Abstract

The aim of this activity was to evaluate the migration of carbon monoxide (CO) in fractured rock and in the air following blasting, as well as the exposure of construction site workers and residents in an adjacent building to this toxic gas. The maximum recorded CO concentration is observed in the fractured rock for the 90 minutes following the detonation. It subsequently decreases but persists as long as the rock has not been completely excavated, thus increasing the risk of propagation of the gas towards the buried infrastructures. The researchers therefore recommend installing CO detectors in the buildings and underground infrastructures located less than 20 metres from an excavated zone. They also suggest using a system for removing blasting mats in the absence of blasters and drillers. This report contains several other relevant recommendations for avoiding the propagation of CO originating from urban blasting operations.