Short-firer licence improves efficiency of explosive activity

KUALA LUMPUR: The Shot-firer Licence which replaces the Shot-firer Certificate and Blasting Certificate will improve the efficiency of blasting works in quarries, mines and construction sites, said Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Dr Hamim Samuri (pix).
He said under the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS), the ministry through the Minerals and Geoscience Department (JMG) in collaboration with the police were trying to enhance the competence of the holders of the authorised Shot-firer Licence.
"Prior to this, the Short-firer Certificate was issued by JMG while the Blasting Certificate by the police. Beginning Dec 28, last year, both of these certificates were combined and now known as the Shot-firer Licence.
"We believe that the quality, safety and efficiency of activity involving explosives at the construction site will be further enhanced," he told a press conference after launching the Shot-firer Licence here today.
As of June 30, Hamim said a total of 592 out of the 1,400 existing certificate holders had switched to the Shot-firer Licence.
Based on JMG statistics, he said 57 complaints were lodged regarding explosive activity at mines and quarries.
"All these complaints were related to tremors which caused building cracks, but after being inspected, the complaint was found to be baseless because the cracks could be due to various factors such as soil deposition, low quality construction material, construction and so on," he said.