Arizona Administrative Code › Title 11 - MINES › Chapter 1 - STATE MINE INSPECTOR › Article 2 - EXPLOSIVES AND BLASTING › Section R11-1-271 - Use of Explosives and Blasting Agents, General Provisions

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 28, July 12, 2024
A. The handling of
				explosives may be performed by the person designated to use explosives or by
				other employees under his direct supervision provided that such employees are
				at least 18 years of age. Persons who use or handle explosives or detonators
				shall be experienced men who understand the hazards involved; trainees shall do
				such work only under the supervision of and in the immediate presence of
				experienced men. Blasting operations shall be under the direct control of
				authorized persons.
B. Containers
				of an approved type shall be used for taking detonators and other explosives
				from storage magazines to the blasting area.
C. Persons authorized to prepare explosive
				charges or conduct blasting operations shall use every reasonable precaution,
				including but not limited to warning signals, flags, barricades or blasting
				mats to ensure the safety of mine personnel.
D. Due precautions shall be taken to prevent
				accidental discharge of electric blasting caps from current induced by radio
				transmitters, lightning, dust storms, or other sources of extraneous
				electricity. All surface, shaft sinking, and tunneling blasting operations
				shall be suspended and persons removed from blasting area during the ominous
				approach and progress of an electrical storm, when electric detonators are
				used.
E. Empty containers 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
				out-of-doors, and no person shall be nearer than 100 feet after the burning has
				started.
F. Explosives, blasting
				supplies, or blasting accessories that are obviously deteriorated or damaged
				shall be destroyed in a safe manner under the instructions of the explosives or
				blasting agent manufacturer or its designated agent.
G. Explosives or blasting supplies shall not
				be abandoned. While temporarily unattended, they shall be marked with red flags
				or some other suitable means of warning persons.
H. Capped primers shall be made up at the
				time of charging and as close to the blasting site as conditions
				allow.
I. Fuses shall be cut and
				capped in safe, dry locations posted with "No Smoking" signs.
J. Fuse shall not be ignited before the
				primer and the entire charge are securely in place.
K. If any part of a blast is connected in
				parallel and is to be initiated from powerlines or lighting circuits, the time
				of current flow shall be limited to a maximum of 25 milliseconds by
				incorporating a control device in the blasting circuit or by interrupting the
				circuit with an explosive charge attached to one or both lead lines and
				initiated by a zero-delay electric blasting cap.
L. Black blasting powder should not be used
				for blasting except when a desired result cannot be obtained with another type
				of explosive such as in quarrying certain types of dimension stone.
M. Explosives shall be kept separate from
				detonators until charging is started.
N. Electric circuits from the blasting
				switches to the blast area shall not be grounded.
O. Lead wires and blasting lines shall not be
				strung across power conductors, pipelines, railroad tracks, or within 20 feet
				of bare powerlines. They shall be protected from sources of static or other
				electrical contact.