837-012-0870 Loading and Firing of Shells (1) Shells must be carried from the storage area to the discharge site only by their bodies, never by their fuses. EXCEPTION: It is generally believed it is not safe to be loading mortars within ten feet of mortars being fired. When loading a shell into a recently fired mortar, the person should crouch alongside the mortar with their back toward the area where shells are being fired. (2) Shells must be checked for proper fit in their mortars prior to the display. (3) When being loaded into the mortars, shells must be held by their fuses or lowering cord if provided and carefully lowered into the mortar. At no time may the person loading the shells place any part of their body over the mouth of the mortar. (4) The person loading shells must be reasonably certain the shells are properly seated in the bottom of the mortars. (5) Shells must not, under any circumstances, be forced into a mortar too small to accept them. Shells that do not fit properly into the mortars must not be fired. (6) The safety cap protecting the fuse must not be removed until immediately before the shell is to be fired. EXCEPTION: Where electrical ignition is used, there is no requirement for a safety cap. (7) Shells may be ignited by lighting the tip of the fuse with a fusee, torch, portfire, or similar device. The operator must never place any part of their body over the mortar at any time. As soon as the fuse is ignited, the operator must turn away from or retreat from the mortar area. EXCEPTION: Alternatively, electrical ignition may be used. (8) The first shell fired must be observed carefully by the operator to determine that its trajectory is such that the shell functions over the fall-out area and that any dangerous debris or unexploded shells will land in the fall-out area. The operator must determine whether or not to begin the display and must monitor the display continuously to determine if the display continues to meet all requirements for the continuance of the display. (9) The display must be interrupted and the mortars must be re-angled or repositioned as necessary for safety any time during a display. In the case of a barge, the display must be interrupted and the barge must be repositioned as necessary for safety any time during display. (10) In the event of a shell failing to ignite in the mortar, the mortar must be marked in some manner to indicate the presence of an unfired shell, and the mortar may not be reloaded or reused so long as the misfired shell remains. Immediately following the display but no sooner than 15 minutes after the attempted firing, if the shell still has not fired, the mortar must be cautiously flooded with water and let stand for a minimum of five minutes before it is cautiously emptied of the shell. The operator must be knowledgeable in the proper disposal methods. NOTE: Flooding the mortar with water may not be advisable in all cases, perhaps allow the mortar to stand additional time before removing the shell if it is not to be flooded. EXCEPTION: When electrical ignition is used and the firing failure is electrical in nature or the aerial shell was intentionally not fired, the shell may be salvaged by the operator. (11) It is the responsibility of the person igniting the aerial shells to detect when a shell does not fire from a mortar. That person must warn others in the area and immediately cause the mortar to be marked to indicate the presence of an unfired aerial shell. EXCEPTION: When electrically firing, it is not necessary to mark the mortar. However, individuals entering the area after the fireworks display must conduct themselves as though unfired shells remain until advised to the contrary by the operator. (12) Manual re-ignition of chain fused aerial shells may only be attempted at properly installed ignition points. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 480.150 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 480.110 - 480.165 History: OSFM 2-2025, amend filed 07/15/2025, effective 07/15/2025 OSFM 2-2015, f. 12-22-15, cert. ef. 1-1-16 OSFM 3-2014, f. & cert. ef. 7-1-14 OSFM 7-2002, f. & cert. ef. 6-20-02 OSFM 4-2002(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 2-25-02 thru 8-19-02 FM 6-1993, f. & cert. ef. 12-10-93 FM 2-1992, f. & cert. ef. 3-10-92