20/10/2024
Flyrock Incidents in Buduburam, Ghana
The flyrock incident during road construction in Buduburam, which tragically killed several people and injured many others, shows clear failures in how the blasting operation was managed.
The contractor could have easily prevented this disaster by taking a few basic steps. Even if not all safety measures were followed, at the very least, they should have enforced exclusion zones and used protective barriers.
Establishing and Enforcing Safety Exclusion Zones
Creating safe zones: The contractor should have set up clear boundaries far enough from the blast site to keep everyone out of harm's way. This would mean marking the area clearly and making sure no workers or bystanders were within range of the blast.
Warning systems: There should have been proper warning systems in place, like sirens, signs, and staff to monitor the area. They needed a clear plan for evacuating or restricting access before the blast.
Using Blast Mats or Barriers
Blast mats: Heavy-duty mats, made from materials like rubber or mesh, could have been used to cover the area being blasted. These mats help absorb the energy from the explosion and stop debris from flying into nearby areas.
Barriers: The contractor could also have built berms or walls around the site to block any debris or flyrock from reaching populated areas. This simple step would have reduced the risk of injury.
The contractor put both workers and the public in danger when they failed to take these precautions.
Kenneth Bansah, PhD, PE
Note: Available public information gives an indication that standard blast protection measures were not followed. Updates may be provided upon receiving additional compelling information.
Images: Artspace
