7 CCR 1101-9-7-4 - Use of Explosives

(A) General Requirements

(1) 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.

(2) No person shall handle explosives while under the influence of intoxicating liquors, narcotics or other controlled substances. This rule does not apply to persons taking prescription drugs and/or narcotics as directed by a physician, providing such use shall not influence the blaster's ability to conduct safe blasting operations.

(3) 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.

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

(5) 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.

(B) Explosives

(1) Explosives shall have a shelf life of at least 1 operating season in the storage facilities in which they will be stored.

(2) Blasting caps must be at least a No. 6 cap and no larger than a No. 8 cap except when recommended by the explosives manufacturer for a particular explosive used within a specific application.

(3) Detonator and safety fuse assemblies manufactured with thermalite connectors shall not be used for avalanche mitigation operations.

(4) Detonating cord used for initiating primers must be at least a 25-grain cord.

(5) Explosive materials chosen must have excellent water resistance and be capable of detonation in cold temperatures.

(6) Explosive materials that are damaged, show signs of deterioration, or have misfired shall not be used.

(7) Detonators and other explosive materials, with the exception of fuse igniters, shall never be carried in pockets of clothing.

(8) Should cartridges or packages of explosive materials show signs of discoloration or deterioration, such explosive materials must be carefully set aside and properly disposed of according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

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

(10) 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 the proper storage facilities.

(11) A record of each blast shall be completed and signed by the Type I permittee acting as the blaster in charge. All records shall be retained at least five years, shall be available for inspection by the Division, and shall contain at least the following data:

(i) Name of company or contractor;

(ii) Date, time and location of route;

(iii) Name, permit number and signature of blaster-in-charge of the route;

(iv) Number of charges used on each route;

(v) Names of employees on each route;

(vi) Types of explosives used;

(vii) Total amount of each explosive received and used;

(viii) Method of initiation;

(ix) Type of blasting (hand charge, cornice control, avalauncher);

(x) Weather conditions; and

(xi) Statement noting any misfires, the location of misfires, steps taken to recover or refire any misfires, and the date the misfire was found and disposed of.

(C) Hand Charges

(1) Safety Fuse

(i) Safety fuse that is deteriorated or damaged in any way shall not be used.

(ii) The hanging of safety fuse on nails or other projections which will cause a sharp bend to be formed in the fuse is prohibited.

(iii) Pre-manufactured detonator and fuse assemblies shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements.

(iv) Before assembling fuse detonators and safety fuse, a minimum of 1 inch shall be cut from the end of the supply reel so as to assure a fresh cut end in each fuse detonator.

(v) The burning rate of the safety fuse in use at any time shall be measured, posted in conspicuous locations, and brought to the attention of all workers concerned with blasting.

(vi) New rolls of safety fuse shall be tested for burn rate prior to use and all partial rolls shall be tested at least every 30 days. A record of the burn rate shall be kept by the Type II permittee.

(vii) Only a bench or hand-held cap crimpers designed for the purpose of crimping fuse detonators shall be used for attaching fuse detonators to safety fuse. Crimpers shall be kept in good repair and accessible for use.

(viii) No fuse detonators and fuse shall be assembled, or primers made up, in any magazine or near any possible source of initiation.

(ix) Assembly of fuse detonators and safety fuse and pre-arming of charges shall only be done in a warm, dry, well-lit make-up room.

(x) Any loose cartridges of explosives, detonators, and assembled fuse detonators and safety fuse unused at the end of the shift shall be returned to their respective and separate magazines and locked up.

(xi) Detonators, fuse detonator and fuse assemblies, armed charges or safety fuse igniters shall not be carried into nor stored in any magazine containing cartridge high explosives.

(xii) Detonators shall not be inserted in the explosives without first making a hole in the cartridge of proper size using a tool designed for that purpose.

(2) Arming of Charges With Detonators

(i) 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.

(ii) The detonator shall be secured within the primer so that no tension is placed on the safety fuse at the point of entry into the detonator.

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

(iv) After the fuse detonator and safety fuse assembly is inserted, the explosive contains a sensitive detonator and is then vulnerable to premature detonation, therefore delaying the arming of a charge until just before tossing the charge should be standard procedure when wind and/or temperatures are not severe.

(v) When arming the charge at the blast site the blaster shall:

(a) Insure that the fuse detonator is installed on the correct length of fuse prior to transporting to blast sites;

(b) Place detonators in adequate protective padding or shields before placing in approved avalanche mitigation packs;

(c) Place detonators and explosives in separate approved avalanche mitigation packs while transporting to the blast site;

(d) Safety fuse igniters shall not be placed inside the pack when it contains explosives or detonators, but shall be carried in a separate pack;

(e) Insure that the detonator is secured to the charge before attaching fuse igniter.

(vi) Depending on weather condition, the charges may be armed in a make-up room as follows:

(a) All fuse detonators shall be installed on the required length of safety fuse before the explosive cartridges or primers are brought to the make-up area;

(b) Fuse detonator and safety fuse assemblies shall be secured correctly to each type of explosive charge being used;

(c) Fuse detonator and safety fuse assemblies shall not be attached to explosive charges until just before the time of distribution to patrol personnel;

(d) Each hand charge shall be placed in an area separate from the assembly area immediately after assembly is completed; and

(e) Distribution of hand charges into approved mitigation packs shall take place away from the assembly area.

(3) Initiation of Hand Charges

(i) The length of safety fuse shall be in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations, and shall be 3 feet in length or have a burn time of not less 120 seconds at the time of initiation.

(ii) The lighting of fuse shall be done with hot-wire lighters or pull-wire lighters.

(iii) Matches, cigarette lighters, cigarettes, pipes, cigars or other unsafe means shall not be used to ignite fuse.

(iv) Igniters shall be used in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and shall not be attached to a safety fuse until the charge is at the blast site and the crew is fully prepared to initiate the charge.

(v) At least two persons shall be present when fuse detonators and safety fuse blasting is done by hand lighting methods.

(vi) When blasting with safety fuses, consideration shall be given to the length and burning rate of the safety fuse, and safety fuse shall be used in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. A sufficient time of not less than 120 seconds, with a margin of safety, shall always be provided for the blaster to reach a place of safety.

(vii) When the fuse lighter has been placed on the fuse, the blaster shall assume initiation of the safety fuse has occurred.

(viii) If the safety fuse does not show evidence of initiation after the fuse lighter has been ignited, the blaster shall not attempt any further initiation of the charge but adequately mark the charge and retreat with the blasting crew to a safe distance for not less than 1 hour.

(ix) After waiting at least 1 hour, the blaster shall:

(a) Determine that initiation failed and ignite the uninitiated charge; or

(b) Determine that the initiation was successful and dispose of the misfired explosive charge with a secondary charge.

(4) Use of Detonating Cord

(i) Detonating cord shall be handled and used with the same respect and care given other explosives.

(ii) All detonating cord knots shall be tight and all connections shall be kept at right angles.

(iii) Detonating cord shall be handled and used with care to avoid damaging or severing the cord.

(iv) Detonating cord connections shall be made in accordance with approved and recommended methods. Knot-type or other cord-to-cord connections shall be made only with detonating cord in which the explosive core is dry.

(v) Detonating cord shall be cut with a sharp knife, razor blade, or cutters designed for use with detonating cord. Scissors or plier type cutters shall not be used.

(vi) All detonating cord connections shall be inspected before firing the blast.

(vii) When connecting a detonator to detonating cord, the detonator shall be taped or otherwise attached securely along the side of the end of the detonating cord with the end of the detonator containing the explosive charge pointed in the direction in which the detonation is to proceed.

(viii) Two fuse detonators shall be required for the initiation of detonating cord with fuse detonator and safety fuse.

(ix) Detonators shall not be attached to the detonating cord until the area has been cleared for the blast.

(5) Avalanche Mitigation Packs

(i) Mitigation packs shall be constructed of material that is water-resistant, non-sparking and non-conductive.

(ii) Mitigation packs shall have sufficient individual compartments to separate hand charges or explosive components from tools or other equipment or supplies that may be carried in the pack.

(iii) Tools or other equipment shall not be placed in compartments containing explosives.

(iv) Each compartment used for hand charges or explosive components shall have an independent means of closure.

(v) Mitigation packs shall be inspected daily for holes, faulty compartments or closures and explosive residue. Packs shall not be used until adequately repaired or cleaned.

(vi) Mitigation packs shall not be left unattended, or used for storing explosives. All explosive material shall be returned to the approved storage facility at the end of individual mitigation routes.

(vii) Individual mitigation team members shall not carry more than 35 pounds of explosives material in avalanche mitigation packs.

(D) Avalauncher and Launcher

(1) All personnel assigned to work on an avalauncher or launcher crew shall be trained in the following:

(i) All operating instructions;

(ii) Safety precautions;

(iii) Emergency procedures; and

(iv) Securing requirements for equipment.

(2) All equipment shall be in good working condition and maintained as recommended by the manufacturer.

(3) The components of projectile assemblies shall not be interchanged and shall be assembled and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

(4) All projectiles shall be inspected before transporting them to the firing location. Such inspection shall include:

(i) Cast explosives for cracks, dents, fractures and smooth nose surface;

(ii) Cap wells should be clear of obstructions and debris and centered and straight for proper alignment of the cap; and

(iii) Fin assembly should be inspected for properly-functioning components and safety items, including pressures plate, pressure plate arming wire, bore rider pin, safety pin, magnet and firing pin.

(5) Defective projectiles shall not be used and shall be disposed of or returned to the manufacturer.

(6) Safety devices or components shall not be removed.

(7) If explosives are not at least 20 feet from the avalauncher/launcher during firing procedures, they shall be kept in a closed Type 3 magazine.

(8) The transport safety pin shall not be removed until just prior to inserting the projectile into the barrel.

(9) Avalaunchers/Launchers must be fired with compressed nitrogen gas only.

(10) Avalaunchers/Launchers shall be connected to the compressed nitrogen source through a satisfactory pressure regulator.

(11) The pressure regulator shall be set to limit the launch pressure to the maximum recommended by the manufacturer.

(12) The first round fired in a mitigation mission shall be a test fire to test the proper functioning of the launcher without a projectile.

(13) The blaster in charge, trained assistants, and blasters in training shall be the only personnel within 100 feet of the avalauncher/launcher during loading and firing.

(E) Misfires

(1) An explosive charge or any part of an explosive charge that fails to detonate after initiation shall be considered a misfire.

(2) If a misfire occurs, the blaster shall note the location of the misfired explosive and shall not approach the misfired explosive for at least 1 hour.

(3) Explosives which are aflame or emitting smoke shall not be approached for at least 1 hour after evidence of combustion ceases.

(4) The area shall remain guarded or closed until a search of the area has been done and the misfire hazard is removed or the blaster-in-charge pronounces the area safe.

(5) Misfires shall be handled by the blaster-in-charge and only those employees necessary to remove the hazard and the area shall remain guarded.

(6) Impact to explosive materials shall be avoided when searching for nonvisible misfired charges.

(7) A misfired armed charge shall be disposed of where it is found with a secondary charge.

Notes

7 CCR 1101-9-7-4

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