Blasting Regulations

1
Blasting Regulations

• Regulatory Requirements
• for Blasting Operations

2
Legal Standards

• 29 CFR Part 1910 - General Industry
• 29 CFR Part 1926 - Construction
• BATF
• DOT

3
General Provisions

• General requirements not specifically related to
  a particular operation or procedure
• Usually broad in scope
• Dos and Donts, Always and Nevers

4
Blaster Qualifications

• Knowledge and Experience
• Training
• Physical Ability
• Evidence of Competency

Certified Blaster
5
Storage of Explosives

• Storage in Magazines
• Separate Magazines for Explosives and Detonators
• Separation Distances
• barricaded
• unbarricaded

6
Transporting Explosives

• Requires CDL with
• Hazmat Endorsement
• Proper Placarding
• No smoking, etc.
• Same vehicle for explosives and detonators may be
  permitted
• Route Plan

7
Loading Explosives

• No operating equipment within 50 feet of loaded
  holes
• Load only those holes intended to be fired in the
  next round
• Warning signs posted
• Check all holes for
• depth prior to loading

8
Initiation of Explosives

• Connections from boreholes back to source of
  firing current
• Survey for extraneous electricity
• Solid Connecting Lead wires
• EB detonators all the
• same kind
• Proper resistance
• Leg wires shunted

9
Initiation of Explosives - cont

• Only the Blaster shall
• be in charge of the blasting machine
• connect lead wires to machine
• test circuits with Blasting
• Galvanometers
• fire the shot
• immediately disconnect lead
• wires after firing the shot

10
Firing the Blast

• Code of signals, familiar to everyone, must be
  posted
• Loud warning signal prior
• to firing the shot
• Flagmen posted at every
• roadway passing through
• the blasting zone
• Blaster must assure safety

11
Post Blast Inspection

• Disconnect firing line immediately after blast
• Allow sufficient time
• for dispersion of fumes
• Blaster must verify all
• charges have fired before
• others are allowed into blast area

12
Misfires

• Exclude all employees from danger zone
• No other work except that required to
• clear the misfire
• First attempt is to re-fire the hole
• Explosives may be removed by washing
• out with water if re-fire doesnt work
• All non-electric misfires require 1 hr wait
• Misfires handled by Blaster in charge

13
Personal Protective Equipment

• Hard Hat
• Safety Toed Shoes
• Reflective Vest
• Safety Glasses
• Gloves
• Hearing Protection

14
Other Regulated Operations

• Underground Transportation - 1926.903
• Use of Safety Fuse - 1926.907
• Use of Detonating Cord - 1926.908
• Underwater Blasting - 1926.912
• Blasting in Excavation Work Under Compressed Air
  - 1926.913