Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-3-.17

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 480-3-3-.17 - Handling And Use Of Explosives

(1)Black Blasting Powder - No black blasting powder shall be used in any underground mining operation.

(2)Squibs - No squibs, other than those ignited by electricity shall be used.

(3)Use of Blasting Materials - All detonators and capped-fuse shall be used as soon as is reasonably possible after being taken underground.

(a) Blasting caps shall not be removed from original containers except as they are used for capping fuse or when placed in other containers recommended by manufacturer.

(4)General Requirements for Handling - When blasting supplies are removed from a magazine, those which have been longest in the magazine shall be taken first to eliminate hazards from deterioration.

(a) No explosives container shall be opened with any metallic instrument.

(b) Explosives shall not be placed or left within fifteen feet (15') of electric wires or electric lights except during transportation.

(c) No person shall remove any explosive from a mine or magazine without permission of the Superintendent or Mine Foreman.

(d) A fire hazard shall not be permitted to exist near an underground magazine or an explosive distributing station.

(5) Smoking, Locking Magazine, Storage of Other Material Smoking in an explosive magazine, or at an explosive distributing station, or while handling explosives shall be strictly forbidden.

(a) Oils or other combustible substance shall not be kept or stored within fifty (50') feet of an underground magazine or distributing station.

(b) The explosive container shall be opened at a distributing point near and outside the magazine, and only designated men shall be designated to issue explosives from this underground magazine. The underground magazine shall be kept locked when unattended.

(c) Only designated men shall be designated to cut and cap fuse, and issue same. Such persons may also issue explosives.

(d) When cutting fuse for capping, it shall be cut square across with a sharp clean instrument.

(e) Fuse shall be cut long enough to extend beyond the collar of a loaded drill hole and in no case shall it be less than four feet (4') in length, and it should be of a contrasting color with that of the material being blasted.

(6)Capping Fuse Length of Fuse - Fuse shall be cut and capped at a safe place and not nearer than twenty feet (20') to the explosive magazine. Only a cap crimper of a type recommended by explosive manufacturers may be used in crimping caps. A bench type crimper is recommended.

(a) Paper, sawdust, wooden boxes or cartons, except containers necessary for measuring explosives, shall be placed at a safe distance from the underground magazine and shall be removed from the mine at sufficiently frequent intervals to prevent unsafe accumulation.

Author: Marcus Davis, Workers' Compensation Examiner.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-3-.17

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 25-2-13(2).