W. Va. Code R. § 38-7-5

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 43, October 25, 2024
Section 38-7-5 - Explosives and Blasting
5.01. Permissible explosives applicable to local conditions shall be used exclusively.
5.02. Underground storage of explosives and detonators shall be in approved magazines.
5.03. Primers shall not be made up until the charge is ready to be inserted into the hole. All holes, or series of holes, containing electric detonators shall be fired immediately after being charged or at end of shift: Provided, however, that if, for any reason, the holes cannot be fired immediately or at end of the shift, all work shall cease within a radius of 200 feet of blast area, and work shall not cammence again until the holes have been fired. This rule does not apply if primacord is used.
5.04. Frozen explosives shall not be used.
5.05. The shot firer shall wait 15 minutes before returning to a misfired shot, except when using an electric blasting cap.
5.06. Extra precaution shall be taken in recovering the explosive and blasting cap from a misfired shot.
5.07. Immediately after each blast the shot firing cables shall be disconnected from the blasting unit and shunted.
5.08. The roads and entrances to any mine shall be barricaded and guarded where such roads or entrances to said mine are located within 1,000 feet of a blast. Homes within 1,000 feet shall be notified by a prearranged plan.
5.09. Explosives shall not. be handled or used during an electrical storm.
5.10. Underground magazines shall be located at least three hundred (300) feet from the face and roadway and out of the line of blasting.
5.11. The maximum quantity of explosives and detonators stored underground at any time shall not exceed the amount required for one shift.
5.12. Trailer vans may be used for the temporary storing of explosives: Provided, however, that it is located in accordance with the American Table of Distances to inhabited buildings, passenger railroads and public highways. The trailer van shall be provided with substantial means for locking, and the doors shall be kept locked, except for the placement and removal of stock.
5.13. Underground temporary magazines shall be constructed to the standard of surface magazines.
5.14. When explosives and detonators are transported underground they shall be handled in either the original unopened cases or in special closed cases constructed of nonconductive material. Prills shall be in the original bag or box.
5.15. Explosives and detonators shall not be transported on drill trucks or scale cars. When explosives and detonators are transported in the same container, they shall be separated by a four inch hardwood partition or the equivalent; bodies of trucks transporting explosives shall be lined with nonconductive material.
5.16. Only competent persons designated by management shall handle explosives and do blasting.
5.17. Drill holes shall be cleaned off cuttings before being charged.
5.18. Ample warning shall be given and care taken that all persons are in the clear before firing any shot.
5.19. Shots shall not be fired if any place known to liberate explosive gas until such place has been properly examined by a competent person designated by a mine management for that purpose.
5.20. Shots shall not be fired in any place where gas is detected with a permissible flame safety lamp until such gas has been removed.
5.21. After firing a shot, the shot firer, or any other person, shall not return to the working face until the smoke has cleared. A careful examination of the face, pillars and roof shall be made before-any work is performed.
5.22. The number of holes fired in any one round shall not exceed the limit of the permissible firing unit used.
5.23. The shot firing circuit shall be tested with a galvanometer before firing.
5.24. While underground bore holes are being charged, equipment shall not be operated in the immediate area.
5.25. All underground shooting shall be done at the end of the working shift.
5.26. Two-way radios on motor vehicles shall not be used in a mine while shots are being loaded.
5.27. Tamping poles shall be made of wood or other nonsparkable material.
5.28. Shooting stations shall be kept locked when not in use and only authorized persons shall have the keys.
5.29 Prill loading machines shall be of an approved type and equipped with static strip hose and grounded.
5.30 Mudcaps (adobes) may be used in taking down loose slabs from roof and pillars.
5.31 When caps and fuses are used, an approved cap crimper shall be used.
5.32 When shots are fired by means of caps and fuses, two or more persons shall do the firing.
5.33 Premised ammonia nitrate and prills are classified as explosives and shall be handled and stored as such.
5.34 Only electric detonators of proper strength shall be used and they must be fired with permissible shot firing units.

W. Va. Code R. § 38-7-5