7 CCR 1101-9-6-1 - General Requirements

(A) While explosives are being handled or used, smoking, matches or any other source of fire or flame shall not be within 50 feet of the blast site.

(B) No person shall handle explosives while under the influence of intoxicating liquors, narcotics, or other dangerous drugs. This rule does not apply to persons taking prescription drugs and/or narcotics as directed by a physician providing such use shall not endanger the worker or others.

(C) When blasting is done in populated or residential areas or in close proximity to a structure, railway, or highway or any other installation that may be damaged, the following precautions shall be taken:

(1) The blast shall be covered, before firing, with a mat or material that is capable of preventing fragments from being thrown;

(2) The blast shall be loaded in compliance with the Table of Scaled Distance (Table 6-10) or be monitored by a seismograph; and

(3) All persons within the blast area shall be given reasonable notification prior to blasting operations and informed as to the type of warning signal that will be given prior to the blast.

(D) Blasters conducting blasting operations shall take every reasonable precaution, including but not limited to warning signals, flags and barricades to insure the safety of the general public and workers.

(E) Surface blasting operations shall be conducted during periods of daylight, when the blast area is clearly visible. Blasting operations conducted after periods of daylight shall be approved by the Division and local law enforcement agency prior to each blast. Approval shall only be granted if such approval serves the safety of the general public.

(F) The blaster shall perform all required notification to and obtain all required permits from local jurisdictions or authorities, including, but not limited to, the County Sheriff, local fire districts and fire departments before beginning blasting operations.

(G) Whenever blasting is being conducted in the vicinity of gas, electric, water, fire alarm, telephone, telegraph, steam utilities or transportation corridors, the blaster shall notify the appropriate transportation or utility representatives at least 24 hours in advance of blasting, specifying the location and intended time of such blasting.

(H) The blaster shall suspend all blasting operations and remove all persons from the blast site during the approach and progress of an electrical storm.

(I) No fire shall be fought where the fire is in imminent danger of contact with explosives. All employees shall be removed to a safe area and the fire area guarded against intruders.

(J) Detonators or other explosives shall never be carried in pockets of clothing.

(K) Detonators shall not be inserted in explosive materials that do not have a cap well without first making a hole in the cartridge with a non-sparking punch of proper size, or the appropriate pointed handle of a cap crimper.

(L) The detonator shall be secured within the primer so that no tension is placed on the leg wires, safety fuse, shock tube, plastic tubing or detonating cord at the point of entry into the detonator.

(M) The detonator shall be fully inserted into the primer cartridge or booster and shall not protrude from the cartridge.

(N) Cast primers and boosters shall not be used if the hole is too small for the detonator, and attempting to enlarge the hole in a cast primer or booster shall not be permissible.

(O) Primers are not to be prepared in a magazine or near large quantities of explosive materials.

(P) Explosives and blasting agents shall be kept separated from detonators until the charge is placed.

(Q) Only non-sparking metallic slitters may be used for opening fiberboard cases.

(R) Cartridges or packages of explosives showing signs of discoloration or deterioration must be carefully set aside and properly disposed of in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations.

(S) No explosive material shall be abandoned or left in any location for any reason, nor left in such a manner that they may easily be obtained by children or other unauthorized persons. All unused explosives shall be returned to proper storage facilities.

(T) A record of each blast shall be kept. All records, including seismograph reports, shall be retained at least five years, be available for inspection by the Division, and contain at least the following minimum data, as applicable:

(1) Person for whom blasting operations are conducted

(2) Name, permit number, and signature of the blaster

(3) Exact location or address of the blast, date and time of detonation

(4) Type of material blasted

(5) Number of holes, burden and spacing

(6) Diameter and depth of holes

(7) Types of explosives used

(8) Amount and type of explosive loaded in each borehole or used in each charge

(9) Total amount of each explosive used

(10) Maximum amount of explosives and holes detonated within 8 milliseconds

(11) Method of firing and type of circuit

(12) Direction, distance in feet, and identification of the nearest dwelling, house, public building, school, church, commercial or institutional building neither owned nor leased by the person or company conducting the blasting

(13) Weather conditions

(14) Type and height or length of stemming

(15) A statement as to whether mats or protection against flyrock were used

(16) Type of delay caps used and delay periods used

(17) The person taking the seismograph reading shall accurately indicate exact location of the seismograph if used and shall show the distance of the seismograph from the blast

(18) Seismograph records, where required, which shall include:

(i) Name of person and firm analyzing the seismograph record; and

(ii) Seismograph reading.

(19) Sketch of blast pattern including number of holes, burden and spacing distance, delay pattern, and if decking is used, a hole profile.

Notes

7 CCR 1101-9-6-1

38 CR 03, February 10, 2015, effective 3/10/2015 41 CR 21, November 10, 2018, effective 12/1/2018 42 CR 06, March 25, 2019, effective 5/1/2019