Who determines the safe levels of ground vibrations for blasters to follow?
There has been an extensive amount of research done to determine the safe levels of vibrations. The purpose being to establish a level for blasters to operate under that will eliminate the risk to properties surrounding a blast site. The United States Bureau of Mines has contributed a major part of the technical data on blast design and vibration control. Other agencies and institutions have provided a great deal of research that has contributed to the accumulated knowledge in this field. You can visit the website of the Office of Surface Mining, (OSM) in the website of the department of the interior for more information. Current legal and recommended vibration limits have resulted from this research. By staying below these limits and following safe blasting procedures, the risk to property around the blast site can be minimized or eliminated. The Office of Surface Mining, (OSM), publishes their findings on this subject in reports called “Reports of Information.” Abstracts from some of
