Construction projects in Middle Tennessee regularly require excavation through bedrock using explosives. Vanderbilt and Belmont universities are currently involved in parking garage projects which call for such blasting.
On Wed., Dec. 17, Metro Councilman Keith Durbin, Vanderbilt University and Belmont University invite the public to attend a free, educational program on construction blasting.This multimedia educational program will be offered to the community to explain the scientific and regulatory aspects of construction blasting as well as techniques for ensuring that blasting is as safe as possible.
The program will be held in the Frist Lecture Hall on the fourth floor of the Inman Health Science Building at Belmont University at 6:30 p.m. Parking will be available in the garage located beneath the building, with access from Wedgewood Avenue.
The use of explosives in construction work requires considerable engineering knowledge of explosives, so there will be a number of expert presenters at the program including:
o Jimmy Sanders, commercial explosives supervisor for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, responsible for enforcement of laws pertaining to commercial blasting
o Wade Hutchison, president, VCE, Inc., the engineering firm providing the pre-blasting surveys and monitoring for Belmont and Vanderbilt universities
o Representatives from R.C. Matthews, contractor for both university projects
o Representatives from Vanderbilt and Belmont universities
In addition to a video presentation, a demonstration of seismographs will be offered with opportunities for hands-on exercises. A question-and-answer session will conclude the event.
For more information about Belmont University, visit www.belmont.edu.
Media contact: Missy Pankake, (615) 322-NEWS
missy.pankake@vanderbilt.edu
Greg Pillon, (615) 460-6645
pillong@mail.belmont.edu