The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-11-19
Prevention of Accidents From Ex-
plosives in Metal Mining
an Edwin Hlgglns. Burehu Of MInesl

fetal Mining /
Bureau of Mines)
4 rms. candles. carbide lamps, or
orches in the magazine.
If possible the key TO the magazine
should be intrusted to only one man.
Handling of Explosives.
Blasting caps (detonators) are
charged with illuminate Of mercury,
which is one of the quickest and most
powerful explosives. 1t is poisonous
and very liable to explode from heat,
shock or friction. The explosion of
an ordinary cap with tear a hole in
a board about an inch thick or 1t will
How off mans jaw, or tear his hand
to pieces.
Never open a box Of caps or remove
the caps with a wire or nail. Caps
should not be scraped with any kind
Of metal or examined near an open
anne. They should not be carried
loose in the pocket nor left
wing where they may be stepped on.
In making the cap fast to the fuse use
an approved cap crimper, Never use
the teeth for this purpose.
| In handling fuse do not bend 1t any
more than is necessary. Twisting or
bending fuse is liable to damage 1t and
may result in delayed blast. The
1Ise should always be cut long enough
to allow the man firing the blast to
get to a safe place. 1t is dangerous to
attempt to hasten an explosion by
l sing a short fuse.
Dynamite.
| At many mines the dynamite is sent
II Underground in the original box with
the cover off. This practice is dan
gerous because someone may happen
to stand over the box with lighted
\ torch or candle in his hand or hat.
When dynamite is sent down in the
original box with the cover on, the
cover should be removed underground
with a wooden mallet and a wedge of
wood or bronze. Boxes containing
dynamite should not be slid over the
floor or otherwise roughly or careless
lily handled. Dynamite cartridges that
ARE not used should be returned to
the magazines and placed in box.
Do not carry dynamite cartridges
loose in the pocket, nor carry caps
land fuse in the same place with dyna-
mite. If the management does moi
supply sack in which to carry dyna-
mite, the miner should get one fol-
himself. A gunny sack will serve the
purpose A common but dangerous
practice Is to throw sack of dyna'
mite down a raise instead of carrying
lit. Tying dynamite cartridges in 6
: bundle by means of a fuse damages
the fuse. Furthermore when a bun
! die so tied is being carried from thu
, magazine to the face stick Of dyna
! mite may fall out of the bundle ant
, lodge in some place where it will b.
} later accidentally exploded
Making the Primer.
} The most approved methods of pre-
, pairing the primer are shown in figur'
I. After long series Of tests by tn
? bureau Of mines these methods wer'
D found to be the safest and most eff
= cient, Do not smoke or carry a ligh
2 in your hat or hand while making III
] cartridge. Use a wooden or bras
a skewer for punching holes in the car
: fridge.
Charging and Firing.
Never use frozen dynamite. II
o charging holes, the cartridges and tn
e primer should be pushed in CAREFUL,
t and tamped with a wooden bar-no
n with drill, a crowbar or other meta
tool. If a hole has been chambered o
sprung, give I; plenty Of time to coo
before charging it. One man shoult
= never attempt without assistance, t
S spit more than five holes. See tina
J, everyone is out Of the danger zone be
e fore firing. Even half stick of dyna
mite should not be fired without tt,
customary warning being given.
The miner can save himself trouble
= In case his light goes out by leavinl
+ candle or lamp some distance bacl
e from the point where blasting is t
e be done. Take care to prevent any
= one from walking into the blast afte
:. warning has been given. When
f drift is being run to connect with an
h other opening the gang in the othe
Y opening should be notified before tn
n blast is fired
r Misfires.
r Many miners are hurt in handling
d misfired holes. When blasting, coun
s the number of explosions, and if you
suspect a msfire do not enter tn
u place for at least one hour. Grea
n care must then be used in looking 70
:. the msfired hole. Usually the hol'
k may be retired by the use of new
primer Although some of the stem
e ming-that is, the material (clay, dirt
+ Number of Men Killed and Injured
Mines of the
-