Abstract: At approximately 12:15 p.m. on February 12, 2000, Employees #1 and #2, of Omni Energy Service, were drilling holes ranging in depth from 10 to 180 ft as part of an upland drilling contract. They were using a highland rig and, for flush drilling purposes, a highland water buggy. They were on their seventh hole, and were loading a 5.5 lb charge of class A explosives primed with an electric blasting cap when the charge exploded prematurely. Employee #1 was killed and Employee #2 sustained injuries that required hospitalization. Employee #1 was a driller; Employee #2 was a drill helper and a licensed blaster, with two years of experience.