stemming ejection, gas monitoring confirms NOx below 2 ppm and CO below 30 ppm at the nearest affected work area, and a post-blast walk-around by the shotfirer.
- 8Misfire procedure per AS 2187.2 Section 8: no approach to the bench for minimum 30 minutes (electric) or as defined by electronic system reporting; misfire investigation and render-safe conducted ONLY by a licensed shotfirer with written authorisation from the Mine Manager or SSE; no other worker enters the exclusion zone until cleared.
- 9Magazine security per state Dangerous Goods (Explosives) regulations and the RSHQ Safety Notices on security of blasting explosives: two-lock rule on magazine access, daily inventory reconciliation, 24/7 monitoring, and immediate notification to state regulator and police on any loss or unexplained discrepancy.
- 10Drill-rig operating controls: minimum 10-metre setback from open-cut bench crest, ground-condition assessment by supervisor before rig positioning, rollover protective structure (ROPS) and falling object protective structure (FOPS) on every rig, and operator presence system on rig controls.
- 11Overhead powerline management per state electrical safety regulations: BYDA (Before You Dig Australia) lookup for buried services, SafeWork Australia Working Near Overhead Electric Lines guidance for surface drilling, minimum 3-metre no-approach zone for low-voltage and up to 10 metres for transmission, and where encroachment is unavoidable the line is isolated and earthed by the asset owner.
- 12Water-ingress and sulfide-ground management: hole-water testing before charge-up; water-resistant emulsion products specified in the BMP for wet holes; sulfide-reactive ground risk assessment including temperature monitoring and sleep-time limits before initiation; Orica and AEISG reactive-ground protocols referenced.
- 13Ground vibration and airblast monitoring at nearest sensitive receiver: peak particle velocity (PPV) limit typically 5 mm/s at residential receivers and 10 mm/s at commercial, airblast limit typically 115 dB(L) with 5-percent exceedance allowance per state regulation. Monitors deployed for every blast and results reported to the regulator.
- 14All drill-and-blast crew hold current underground or surface mining competencies (RII30420 or RII30620), state shotfirer or explosives-user licence where applicable, magazine-keeper certification where applicable, first-aid certification, and have completed site-specific blast-plan inductions.
- 15Psychosocial controls per WHS Regulation 2025 r55A-55D: 12-hour maximum shift for shotfirers and charge-up crew, fatigue management plan integrated with the site FMP, mandatory two-person supervision during charge-up, and handover briefings at shift change covering BMP status and any active misfires or magazine anomalies.
- 16PPE baseline: hard hat, safety glasses, hi-vis long-sleeve shirt and trouser, steel-cap boots, anti-static cotton overalls in magazine and charge-up areas, fire-retardant clothing during charge-up, double hearing protection (plugs plus muffs) at initiation, P2 or P3 respirator for post-blast re-entry, personal gas monitor (NOx/CO/O2/CH4), and chemical-resistant gloves for emulsion handling.
Applicable Codes of Practice
The primary technical standard for explosives use in Australia; governs mixing, testing, initiation, firing, misfires, ground vibration, airblast, and re-entry timing.
Companion standards to AS 2187.2; Part 1 governs magazine design, storage quantities, and security requirements for commercial explosives.
Industry code of practice authored by the Australian Explosives Industry and Safety Group; binding guidance for open-cut and quarry charge-up, initiation, and re-entry.
WA regulator guide establishing blast plan content, sign-off authority, and technical detail required before initiation.
NSW state regulation governing explosives licensing, storage, transport, and use; Schedule 5 references AS 2187 as the binding technical standard.
Establishes the SWMS obligation under WHS Regulation Section 299 and defines the HRCW framework applicable to Category 16 explosives work.
Queensland parent legislation for explosives use; coal operations subject to additional CMSHR 2017 ventilation and principal hazard requirements.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
All drill-and-blast work includes the charge-up, initiation, and firing of commercial explosives — an explicit Schedule 1 Category 16 HRCW under WHS Regulation r291 requiring a SWMS before work commences.
Underground drill-and-blast work in development ends, stoping bays, and rehabilitation zones frequently meets the AS 2865-2009 confined space definition, particularly before ventilation re-establishes post-blast.
Open-cut bench drilling, bench-face inspection, and blast-design survey work routinely take place above 2 metres at bench crests, in elevated work platforms, and on drill-rig service access platforms.
Because this work triggers multiple HRCW categories AND is a nominated mining principal hazard, Section 299 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) requires the SWMS to be prepared before work commences, kept available on site for inspection, reviewed and updated if the work changes, and provided to the Principal Contractor on request. Failure by a PCBU to prepare or keep a current SWMS for HRCW is an offence under Section 300; maximum penalty for a body corporate is $36,000 per offence, and for an individual $7,200, in addition to any higher-tier prosecution under Sections 31-33 of the WHS Act if an incident causes death or serious injury. Under state Explosives Acts additional penalties apply for unlicensed shotfiring, magazine security breaches, and blast-plan non-compliance, with maximum penalties up to $250,000 and 10 years imprisonment for serious offences.
Who this is for
- →Licensed shotfirers, senior shotfirers, and drill-and-blast supervisors engaged on open-cut and underground operations.
- →Drill-rig operators on surface bench, production, and development drilling.
- →Charge-up crews, magazine keepers, and explosives-handling personnel.
- →Blast engineers and blast-plan authors responsible for Blasting Management Plans and vibration/airblast compliance.
- →Mine managers, Statutory Site Senior Executives, HSE leads, and Principal Contractors preparing for regulator inspection, inspectorate audit, or post-incident review under state Explosives and Mining legislation.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word (.docx) document delivered within 24 hours of payment.
- ✓Title page with mine name, ABN, shotfirer-in-charge, SSE, and revision date fields.
- ✓Signed approval block for Mine Manager, SSE, licensed shotfirer, and Principal Contractor where applicable.
- ✓Hazard register with the 12 hazards above, each with consequence, inherent risk, controls, and residual risk scored on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix.
- ✓Controls section cross-referenced to AS 2187.0/1/2, AEISG COP, state Dangerous Goods (Explosives) regulations, and the site BMP and PHMP.
- ✓Blast-plan proforma and pre-blast sign-off checklist aligned to AS 2187.2 and the AEISG Code.
- ✓Post-blast re-entry gas-monitoring checklist with NOx, CO, O2, and CH4 thresholds.
- ✓Misfire procedure template per AS 2187.2 Section 8 including render-safe authorisation block.
- ✓Consultation record for HSR sign-off and worker input per Section 47 of the WHS Act.
- ✓Legislation schedule pre-populated with state-by-state variance table (NSW, QLD, WA, SA, VIC, NT, TAS).
Worked example
A QLD open-cut coal operation is executing bench 420 with a single blast comprising 180 holes at 200 mm diameter and 10 metres depth, loaded with ANFO in dry holes and water-resistant emulsion in wet holes, each primed with a 1.5 kg booster and initiated through an electronic detonator system on a 42 ms inter-hole and 84 ms inter-row delay design. The senior shotfirer completes this SWMS before mobilising the charge-up crew: the scope triggers HRCW Category 16, Category 3 (bench crest above 2 metres), and the NSW/QLD mining principal hazard framework. Pre-blast checks confirm hole depths and diameters against the blast plan, RF silence enforced from the moment of tie-in, and water-cart dust-suppression runs before and during charge-up. Exclusion zone set at 500 metres with 6 sentry positions and 2 road blocks on the adjacent haul road; community vibration monitor deployed at the nearest residential receiver 1.8 km downrange. The blast plan is signed by the shotfirer-in-charge, Open Cut Examiner, and Mine Manager before arming. After firing, the 30-minute gas-monitoring hold confirms NOx at 0.8 ppm and CO at 12 ppm at the bench access point; re-entry proceeds with the shotfirer in advance of the rehabilitation crew, a walk-over check for unstemmed or missed holes, and a signed post-blast clearance. Reference: AEISG safety bulletins catalogue multiple Australian flyrock and misfire incidents underscoring the critical role of the BMP and licensed shotfirer; the RSHQ Dugald River explosives incidents and the Byerwen Coal fatalities of August 2024 remain active reference cases for drill-and-blast principal hazard management in Queensland.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) — Section 19 primary duty of care; Section 27 officer due diligence; Section 47 worker consultation.
- WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) — r291 HRCW categories including explosives; r298-300 SWMS obligations; r55A-55D psychosocial hazards.
- WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 (NSW) — explosives and inrush as nominated principal hazards requiring PHMP.
- NSW Explosives Act 2003 and NSW Explosives Regulation 2024 — licensing of shotfirers, magazine keepers, and explosives suppliers.
- QLD Explosives Act 1999 and QLD Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017 — parent legislation and coal-specific explosives management.
- WA Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 and WA Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 — WA licensing and magazine storage framework.
- Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG 7.9) — road and rail transport of commercial explosives.
- VIC Dangerous Goods (Explosives) Regulations 2022 and SA Explosives Act 1936 — state licensing and use frameworks.
Frequently asked questions
Is a SWMS sufficient, or do I also need a Blasting Management Plan?
You need both. The BMP is the technical blast-design document authored under AS 2187.2 and the AEISG Code — it specifies hole layout, loading, timing, and vibration limits. The SWMS is the worker-level safe-work instrument required under Section 299 of the WHS Regulation because Category 16 explosives is explicit HRCW. The BMP and SWMS cross-reference each other; both must be current before initiation.
Does this SWMS replace the need for a licensed shotfirer?
No. State Dangerous Goods (Explosives) legislation requires a licensed shotfirer to conduct charge-up, tie-in, and initiation in every Australian jurisdiction. The SWMS documents the safe system of work; the shotfirer executes it under their statutory licence. Unlicensed shotfiring is a criminal offence with maximum penalties up to $250,000 and imprisonment.
Does this SWMS cover both surface and underground drill-and-blast work?
Yes. The hazard register and control set address both environments. Surface-specific controls (flyrock exclusion, bench-crest setback, community vibration) and underground-specific controls (ventilation purge time, secondary rockfall, confined space overlap) are enabled or disabled in the Word template depending on scope.
How does the 1 December 2026 WES-to-WEL transition affect post-blast gas thresholds?
The transition from Workplace Exposure Standards to Workplace Exposure Limits is primarily a regulatory rebrand. Current values for NO2 (2 ppm TWA), CO (30 ppm TWA), and other post-blast contaminants are unchanged at the transition point. Review this SWMS annually or whenever Safe Work Australia issues revised WEL values.
Can electronic detonators fully eliminate the misfire risk?
No, but they significantly reduce it. Two-way-communication electronic detonator systems allow each cap to be verified before and after firing, providing a misfire-count at the bench immediately after initiation. This is superior to pyrotechnic systems where misfires are detected only by visual inspection. However, misfires can still occur from physical disruption, water damage, or initiation failure; the AS 2187.2 misfire procedure still applies.
Is this SWMS compliant with the 1 July 2026 Section 26A changes?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, 34 approved Codes of Practice become legally binding under Section 26A of the amended WHS Act. This SWMS cites the Codes that will become binding — Construction Work, Managing the Risk of Falls, Confined Spaces, and Managing Electrical Risks — in addition to AS 2187 and the state Explosives regulations that already apply. No amendment is required for the Section 26A transition.
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