Section 0780-02-15-.05 - CONTINUING EDUCATION(1) As a prerequisite to renewing registration, registrants are required to obtain the following continuing education credits per renewal cycle: (a) Blasters must obtain sixteen (16) hours of continuing education credits;(b) Limited blasters must obtain eight (8) hours of continuing education credits;(c) Handlers must obtain six (6) hours of continuing education credits.(2) A continuing education course must be approved by the Commissioner or his or her authorized representative before the registrant will be granted credit for the course.(3) The registrant shall provide verification to the Commissioner or his or her authorized representative of having obtained the continuing education credits required by this rule. Verification consists of a form certifying attendance at the course and the number of continuing education hours obtained at the course and signed by both the registrant and the course instructor.(4) The registrant shall submit to the Commissioner or his or her authorized representative the registrant's verification form after taking the course and prior to the expiration of his or her registration. The registrant is responsible for ensuring timely submittal of the required verification. Documentation that shows that the registrant self-taught himself or herself without course instruction will not be accepted for continuing education credit.(5) In order to obtain approval to provide course instruction, the course provider shall submit to the Commissioner or his or her authorized representative materials including an outline of the course instruction, biography of the instructor, the methods and tools that will be utilized in the course, number of instruction hours provided and the dates and times the course will be offered. A course provider seeking approval of a course pursuant to this paragraph shall submit the required documentation no later than ten (10) business days prior to the first offering of the course.(6) A blaster, limited blaster or handler may apply on an individual basis for continuing education credit for a course which has not been approved in advance by the Commissioner or his or her authorized representative by submitting an agenda, number of instructional hours provided, biography of the instructor, the dates and times the course was offered, verification of attendance by both the registrant and the course instructor and any additional information requested by the Commissioner or his or her authorized representative as necessary for review of the course. A blaster, limited blaster or handler seeking approval of a course pursuant to this paragraph shall submit the required documentation no later than thirty (30) days after having taken the class. No credit for the course will be awarded unless and until the course is approved by the Commissioner or his or her authorized representative.(7) Credit will be given to instructors who are registered for the teaching of courses. Instructors who are registered blasters may receive up to six (6) hours of credit for teaching per renewal cycle. Instructors who are registered limited blasters may receive up to four (4) hours of credit for teaching per renewal cycle. Instructors who are registered handlers may receive up to two (2) hours of credit per renewal cycle. Instructors shall receive credit only once for teaching an approved course.(8) Credit may be granted for educational offerings which cover blasting-related topics such as those listed in paragraph (9) below which are consistent with the purpose of continuing education. Training may include a combination of classroom and/or practical field exercises.(a) The viewing of video tapes is not acceptable for continuing education credit unless incorporated into a course wherein an instructor is available to accurately respond to questions raised from the viewing and correct any outdated information contained in the video tape.(b) Acceptable sources of training are any in-state or out-of-state individuals, associations or entities that provide or deliver courses of instruction, training or educational sessions.(9) The following list is not a complete list of continuing education topics, but the list represents acceptable course content:(a) Job site: 1. Blast planning (including measuring the blast zone and selection of the drill bit size);2. Blast site safety (including loading of holes, initiation of the blast and firing of the shot);(b) Commerce in explosives (Federal and State requirements);(c) United States Department of Transportation requirements (including proper packaging and labeling and commingling hazardous material);(d) Subjects related to explosives, which can include the following:2. Magazine housekeeping;5. Packing and unpacking explosives;7. Magazine construction;(10) Registrants who take more than the required continuing education for the previous renewal period will not be permitted to carry-over the credit hours into the next renewal cycle.(11) The Commissioner may conduct random audits of registrants and continuing education courses to assure compliance with this rule. Each registrant is responsible for maintaining sufficient records which may be used to support claimed continuing education credits.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-15-.05
Original rule filed July 11, 1991; effective August 25, 1991. Amendment filed February 13, 2003; effective April 29, 2003. Amendment filed April 30, 2009; effective July 14, 2009.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 68-105-108, 68-105-116, and 68-105-121.