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CHAPTER 12 <br />RECORD KEEPING <br />Records should always be made by a responsible person at the <br />time of the event. This responsible person should be, or be <br />delegated by, the certified blaster, under whose direction all <br />blasting must be conducted. A blaster is required to be present at <br />all shots, together with at least one other person [Section <br />816.61(c)(3)]. <br />It goes without saying that a blast vibration seismogram alone, <br />unsupported by adequate records, is virtually useless. Even when <br />the instrument itself can be programmed to record the date and time <br />automatically, or when the sound channel possesses a 'VOICE' <br />function to permit verbal comments and information to be recorded <br />on the magnetic tape together with the blast, seismograph records <br />must be supported by proper written records. <br />All blasting operations, whether or not they are subject to <br />regulations, must always be fully documented. This is quite apart <br />from any consideration of compliance with OSMRE regulations. It is <br />simple common sense to insist on a complete record keeping program <br />wherever and whenever explosives are concerned. The risk of <br />litigation is very real, and this risk alone should convince <br />operators that good, clear, and complete records are essential. In <br />the event of litigation, they are certain to be called into <br />evidence; and as evidence they should be absolutely unassailable. <br />OSMRE regulations, in fact, establish a minimum standard for <br />what should be regarded as the essentials of adequate blast and <br />vibration records (Section 816.68): <br />• They must be kept at least 3 years. It is wise to <br />keep them for much longer. <br />• They must contain the name of the operator conducting <br />the blast. <br />• They must include the location, date and time of the blast. <br />• They must be signed by the certified blaster conducting the <br />blast, and show his or her name and certification number. <br />• They must identify the nearest dwelling, public building, <br />school, church, community or institutional building outside <br />the permit area (except those described in Section <br />816.67(e)) and establish the direction and distance from <br />the nearest blast hole to that nearest structure. <br />101 <br />