13 NCAC 07F .0708          LOADING OF EXPLOSIVES OR BLASTING AGENTS

Additions and amendments to 29 CFR 1926.905 Loading of Explosives or Blasting Agents apply throughout the Rules in this Section as follows:

(a)           Procedures that permit safe and efficient loading shall be established by the Blaster-in-Charge or the employer before loading is started.

(b)           Drill holes shall be sufficiently large to admit easy insertion of the cartridges of explosives.

(c)           Tamping shall be done only with non-metal, non-sparking tamping poles without exposed metal parts, except that nonsparking metal connectors may be used for jointed poles. Violent tamping shall be prohibited. 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, remaining explosives and detonators shall be promptly moved to a safe location and attended or stored pursuant to ATF storage requirements contained in 27 CFR Part 55.

(e)           Drilling shall not be started until all visible butts of old holes are examined for unexploded charges, and if any are found, they shall be disposed of in accordance with 1926.911, before work proceeds.

(h)           Machines, personnel and tools not required for the blasting operation shall be removed from the blast site before explosives are removed from storage or transportation vehicles.  Blasting operation related vehicles or equipment shall not be driven over, or near enough to, explosive material or initiation systems to come into contact with the explosive material or initiation systems.  Equipment not needed for the final blast shall not be operated within 50 feet of loaded holes.

(i)            During loading the only activity permitted within the blast site shall be that required to successfully and safely load the hole.

(j)            Power lines and portable electric cables for equipment being used shall be kept a safe distance from explosives or blasting agents.  The blaster shall assure that cables in the proximity of loaded holes are deenergized and locked out. Additionally, when using electric detonators, the provisions of 1926.906(b) apply.

(k)           Holes shall be checked prior to loading to determine depth and conditions.  Only those holes determined by the Blaster-in-Charge to be satisfactory shall be loaded.

(l)            When loading a line of holes with more than one loading crew, the crews shall be separated by practical distance consistent with safe and efficient operation and supervision of crews.

(m)          No explosive shall be loaded or used underground in the presence of combustible gases or combustible dusts, unless the work is performed in accordance with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) standards at 30 CFR 75 related to such environments, which are incorporated herein by reference, including subsequent amendments and editions, and unless the explosives have been approved as permissible explosives for use in gassy or dusty environments by MSHA.

(n)           No explosives other than those in IME Fume Class 1 shall be used.  However, explosives complying with the requirements of IME Fume Class 2 and IME Fume Class 3 may be used if adequate ventilation has been provided to prevent explosive or hazardous substance hazards to employees.

(q)           A bore hole shall never be sprung when there is a risk of a premature detonation of a loaded hole.

(s)            Areas in which loading is suspended or loaded holes are awaiting firing shall be attended, and barricaded, posted, or flagged as needed to guard against unauthorized entry or initiation.

(t)            The blaster shall keep an accurate, up‑to‑date record of explosives, blasting agents, and blasting supplies used in each blast and shall keep an accurate running inventory of all explosives and blasting agents in the blaster's custody.

(u)           When loading blasting agents pneumatically over electric detonators, semiconductive delivery hose shall be used and the equipment shall be bonded and grounded.

(v)           Primers shall be made up just before their time of use and at the point of use.

(w)          Holes shall not be drilled in a manner that disturbs or intersects a loaded hole.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 95-131;

Recodified from 13 NCAC 07F .0201 Eff. August 3, 2005;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. March 1, 2016.