Strategies for the prevention and management of explosive detonation failures and initiation systems in mining operations (misfire)

Abstract

Misfires (failed explosive detonations) pose a critical hazard in mining by jeopardizing personnel safety and degrading operational efficiency. This study consolidates dispersed evidence from case studies, incident analyses, computational approaches and sensor-based diagnostics into a decision-oriented framework for misfire prevention, post-blast assessment and safe intervention. Rather than treating explosive selection, initiation reliability, geological and environmental controls, diagnostics and operational response as separate issues, the framework links them into a single prevention–diagnosis–management sequence. The review identifies technical, operational and environmental root causes and clarifies how optimized blast design, appropriate explosive selection, robust initiation systems, remote and real-time diagnostics, and competency-based procedures can reduce misfire probability and residual risk. The resulting synthesis provides a practical reference for mining operations where misfire-prevention and response practices remain heterogeneous, supporting safer re-entry decisions, improved operational continuity and more systematic learning from previous events.