W. Va. Code R. § 36-23-40

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 24, June 14, 2024

Section 36-23-40 - Blasting and The Use of Explosives

40.1. General provisions.

(a) After the effective date of the certified surface blasters rules and regulations, all persons performing blasting operations on construction projects shall be certified. The employer shall permit only authorized and qualified persons to handle and use explosives.

(b) Smoking, firearms, matches, open flame lamps, and other fires, flame or heat producing devices and sparks shall be prohib­ited in or near explosive magazines or while explosives are being handled, transported or used.

(c) No person shall be allowed to handle or use explosives while under the influence of intoxicating liquors, narcotics, or other dangerous drugs.

(d) All explosives shall be accounted for at all times. Explosives not being used shall be kept in a locked magazine, unavailable to persons not authorized to handle them. The employer shall maintain an inventory and use records of all explosives. Appropriate authori­ties shall be notified of any loss, theft, or unauthorized entry into a magazine.

(e) No explosives or blasting agents shall be abandoned.

(f) No fire shall be fought where the fire is in imminent danger of contact with explosives. All employees shall be removed to a safe area and the fire area guarded against intruders.

(g) Original containers, or Class 2 magazine, shall be used for taking detonators and other explosives from storage magazines to the blasting area.

(h) When blasting is done in congest­ed areas or in proximity to a structure, rail­way, or highway, or any other installation that may be damaged, the blaster shall take special precautions in the loading, delaying, initiation, and confinement of each blast with mats or other methods so as to control the throw of fragments, and thus prevent bodily injury to employees.

(i) Employees authorized to prepare explosive charges or conduct blasting opera­tions shall use every reasonable precaution including, but not limited to visual and audible warning signals, flags, or barricades, to ensure employee safety.

(j) Insofar as possible, blasting opera­tions above ground shall be conducted between sunup and sundown.

(k) Due precautions shall be taken to prevent accidental discharge of electric blast­ing caps from current induced by radar, radio transmitters, lightning, adjacent power lines, dust storms, or other sources of extraneous electricity. These precautions shall include:

(1) Detonators shall be short-­circuited in holes which have been primed and shunted until wired into the blasting circuit;

(2) The suspension of all blasting operations and removal of persons from the blasting area during the approach and progress of an electric storm;

(3)

(i) The prominent display of adequate signs, warning against the use of mobile radio transmitters, on all roads within one thousand (1,000) feet of blasting opera­tions. Whenever adherence to the one thou­sand (1,000) foot distance would create an operational handicap, a competent person shall be consulted to evaluate the particular situa­tion, and alternative provisions may be made which are adequately designed to prevent any premature firing of electric blasting caps. A description of any such alternatives shall be reduced to writing and shall be certified as meeting the purposes of this subdivision by the competent person consulted. The description shall be maintained at the construction site during the duration of the work and shall be available for inspection by representatives of the Secretary of Labor.

(ii) Specimens of signs which would meet the require­ments of subdivision (i) of this subparagraph (3) are the following (See Table 49):

(4) Ensuring that mobile radio transmitters which are less than one hundred (100) feet away from electric blasting caps, in other than original containers shall be de­energized and effectively locked.

(5) Compliance with the recom­mendations of the Institute of the Makers of Explosives with regard to blasting in the vicin­ity of radio transmitters as stipulated in radio frequency energy-a potential hazard in the use of electric blasting caps, IME publication No. 20, March, 1971.

(l) Empty boxes and paper and fiber packing materials, which have previously contained high explosives, shall not be used again for any purpose, but shall be destroyed by burning at an approved location.

(m) Explosives, blasting agents, and blasting supplies that are obviously deteriorat­ed or damaged shall not be used.

(n) Delivery and issue of explosives shall only be made by and to authorized per­sons and into authorized magazines or ap­proved temporary storage or handling areas.

(o) Blasting operations in the proxim­ity of overhead power lines, communication lines, utility services, or other services and structures shall not be carried on until the operators and/or owners have been notified and measures for safe control have been taken.

(p) The use of black powder shall be prohibited.

(q) All loading and firing shall be directed and directly supervised by a compe­tent persons thorough experienced in this field.

(r) All blasts shall be fired electrically with an electric blasting machine or properly designed electric power source, except as provided in paragraphs (a) and (p) of Section 40.8 of these regulations.

40.2. Explosives and blasting agents.

(a) Buildings used for the mixing of blasting agents shall conform to the require­ments of this section.

(b) Buildings shall be of noncombus­tible construction or sheet metal on wood studs.

(c) Floors in a mixing plant shall be of concrete or other nonabsorbent materials.

(d) All fuel oil storage facilities shall be separated from the mixing plant and located in such a manner that in case of tank rupture, the oil will drain away from the mixing plant building.

(e) The building shall be well venti­lated.

(f) Heating units which do not de­pend on combustion process­es, when properly designed and located, may be used in the building. All direct sources of heat shall be provided exclusively from units located outside the mixing building.

(g) All internal-combustion engines used for electric power generation shall be located outside the mixing plant building, or shall be properly ventilated and isolated by a fire wall. The exhaust systems on all such engines shall be located so any spark emission cannot be a hazard to any materials in or adjacent to the plant.

(h) Buildings used for the mixing of water gels shall conform to the requirements of this subdivision.

(i) Buildings shall be of noncombusti­ble construction or sheet metal on wood stubs.

(j) Floors in a mixing plant shall be of concrete or of other nonabsorbent materials.

(k) Where fuel oil is used all fuel oil storage facilities shall be separated from the mixing plant and located in such a manner that in case of tank rupture, the oil will drain away from the mixing plant building.

(l) The building shall be well ventilat­ed.

(m) Heating units that do not depend on combustion processes, when properly de­signed and located, may be used in the build­ing. All direct sources of heat shall be provid­ed exclusively from units located outside of the mixing building.

(n) All internal-combustion engines used for electric power generation shall be located outside the mixing plant building, or shall be properly ventilated and isolated by a fire wall. the exhaust systems on all such engines shall be located so any spark emission cannot be a hazard to any materials in or adjacent to the plant.

40.3. Blaster qualifications.

(a) A blaster shall be able to under­stand and given written and oral orders.

(b) A blaster shall be in good physical condition and not be addicted to narcotics, intoxicants, or similar types of drugs.

(c) A blaster shall be qualified, by training, knowledge, and experience, in the field of transporting, storing, handling, and use of explosives, and have a working knowl­edge of State and local laws and regulations which pertain to explosives.

(d) Blasters shall be required to fur­nish satisfactory evidence of competency in handling explosives and performing in a safe manner the type of blasting that will be re­quired.

(e) The blaster shall be knowledgeable and competent in the use of each type of blasting method used.

40.4. Surface transportation of explosives.

(a) Transportation of explosives shall meet the provisions of the department of transporta­tion's regulations contained in 14 CFR Part 103, air transportation; 46 CFR Parts 146-149, water carriers; 49 CFR Parts 171-179, highways and railways; 49 CFR Part 180, pipelines; and 49 CFR Parts 390-397, motor carriers. Motor vehicles or conveyances transporting explosives shall only be driven by, and be in charge of, a licensed driver who is physically fit. He shall be familiar with the local, State, and federal regulations governing the transportation of explosives.

(b) No person shall smoke, or carry matches or any other flame-producing device, nor shall firearms or loaded cartridges be carried while in or near a motor vehicle or conveyance transporting explosives.

(c) Explosives, blasting agents, and blasting supplies shall not be transported with other materials or cargoes. Blasting caps (including electric) shall not be transported in the same vehicle with other explosives.

(d) Vehicles used for transporting explosives shall be strong enough to carry the load without difficulty, and shall be in good mechanical condition.

(e) When explosives are transported by a vehicle with an open body, a Class 2 magazine or original manufacturer's container shall be securely mounted on the bed to con­tain the cargo.

(f) All vehicles used for the transpor­tation of explosives shall have tight floors and any exposed spark-producing metal on the inside of the body shall be covered with wood, or other nonsparking material, to prevent contact with containers of explosives.

(g) Every motor vehicle or convey­ance used for transporting explosives shall be marked or placarded on both sides, the front, and the rear with the work "Explosives" in red letters, not less than four (4) inches in height, in white background. In addition to such marking or placarding, the motor vehicle or conveyance may display, in such a manner that it will be readily visible from all directions, a red flag eighteen (18) inches x thirty (30) inches, with the word "Explosives" painted, stamped, or sewed thereon, in white letters, at least six (6) inches in height.

(h) Each vehicle used for transporta­tion of explosives shall be equipped with a fully charged fire extinguisher, in good condi­tion. An approved extinguisher of not less than ten (10) ABC rating will meet the mini­mum requirement. The driver shall be trained in the use of the extinguisher on his vehicle.

(i) Motor vehicles or conveyances carrying explosives, blasting agents, or blasting supplies, shall not be taken inside a garage or shop for repairs or servicing.

(j) No motor vehicle transporting explosives shall be left unattended.

40.5. Storage of explosives and blasting agents.

(a) Explosives and related materials shall be stored in approved facilities required under the applicable provisions of the internal revenue service regulations contained in 26 CFR 181, commerce in explosives.

(b) Blasting caps, electric blasting caps, detonating primers, and primed car­tridges shall not be stored in the same maga­zine with other explosives or blasting agents.

(c) Smoking and open flames shall not be permitted within fifty (50) feet of explo­sives and detonator storage magazines.

40.6. Loading of explosives or blasting agents.

(a) Procedures that permit safe and efficient loading shall be established before loading is started.

(b) All drill holes shall be sufficiently large to admit freely the insertion of the cartridges of explosives.

(c) Tamping shall be done only with wood rods or plastic tamping poles without exposed metal parts, but nonsparking metal connectors may be used for jointed poles. Violent tamping shall be avoided. The primer shall never be tamped.

(d) No holes shall be loaded except those to be fired in the next round of blasting. After loading, all remaining explosives and detonators shall be immediately returned to an authorized magazine.

(e) Drilling shall not be started until all remaining butts of old holes are examined for unexploded charges, and if any are found, they shall be refired before work proceeds.

(f) No person shall be allowed to deepen drill holes which have contained explo­sives or blasting agents.

(g) No explosives or blasting agents shall be left unattended at the blast site.

(h) machines and all tools not used for loading explosives into bore holes shall be removed from the immediate location of holes before explosives are delivered. Equipment shall not be operated within fifty (50) feet of loaded holes.

(i) No activity of any nature other than that which is required for loading holes with explosives shall be permitted in a blast area.

(j) Power lines and portable electric cables for equipment being used shall be kept a safe distance from explosives or blasting agents being loaded into drill holes. Cables in the proximity of the blast area shall be de­energized and locked out by the blaster.

(k) Holes shall be checked prior to loading to determine depth and conditions. Where a hole has been loaded with explosives but the explosives have failed to detonate, there shall be no drilling within fifty (50) feet of the hole.

(l) When loading a long line of holes with more than one (1) loading crew, the crews shall be separated by practical distance consis­tent with efficient operation and supervision of crews.

(m) No explosives shall be loaded or used underground in the presence of combus­tible gases or combustible dusts.

(n) No explosives other than those in fume Class 1 shall be used; however, explo­sives complying with the requirements of fume Class 2 and fume Class 3 may be used if ade­quate ventilation has been provided.

(o) All blast holes in openwork shall be stemmed to the collar or to a point which will confine the charge.

(p) Warning signs, indicating a blast area, shall be maintained at all approaches to the blast area. The warning sign lettering shall be not less than four (4) inches in height on a contrasting background.

(q) A bore hole shall never be sprung when it is adjacent to or near a hole that is loaded. Flashlight batteries shall not be used for springing holes.

(r) Drill holes which have been sprung or chambered, and which are not water filled, shall be allowed to cool before explo­sives are loaded.

(s) No loaded holes shall be left unattended or unprotected.

(t) The blaster shall keep an accurate, up-to-date record of explosives, blasting agents, and blasting supplies used in a blast and shall keep an accurate running inventory of all explosives and blasting agents stored on the operation.

40.7. Explosives and blasting agents.

(a) Semiconductive hose. Semi­conductive hose a hose with an electrical resistance high enough to limit flow of stray electric currents to safe levels, yet not so high as to prevent drainage of static electric charges to ground; hose of not more than two (2) megohms resistance over its length and of not less than five thousand (5,000) ohms per floor meets the requirements.

(b) When loading blasting agents pneumatically over electric blasting caps, semiconductive delivery hose shall be used and the equipment shall be bonded and grounded.

40.8. Initiation of explosive charges--­electric blasting.

(a) Electric blasting caps shall not be used where sources of extraneous electricity make the use of electric blasting caps danger­ous. Blasting cap leg wires shall be kept short­-circuited (shunted) until they are connected into the circuit for firing.

(b) Before adopting any system of electrical firing, the blaster shall conduct a thorough survey for extraneous currents, and all dangerous currents shall be eliminated before any holes are loaded.

(c) In any single blast using electric blasting caps, all caps shall be of the same style or function, and of the same manufacture.

(d) Electric blasting shall be carried out by using blasting circuits or power circuits in accordance with the electric blasting cap manufacturer's recommendations, or an ap­proved contractor or his designated representa­tive.

(e) When firing a circuit of electric blasting caps, care must be exercised to ensure that an adequate quantity of delivered current is available, in accordance with the manu­facturer's recommendations.

(f) Connecting wires and lead wires shall be insulated single solid wires of suffi­cient current-carrying capacity.

(g) Bus wires shall be solid single wires of sufficient current-carrying capacity.

(h) When firing electrically, the insulation on all firing lines shall be adequate and in good condition.

(i) A power circuit used for firing electric blasting caps shall not be grounded.

(j) When firing from a power circuit, the firing switch shall be locked in the open or "Off" position at all times, except when firing. It shall be so designed that the firing lines to the cap circuit are automatically short­circuited when the switch is in the "Off" posi­tion. Keys to this switch shall be entrusted only to the blaster.

(k) Blasting machines shall be in good condition and the efficiency of the machine shall be tested periodically to make certain that it can deliver power at its rated capacity.

(l) When firing with blasting ma­chines, the connections shall be made as rec­ommended by the manufacturer of the electric blasting caps used.

(m) the number of electric blasting caps connected to a blasting machine shall not be in excess of its rated capacity. furthermore, in primary blasting, a series circuit shall con­tain no more caps than the limits recommended by the manufacturer of the electric blasting caps in use.

(n) The blaster shall be in charge of the blasting machines, and no other person shall connect the leading wires to the machine.

(o) Blasters, when testing circuits to charged holes, shall use only blasting galva­nometers equipped with a silver chloride cell especially designed for this purpose.

(p) Whenever the possibility exists that a leading line or blasting wire might be thrown over a live power line by the force of an explosion, care shall be taken to see that the total length of wires are kept too short to hit the lines, or that the wires are securely an­chored to the ground. If neither of these requirements can be satisfied, a nonelectric system shall be used.

(q) In electrical firing, only the man making leading wire connections shall fire the shot. All connections shall be made from the bore hole back to the source of firing current, and the leading wires shall remain shorted and not be connected to the blasting machine or other source of current until the charge is to be fired.

(r) After firing an electric blast from a blasting machine, the leading wires shall be immediately disconnected from the machine and short-circuited.

40.9. Use of safety fuse.

(a) Safety fuse shall only be used where sources of extraneous electricity make the use of electric blasting caps dangerous. The use of a fuse that has been hammered or injured in any way shall be forbidden.

(b) The handling of a fuse on nails or other projections which will cause a sharp bend to be formed in the fuse is prohibit­ed.

(c) Before capping safety fuse, a short length shall be cut from the end of the supply reel so as to assure a fresh cut end in each blasting cap.

(d) Only a cap crimper of approved design shall be used for attaching blasting caps to safety fuse. Crimpers shall be kept in good repair and accessible for use.

(e) No unused cap or short capped fuse shall be placed in any hole to be blasted; such unused detonators shall be removed from the working place and destroyed.

(f) No fuse shall be capped, or prim­ers made up, in any magazine or near any possible source of ignition.

(g) No one shall be permitted to carry detonators or primers of any kind on his per­son.

(h) The minimum length of safety fuse to be used in blasting shall be as required by state law, but shall not be less than thirty (30) inches.

(i) At least two (2) men shall be present when multiple cap and fuse blasting is done by hand lighting methods.

(j) Not more than twelve (12) fuses shall be lighted by each blaster when hand lighting devices are used. However, when two (2) or more safety fuses in a group are lighted as one (1) by means of igniter cord, or other similar fuse-lighting devices, they may be considered as one (1) fuse.

(k) The so-called "Drop Fuse" method of dropping or pushing a primer or any explo­sive with a lighted fuse attached is forbid­den.

(l) Cap and fuse shall not be used for firing mudcap charges unless charges are separated sufficiently to prevent one (1) charge from dislodging other shots in the blast.

(m) When blasting with safety fuses, consideration shall be given to the length and burning rate of the fuse. Sufficient time, with a margin of safety, shall always be provided for the blaster to reach a place of safety.

40.10. Use of detonating cord.

(a) Care shall be taken to select a detonating cord consis­tent with the type and physical condition of the bore hole and stem­ming and the type of explosives used.

(b) Detonating cord shall be handled and used with the same respect and care given other explosives.

(c) The line of detonating cord ex­tending out of a bore hole or from a charge shall be cut from supply spool before loading the remainder of the bore hole or placing additional charges.

(d) Detonating cord shall be handled and used with care to avoid damaging or severing the cord during and after loading and hooking up.

(e) Detonating cord connections shall be competent and positive in accordance with approved and recommended methods. Knot-­type or other cord-to-cord connections shall be made only with detonating cord, in which the explosive cord is dry.

(f) All detonating cord trunk lines and branch lines shall be free of loops, sharp kinks, or angles that direct the cord back toward the oncoming line of detonation.

(g) All detonating cord connections shall be inspected before firing the blast.

(h) When detonating cord milli­second-delay connectors or short-interval-­delay electric blasting caps are used with detonat­ing cord, the practice shall conform strictly to the manufacturer's recommenda­tions.

(i) When connecting a blasting cap or an electric blasting cap to detonating cord, the cap shall be taped or otherwise attached se­curely along the side or the end of the detonat­ing cord, with the end of the cap containing the explosive charge pointed in the direction in which the detonation is to proceed.

(j) Detonators for firing the trunk line shall not be brought to the loading area nor attached to the detonating cord until everything else is in readiness for the blast.

40.11. Firing the blast.

(a) A code of blasting signals shall be posted on one 91) or more conspicuous places at the operation, and all employees shall be required to familiarize themselves with the code and conform to it. Danger signs shall be placed at suitable locations.

(b) Before a blast is fired, a loud warning signal shall be given by the certified blaster in charge, who has made certain that all surplus explosives are in a safe place and all employees, vehicles, and equipment are at a safe distance, or under sufficient cover.

(c) Flagmen shall be safely stationed on highways which pass through the danger zone so as to stop traffic during blasting oper­ations.

(d) It shall be the duty of the blaster to fix the time of blasting.

(e) Before firing an underground blast, warning shall be given, and all possible entries into the blasting area, and any entranc­es to any working place where a drift, raise, or other opening is about to hole through, shall be carefully guarded. The blaster shall make sure that all employees are out of the blast area before firing a blast.

U-1

Warning Signal - A 1-1 minute series of long blasts 5

minutes prior to blast signal.

Blast Signal - A series of short blasts 1 minute prior to the shot.

All Clear Signal - A pro-

longed blast following the inspection of blast area.

40.12. Inspection after blasting.

(a) Immediately after the blast has been fired, the firing line shall be disconnect­ed from the blasting machine, or where power switches are used, they shall be locked open or in the off position.

(b) Sufficient time shall be allowed, not less than fifteen (15) minutes in tunnels, for the smoke and fumes to leave the blasted area before returning to the shot. An inspec­tion of the area and the surrounding rubble shall be made by the certified blaster to deter­mine if all charges have been exploded before employees are allowed to return to the opera­tion, and in tunnels, after the muck pile has been wetted down.

40.13. Misfires.

(a) If a misfire is found, the blaster shall provide proper safeguards for excluding all employees from the danger zone.

(b) No other work shall be done except that necessary to remove the hazard of the misfire and only those employees necessary to do the work shall remain in the danger zone.

(c) No attempt shall be made to extract explosives from any charged or mis­fired hole; a new primer shall be put in and the hole reblasted. If misfiring of the misfired hole presents a hazard, the explosives may be removed by washing out with water, or, where the misfire is under water, blown out with air.

(d) If there are any misfires while using cap and fuse, all employees shall remain away from the charge for at least one (1) hour. Misfires shall be handled under the direction of the person in charge of the blasting. All wires shall be carefully traced and a search made for unexploded charges.

(e) No drilling, digging, or picking shall be permitted until all missed holes have been detonated or the authorized representa­tive has approved that work can proceed.

40.14. Definitions applicable to this subsection.

(a) "Approved Storage Facility" a facility for the storage of explosive material conforming to the requirements of this subpart and covered by a license or permit.

(b) "Blast Area" the area in which explosive loading and blasting operations are being conducted.

(c) "Blaster" the person or persons authorized to use explosives for blasting pur­poses and meeting the qualifications in these rules and regulations.

(d) "Blasting Agent" a blasting agent is any material or mixture consisting of a fuel and oxidizer used for blasting, but not classi­fied an explosive and in which none of the ingredients is classified as an explosive provid­ed the furnished (mixed) product cannot be detonated with a No. 8 test blasting cap when confined. A common blasting agent presently in use is a mixture of ammonia nitrate (NH4 N03) and carbonaceous combustibles, such as fuel oil or coal, and may either be procured, premixed and packaged from explosive companies or mixed in the field.

(e) "Blasting Cap" a metallic tube closed at one (1) end, containing a charge of one (1) or more detonating compounds, and designed for and capable of detonation from the sparks or flame from a safety fuse inserted and crimped into the open end.

(f) "Block Holing" the breaking of boulders or blasting agents by firing a charge of explosives that has been loaded in a drill hole.

(g) "Conveyance" any unit for trans­porting explosives or blasting agents, including but not limited to trucks, trailers, rail cars, barges and vessels.

(h) "Detonating Cord" a flexible cord containing a center core of high explosives which when detonated, will have sufficient strength to detonate other cap-sensitive explo­sives with which it is in contact.

(i) "Detonator" blasting caps, electric blasting caps, delay electric blasting caps, and nonelectric delay blasting caps.

(j) "Electric Blasting Cap" a blasting cap designed for and capable of detonation by means of an electric current.

(k) "Electric Blasting Circuitry"

(1) Bus wire. An expandable wire, used in parallel or series, in parallel circuits, to which are connected the leg wires of electric blasting caps.

(2) Connecting wire. An insulat­ed expendable wire used between electric blasting caps and the leading wires or between the bus wire and the leading wires.

(3) Leading wire. An insulated wire used between the electric power source and the electric blasting cap circuit.

(4) Permanent blasting wire. A permanently mounted insulated wire used between the electric power source and the electric blasting circuit.

(l) "Electric Delay Blasting Caps" caps designed to detonate at a predetermined period of time after energy is applied to the ignition system.

(m) "Explosives"

(1) Any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion; that is, with substantially instantaneous release of gas and heat.

(2) All material which is classi­fied as Class A, Class B, and Class C explosives by the West Virginia department of mines.

(3) Classification of explosives by the West Virginia department of mines is as follows:

Class A explosives. Possessing detonating hazard, such as dynamite, nitro­glycerin, picric acid, lead azide, fulminate of mercury, black powder, blasting caps, and detonating primers.

Class B explosives. Possessing flammable hazard, such as propellent explo­sives, including some smokeless propellants.

Class C explosives. Include certain types of manufactured articles which contain Class A or Class B explosives, or both, as components, but in restricted quantities.

(n) "Fuse Lighters" special devices for the purpose of igniting safety fuse.

(o) "Magazine" any building or struc­ture, other than an explosives manufacturing building, used for the storage of explosives.

(p) "Misfire" an explosive charge which failed to detonate.

(q) "Mud-capping" (sometimes known as bulldozing, adobe blasting, or adoby­ing). The blasting of boulders by placing a quantity of explosives in a drill hole.

(r) "Nonelectric Delay Blasting Cap" a blasting cap with an integral delay element in conjunction with and capable of being deto­nated by a detonation impulse or signal from miniaturized detonating cord.

(s) Primary Blasting" the blasting operation by which the original rock formation is dislodged from its natural location.

(t) "Primer" a cartridge or container of explosives into which a detonator or deto­nating cord is inserted or attached.

(u) "Safety Fuse" a flexible cord containing an integral burning medium by which fire is conveyed at a continuous and uniform rate for the purpose of firing blasting caps.

(v) "Secondary Blasting" the reduction of oversize material by the use of explosives to the dimension required for handling, including mud-capping and blockholding.

(w) "Stemming" a suitable inert in­combustible material or device used to confine or separate explosives in a drill hole, or to cover explosives in mud-capping.

(x) "Springing" the creation of a pocket in the bottom of a drill hole by the use of a moderate quantity of explosives in order that larger quantities of explosives may be inserted therein.

(y) "Water Gels, or Slurry Explosives" a wide variety of materials used for blasting. They all contain substantial proportions of water and high proporations of ammonium nitrate, some of which is in solution in the water.

Two (2) broad classes of water gels are:

(1) those which are sensitized by a material classed as a explosive, such as TNT or smokeless powder; and

(2) those which contain no ingre­dient classified as an explosive; these are sensitized with metals such as aluminum or with other fuels. Water gels may be premixed at an explosive plant or mixed at the site immediately before delivery into the bore hole.

W. Va. Code R. § 36-23-40