Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 460 - Department of Mines › Chapter 25 - Oklahoma Explosives and Blasting Rules and Regulations › Subchapter 13 - Performance Standards › Section 460:25-13-8 - Loading of explosives or blasting agents

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(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) Any equipment not to be used in the
				loading shall be removed from the immediate location of holes before explosives
				are delivered. Equipment shall not be operated within 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. Energized 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 50 feet of the hole. Follow the regulations for misfires
				460:25-13-14.
(l) When loading a long line of holes with
				more than one loading crew, the crews shall be separated by practical distance
				consistent with efficient operation and supervision of crews.
(m) No explosive 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, as set forth by the Institute of Makers of Explosives,
				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
				open work shall be stemmed to the collar or to a point which will confine the
				charge.
(p) Warning signs,
				indicating a blasting area, shall be maintained at all approaches to the blast
				area. The warning sign lettering shall not be less than 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.
(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 until ready for firing.
(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.
(u) When loading blasting agents
				pneumatically over electric blasting caps, semiconductive delivery hose shall
				be used and equipment shall be bonded and grounded.
Added at 13 Ok Reg 1111,
				  eff 1-11-96 (emergency); Added at 13 Ok Reg 3499, eff
				  8-26-96