Latest News

Leading Hunting to New Markets - Meet Det Cord Production Manager Amber Williams
03/14/2024

Leading Hunting to New Markets - Meet Det Cord Production Manager Amber Williams

Continuing our efforts to highlight the women of the commercial explosives industry during Women's History Month, this week we spoke with Amber Williams of Hunting. Williams has been with Hunting for six years and oversees the detonating cord production at the company's facility in Milford, Texas.

IME’s Hoffman Recognized with ISEE President’s Award for Service to the Commercial Explosives Industry
01/25/2024

IME’s Hoffman Recognized with ISEE President’s Award for Service to the Commercial Explosives Industry

IME director of scientific and regulatory affairs Josh Hoffman receives the ISEE President's Award for contributions and service to the explosives industry.

IME Endorses the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act
12/06/2023

IME Endorses the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act

Commercial Explosives Industry Joins Over 150 Organizations in Advocating for Congress to Reform Redundant Process

IME endorses legislation that will eliminate duplicative background checks and fees for the nation's essential transportation workers.

IME Recognizes Four Member Companies With Highest Award for Safety in 2022
10/20/2023

IME Recognizes Four Member Companies With Highest Award for Safety in 2022

During the Institute of Makers of Explosives Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet, the IME recognized four member companies with the prestigious Tricia Appleton Award for Safety for 2022.

IME’s Awards Five Safety and Health Certificates of Excellence for 2022
10/20/2023

IME’s Awards Five Safety and Health Certificates of Excellence for 2022

During the Institute of Makers of Explosives 2023 Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet, the IME awarded five member companies with its annual Safety and Health Certificate of Excellence for 2022.

IME Renews Safety Alliance with MSHA to Promote Safe, Healthy Mining Operations
10/17/2023

IME Renews Safety Alliance with MSHA to Promote Safe, Healthy Mining Operations

At the 2023 annual meeting of the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME), IME President Clark Mica and the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) Administrator for Mine Safety and Health Enforcement Brian Goepfert announced the renewal of a collaborative relationship to continue fostering safe and healthy working conditions at the nation's mining operations.

Commercial Explosives Industry Applauds Legislation to Incentivize Hiring and Retaining CDL Drivers
09/19/2023

Commercial Explosives Industry Applauds Legislation to Incentivize Hiring and Retaining CDL Drivers

IME Urges Amendment to Include Class B Drivers for HazMat

The Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act would provide a $7,500 tax credit for each qualified licensed commercial truck driver and up to $10,000 in tax credits for each employee registered in trucking apprenticeships.

05/30/2023

IME Announces 2023 Public Policy Priorities

The IME Board of Governors approves the public policy priorities of the commercial explosives industry.

05/09/2023

IME Recognizes Four Companies With the Tricia Appleton Award

Award Given Annually to Companies with the Highest Safety Rating in the Commercial Explosives Industry

Companies who were awarded the Tricia Appleton Award

05/09/2023

Nine IME Members Awarded Safety and Health Certificates of Excellence for 2021

Marks the Highest Number of Companies Awarded Since 2016

The Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) today announced that it awarded nine of its member companies with a Safety and Health Certificate of Excellence. The announcement marks the highest number of IME Companies to receive the prestigious award in the last nine years.

03/31/2023

IME Applauds House Passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act

WASHINGTON – The Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) President Clark Mica today issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act:

09/16/2022

IME Calls for Continued Freight Rail Service Amidst Potential Strikes

On behalf of the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME), I write today to draw attention to a critical matter affecting the continuity of freight rail service for our essential industry and many others throughout the U.S. economy.

03/02/2022

IME's New President

Washington, D.C. (03/02/2022) – The Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) is pleased to announce that J. Clark Mica has been selected to become its next President effective March 14, 2022. He is presently the Vice President, Government Affairs for The Fertilizer Institute.

09/20/2021

AESC/IME JPG Standard Update

After 9 years of testing and at the request of PHMSA, IME and AESC completed a review of the JPG Standard that resulted in a new Version 02 that became effective on 9/1/2017

01/27/2021

PHMSA Outreach: Requirement to Pass the UN 6(d) Test Expanded

(Updated 5/5/2021) PHMSA Outreach: Requirement to Pass the UN 6(d) Test Expanded to 4 Additional Explosive 1.4S Entries Mandatory Compliance Date (May 10, 2021) Coming Soon

12/07/2020

IME Staff Interviewed on the Academy Blasting Podcast

IME Director of Technical Services, Dr. Joshua Hoffman, was interviewed by Dr. Anthony Konya for the Academy Blasting Podcast.

11/03/2020

Electronic Detonator FAQ for Regulators

In an effort to aid the regulatory community, IME has published “ Electronic Blasting Initiation Systems EBIS Frequently Asked Questions for Regulators.”

11/02/2020

IME Releases Guidance for Safe Transportation of Ammonium Nitrate

As part of IME’s ongoing effort to protect the public, motor vehicle operators, the emergency response community, and the commercial explosives businesses, IME has published “IME Guideline for the Responsible Transportation of Solid Ammonium Nitrate by Motor Vehicle.”

10/01/2020

Five IME Member Companies Earn the Respected Tricia Appleton Award for Safety

The prestigious Tricia Appleton Award is given each year by IME’s Safety and Health Committee to the member company with the best overall safety record for the previous year based on lowest Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) rate, as reported to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

09/29/2020

PHMSA Outreach: Requirement to Pass the UN 6(d) Expanded to 4 Additional Explosive 1.4S Entries

On May 11, 2020, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation published Final Rule HM-215O implementing provisions to harmonize its Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR parts 171 to 180) with various international standards. This final rule included expansion of the requirement to pass the UN 6(d) Unconfined Package Test to four additional Explosive 1.4S entries

07/28/2020

New Power Tool Video Launched - Explores How Explosives Impact Our Daily Lives

The Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) and the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) jointly announce the release of Explosives: The Power Tool.

07/24/2020

IME Launches New SLP-based eLearning Program

IME has launched a new eLearning platform based on our Safety Library Publications (SLPs). Users will be able to gain a complete understanding of each SLP via narration, interactive images, and thought-provoking “Knowledge Challenge” questions.

06/03/2020

2020 Biennial State Fee Directory Now Available

IME has published the 2020 Biennial State Explosives Credentialing & Fee Directory for Commercial High Explosives and Blasting Agents.

03/31/2020

COVID-19 Updates and Resources

IME is working to track the quickly evolving directives, announcements, information and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic that impact the commercial explosives industry or may be of general assistance.

03/17/2020

Renewal of the MSHA-IME Safety Alliance Agreement

IME is pleased to announce the renewal of the MSHA-IME Safety Alliance Agreement by the Honorable Dave Zatezalo, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, and IME President Debra Satkowiak.

02/05/2020

IME Honors the Life of Ron Thomas

In Memoriam…

11/20/2019

IME Announces New Safety Publication

IME is pleased to announce the publication of the Example Security Plan for the Transportation of Hazardous Materials , which is the newest addition to our safety and security library.

10/22/2019

Six IME Member Companies Earn the Respected Tricia Appleton Award for Safety

The prestigious Tricia Appleton Award is given each year by IME’s Safety and Health Committee to the member company with the best overall safety record for the previous year based on lowest Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) rate, as reported to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

10/03/2019

IMESAFR Training opportunities Expanded

IME and APT Research are pleased to announce new IMESAFR v2.1 training opportunities, including two international venues.

06/12/2019

IME MEMBER TESTIFIES BEFORE SENATE PANEL TO RID CFATS OF DUPLICATIVE REGULATION

Tim O’Brien, President of Detotec North America and past Board Chairman for the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME), at the request of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), testified on the explosives industry’s top legislative concern before the Committee in a roundtable regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program on June 4, 2019.

05/29/2019

IME Publishes Updated Handbook for T&D of Explosive Materials

The Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) has published a revision of Safety Library Publication (SLP) 14, Handbook for the Transportation and Distribution of Explosive Materials.

05/10/2019

ATF Approves First IMESAFR-based Variance Which Recognizes Risk Criteria

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has approved the first variance from the American Table of Distances (ATD) based on a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) compared to a tolerable level of risk.

04/04/2019

Government Affairs Committee Recognizes Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin with Industry Champion Award

During the Government Affairs Committee Advance Mitch Green, chair of the Government Affairs Committee [left], and James Barker, IME Board Chair [right], presented Senator Ron Johnson (Wisc.) with a Blaster for his work as chairman of the Sen. Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee during the 115th Congress.

04/01/2019

IME Releases Revised Security Publication

The Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) has published a revision of Safety Library Publication (SLP) 27 Security in Manufacturing, Transportation, Storage and Use of Commercial Explosives.

02/02/2019

UN Decisions and the Explosives Industry

IME has released a summary of the changes in the UN Model Regulations, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling, and the Manual of Tests and Criteria as they pertain to the explosives industry.

For Media Inquiries:

Larry Farnsworth
Director of Communications and Marketing
Institute of Makers of Explosives
(202) 349-9631

lfarnsworth@ime.org