quarry blasters and shotfirers.

A five-day seminar sponsored by the Ministry of Works was held last week at the Government Quarry Training Centre in Hamilton Parish.

The seminar provided an introduction to the safe use of explosives in quarrying and civil engineering, with an emphasis on the use of explosives.

The Ministry has moved to ensure that the Island's blasters and shotfirers undergo a five-week training programme. After the seminars, participants will sit an exam and those who pass will receive certification as a blaster and shotfirer.

Last summer a Pembroke man was lucky to escape with his life after an Island Quarry blast hurled a jagged rock through his car window.

A rock -- about seven-by-three inches in size -- smashed through the man's car windshield, ricocheted off the dashboard and into the driver's seat, barely missing the driver.

Works Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge said: "The Ministry attaches tremendous importance to the safe storage and use of explosives in quarrying and civil engineering...It is my hope that this expertise will be developed on the Island in both the public and private sectors.''