Items of clothing or devices worn to protect an individual from the actual or potential risks to health or safety arising from an activity or process.

PETN is a white powder and is one of the most powerful high explosives known, with a relative effectiveness factor of 1.66. In commercial explosives PETN is used as the base charge of detonators, the explosives core of most detonating cords and in cast Pentolite boosters.

PETN is impact sensitive.

 PETN mixed with a plasticizer forms a plastic explosive.

•  Pentaerithritrol a high explosive. Commonly used in detonating cord.
• Tetranitrate as the base charge in detonators.

A plain detonator consists of an open aluminium shell and a primary and base charge.

The primary charge is generally ASA, Lead Azide, Lead Styphnate and Aluminium a mixture very sensitive to F.I.S.H.

Plain detonators are crimped onto safety fuse to provide a delay detonator.

The presence of exposed primary explosives increase the risk of accidental initiation.

Plane failures in rock slopes occur when a geological discontinuity strikes parallel or nearly parallel to the slope face and dips at an angle greater than the angle of internal friction. Unlike a wedge failure only a single sliding joint is involved.

The breaking of rocks or other materials by firing charges that have been placed against them and that have been confined by mud or clay.

Of material – that which will deform before breaking.

A security assessment in respect of a person, issued by Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). This is an ongoing check that is updated if there is a change in status.

Gases generated by the detonation of explosives during blasting.

A location that could be the source of an explosion.

Powder Factor is generally the kg of explosives loaded divided by the cubic metres or tonnes of rock broken.

PF = Explosives (kg) / Rock Volume (m³)

Powder factor can be calculated for a range of scenarios as follows:

There is also a Target Powder Factor defined. This is generally derived from the planning process based on budget constraints.

Note that some sites use kg/tonne instead of kg/m³.