S.I. No. 123/1972:

MINES (EXPLOSIVES) REGULATIONS, 1972.

MINES (EXPLOSIVES) REGULATIONS, 1972.

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS.

PART I.

PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL.

Regulation

1. Short title.

2. Commencement.

3. Interpretation.

4. Application.

5. Exemption.

PART II.

Mines and Parts of Mines in which only Permitted Explosive and Permitted Detonators may be used.

6. Meaning and use of permitted explosive and permitted detonators.

PART III.

Appointment and Qualification of Shot-Firers (Blasters)

7. Appointment of shot-firers.

8-10. Qualification of shot-firers.

PART IV.

Supply, Storage, Issue and Conveyance of Explosives and Detenators.

11. General.

12. Explosives store.

13. Capping of safety fuse.

14. Control and issue of detonators.

15-16. Conveyance and care of detonators.

17. Conveyance and care of explosives.

18. Conveyance of explosives in bulk.

PART V.

Equipment of Shot-Firers (Blasters) and provision, operation, testing and maintenance of Electric Shot-Firing Apparatus.

19. Provision of cables.

20. Provision of shot-firing apparatus, etc.

21. Retention of removable handle or key.

22. Defective shot-firing apparatus.

23. Cleaning and testing of shot-firing apparatus.

24. Restrictions on use of equipment.

PART VI.

Shot-Firing (Blasting)--General.

25-26. Drilling and cleaning of shot-holes.

27-30. Charging shot-holes.

31. Removal of stemming, detonator or explosive from shot-hole.

32. Firing shots.

33. Record of shots fired.

34. Firing shots electrically.

35. Firing shots by fuse.

36. Warning and shelter.

37. Danger zone.

38. Duties of sentry.

39. Precautions after shot-firing.

PART VII.

Shot-Firing (Blasting)--Shafts and Winzes.

40. Use of explosive in a shaft or winze.

41. Primer cartridges.

42. Detonators.

43. Precautions before firing.

PART VIII.

Shots fired by means of Electric Current from Lighting or Power Circuits.

44. Application.

45. Appointment of competent person in charge of apparatus.

46. Construction of Apparatus.

47-48. Firing Shots.

PART IX.

Misfires.

49. Meaning of misfire.

50. General precautions.

51. Remedial action.

PART X.

52. Revocations.

S.I. No. 123 of 1972.

MINES (EXPLOSIVES) REGULATIONS, 1972.

I, JOSEPH BRENNAN, Minister for Labour, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 11 , 18 , 66 , 127 and 146 of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1965 (No. 7 of 1965) and the Labour (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1966 ( S.I. No. 164 of 1966 ), and after due compliance with the provisions of that Act relating to the procedure for making general regulations, hereby make the following regulations:--

PART I. PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Mines (Explosives) Regulations, 1972.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of July, 1972.

3. (1) In these Regulations--

"the Act" means the Mines and Quarries Act, 1965 (No. 7 of 1965);

"blasting agent" means a mixture intended for blasting, consisting substantially of inorganic nitrates and carbonaceous combustibles, in which none of the ingredients is a commercial explosive and which cannot be detonated by a No. 8 detonator;

"charge" means explosive which may be exploded by a single detonator or primer, or, a blasting agent which may be exploded by a primer.

"detonator" means a plain detonator, an electric detonator, a delay detonator and a detonating fuse and includes a safety fuse capped with a detonator;

"detonator case" means a waterproof bag or other suitable container for carrying detonators;

"detonator store" means a suitable place below ground appointed by the manager for the issue and return and the temporary storage of detonators;

"explosive" means any chemical compound or mixture which is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustible materials or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packing that the ignition by fire, friction, concussion or detonation of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects, but "explosive" does not include a detonator;

"explosives store" has the meaning assigned thereto in Regulation 12 (1) of these Regulations;

"inspector" means an inspector appointed under the Act;

"manager" means a person appointed in accordance with section 13 of the Act;

"the Minister" means the Minister for Labour;

"owner" has the meaning assigned to it by section 4 of the Act;

"package" means a container which is suitably constructed and of adequate strength for the secure and safe conveyance of explosives and blasting agents;

"permitted detonator" and "permitted explosive" have the meanings respectively assigned thereto in Regulation 6 of these Regulations;

"reserve station" means a suitable place below ground appointed by the manager for the issue and return and temporary storage of explosives and blasting agents;

"round", in relation to shots, means two or more shots fired--

(a) electrically in one operation, by means of instantaneous or delay detonators; or

(b) by a means approved by the Minister for firing more than four shots at one time by fuse, or

(c) by fuses lighted successively in one operation;

"safety fuse" means fuse consisting of black powder, or any other substance which burns at a regular rate, enclosed in a suitable covering and is such that the rate of burning does not vary more than

(a) in the case of slow burning fuse, ten seconds above or below 125 seconds for each 0·91 metres, (3 feet) of fuse, or

(b) in the case of fast burning fuse, ten seconds above or below ninety seconds for each 0·91 metres (3 feet) of fuse;

"scheme of transit" has the meaning assigned thereto in Regulation 18 (1) of these Regulations;

"shot" means an explosion of explosives;

"shot-firer" means a person appointed and qualified in accordance with Part III of these Regulations for appointment as a shot-firer and includes a blaster;

"shot-firing" includes blasting;

"trainee shot-firer" has the meaning assigned thereto in Regulation 7 (1) of these Regulations and includes trainee blaster;

(2) In these Regulations any reference to the use of explosive includes the charging of a shot-hole with explosive.

4. These Regulations shall apply to every mine.

5. The Minister or an inspector may, by notice served on the owner, exempt any mine from the application of any provision of these Regulations if he is satisfied that the safety of persons employed at the mine will not be prejudiced in consequence of the granting of the exemption.

PART II. Mines in which only Permitted Explosive and Permitted Detonators may be used.

6. (1) Whenever the use of lamps or lights, other than permitted lights, is by virtue of section 63 of the Act unlawful, a person shall not take or use below ground at a mine an explosive or detonator other than an explosive or detonator of a type approved by the Minister for use at places in a mine which are hazardous by reason of the presence or possibility of the presence of flammable gas or combustible dust (in these Regulations referred to as a permitted explosive and a permitted detonator respectively).

(2) A person shall not take into or use in any part of a mine, being a part in which safety-lamps are for the time being in use by way of temporary precautions, any explosive other than a permitted explosive or any detonator other than a permitted detonator.

(3) If an inspector is of opinion that any part of a mine is dry and dusty he may serve on the manager a notice stating that he is of that opinion and requiring the manager to ensure that neither an explosive other than a permitted explosive nor a detonator other than a permitted detonator is taken into or used in that part of the mine and every such notice shall become operative forthwith.

(4) It is hereby declared that the provisions of section 146 of the Act with respect to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under paragraph (3) of this Regulation and for the purposes of subsection (4) of the said section 146 the relevant ground of objection to such a notice shall be that the part of the mine to which the notice relates is not so dry and dusty as to make the use therein of explosives other than permitted explosives, or detonators other than permitted detonators, dangerous.

PART III. Appointment and Qualification of Shot-firers (Blasters).

7. (1) A person shall not fire a shot in a mine unless he is--

(a) a competent person appointed by the manager of the mine to fire shots therein; or

(b) a person who in firing the shot is practising shot-firing by means of electric shot-firing apparatus under the close personal supervision of a shot-firer in pursuance of an authority given in that behalf in writing by the manager of the mine( such a person being in these Regulations referred to as a trainee shot-firer).

(2) A person shall not fire a shot in a mine either by means of a delay detonator or in a round of more than six shots unless he is a shot-firer appointed so to fire shots by the manager of the mine or a shot-firer practising the firing of such shots for the purposes of complying with the requirements of Regulation 9 of these Regulations.

(3) A person firing shots in the regular course of his employment in a mine in which the use of explosives other than permitted explosive is prohibited shall not be paid wages the amount or any part of which is calculated in relation to the quantity of mineral got.

(4) Paragraph (3) of this Regulation shall not apply to a shot-firer who is a master sinker or who is a deputy (shift-boss) whose district consists of a shaft in the course of being sunk.

(5) The manager of a mine shall keep at the mine a record of all the shot-firers appointed by him at the mine and in case a shot-firer is so appointed to fire shots either by means of a delay detonator or in a round of more than six shots that appointment shall be included in the record.

8. (1) A person shall not be qualified to be a shot-firer in a coalmine, unless he has attained the age of twenty-one years and has had the practical experience specified in paragraph (2) of this Regulation.

(2) The practical experience referred to in the preceding paragraph is at least three years' practical experience below ground in a mine including employment for not less than eighteen months in one or more of the following, namely--

(a) getting of minerals,

(b) ripping in a roadhead,

(c) setting or withdrawing supports at a face at which minerals are being worked,

(d) drilling shot holes at a face at which minerals are being worked, and

(e) repairing or enlarging roads or driving cross measure drifts, and provided that the period or the aggregate of periods of employment in repairing or enlarging roads or driving cross measure drifts to be allowed for the purposes of this Regulation shall be six months.

(3) No person shall be qualified to be appointed to blast in a mine (other than a coal-mine) unless he has had at least 12 months practical experience below ground during which time he has been trained in the use of explosives.

9. A shot-firer shall not be appointed by a manager of a mine to fire shots in a mine by means of a delay detonator or in a round of more than six shots unless he has spent not less than five shifts practising the firing of shots by such means or in such a round, as the case may be, under the close and exclusive personal supervision of a shot-firer authorised by the manager to fire the shots in question.

10. Particulars of the qualifications required by this Part of these Regulations and held by a person employed as a shot-firer shall be kept at the office at the relevant mine or at such other places as may be approved by an inspector.

PART IV. Supply, Storage, Issue and Conveyance of Explosives and Detonators.

11. (1) No explosive or blasting agent shall be taken into or used in any mine except in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations and with the provisions of special regulations, if any, applicable to the mine.

(2) No explosive or blasting agent shall be used at a mine unless the name and place of business of the manufacturer, and the classification of the explosive of blasting agent and the date of its manufacture are plainly marked or printed on every manufacturer's package containing such explosive or agent.

(3) The preparation of a blasting agent shall not be carried out below ground in a mine.

(4) The preparation of a blasting agent at a mine shall be carried out only with the written permission of the Minister or an inspector.

12. (1) A manager of a mine shall not permit any explosive, blasting agent, detonator or safety fuse to be stored at a mine under his control except in a place on the surface appointed by him for the purpose and licensed under the Explosives Act, 1875, (in these Regulations referred to as an explosives store).

(2) Except where a reserve station has been provided, the manager of a mine in which explosives or blasting agents are used shall appoint at least one place, which shall be situated conveniently near the top of each shaft or outlet normally used by workmen in the mine, as a place for the deposit of explosives, blasting agents and detonators brought out of the mine, and may appoint a place( other than an explosives store) for the issue of explosives, blasting agents or detonators.

(3) The manager of a mine in which explosives or blasting agents are used shall appoint such number of competent persons and make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that whenever explosives, blasting agents or detonators are taken into an explosives store or to a place appointed for the purposes of paragraph (2) of this Regulation, as the case may be, or are to be issued thereat, a competent person is in charge of such store or place.

(4) In using explosives or blasting agents removed from an explosives store, those that have been longest in the store shall be used first, provided they are not defective.

(5) Whenever explosives or blasting agents have become defective, they shall be disposed of in a safe manner.

(6) Only implements of copper, wood, fibre or other suitable material shall be used in opening cases or cartons that contain explosives or blasting agents. This paragraph shall not apply to the cutting of the wire or other binding material surrounding such cases or cartons.

13. A person shall not cap a safety fuse with a detonator at any place at a mine other than a workshop duly used and located in pursuance of and in accordance with section 47 of the Explosives Act, 1875.

14. (1) All detonators in an explosives store or a place appointed in pursuance of Regulation 12 (2) of these Regulations or a detonator store mentioned in Regulation 18 (1) (b) of these Regulations shall, except during a period for which the manager of the mine has appointed a person to have charge of the store or place, be in the sole charge of the manager.

(2) A person other than a shot-firer or trainee shot-firer to whom a detonator has been issued for use or a person authorised in writing by the manager of the mine to be in possession of a detonator shall not be in possession of any detonator at a place in a mine other than an explosives store or a place appointed in pursuance of Regulation 12 (2) of these Regulations or a detonator store mentioned in Regulation 18 (1) (b) of these Regulations.

15. (1) Subject to Regulation 41 of these Regulations a person shall not take any detonator below ground in a mine otherwise than in a securely fastened detonator case provided by the owner of the mine.

(2) A person shall not put a delay detonator into a detonator case unless it is clearly marked with a number indicating its period of delay.

(3) The manager of a mine in which detonators are used shall ensure that a detonator case is not issued to any person unless it is constructed and maintained so that when the case is closed it is impossible for any detonator or the leads of any detonator contained in the case to touch any metal part of the case which is exposed on the outside of the case or is in contact, either directly or indirectly, with any other metal part thereof which is so exposed.

16. (1) Each shot-firer or trainee shot-firer to whom a detonator case has been issued shall--

(a) except where detonators are being removed from or placed in the case, ensure that the case is kept securely fastened,

(b) ensure that, apart from any check sheet for recording shots fired by him, nothing other than detonators are in the case,

(c) keep the case separate from any other receptacle containing any explosive,

(d) ensure that whenever it is not on his person the case is in a safe place and, unless he remains in its immediate vicinity, securely locked in a box which does not contain any explosive, and

(e) if at the end of his period of duty the case contains a detonator, return the case to an explosives store or a place appointed under Regulation 12 (2) of these Regulations or a detonator store mentioned in Regulation 18 (1) (b) of these Regulations for the deposit of detonators.

(2) A shot-firer or trainee shot-firer shall not remove a detonator from a detonator case unless it is immediately required for charging a shot-hole.

17. (1) Explosives shall not be taken into or used in a mine except in cartridges.

(2) Except where the provisions of Regulation 18 of these Regulations apply, no person shall take any explosive below ground in a mine unless the explosive is in a secure case or canister containing not more than 2·27 Kilograms (5 pounds) of cartridges. The cartridges shall be kept in the case or canister until they are about to be used for the charging of a shot-hole and a person shall not have open and in use in any particular working place at a particular time two or more such cases or canisters.

18. (1) (a) Subject to the following provisions of this Regulation, the manager of a mine may, with respect to the mine or any part thereof, make a scheme for the conveyance of explosive in bulk (in this Regulation referred to as a scheme of transit) whereby explosive from any explosives store may, and may only, be conveyed in a special carriage to one or more specified stations in the mine (in this Regulation referred to as a reserve station) or to a working face.

(b) The scheme of transit may include provision for the conveyance of detonators to one or more places of storage in the mine (in this Regulation referred to as a detonator store) which shall be apart from any reserve station, or to a working face.

(2) For the purpose of ensuring safety, every scheme of transit shall contain provisions relating to each of the following matters:

(a) the location, construction and marking of each reserve station and detonator store and the custody of the keys thereof;

(b) the design and construction of the special carriage;

(c) the supervision and precautions to be taken during the transit of the special carriage;

(d) the supervision of explosives at a reserve station and detonators at a detonator store;

(e) the manner of conveying explosive and detonators to any working face;

(f) the maximum quantity of explosive permitted to be at a reserve station and the maximum number of detonators permitted to be at a detonator store at any time, respectively;

(g) the control and issue of explosive from a reserve station and detonators from a detonator store; and

(h) the return of unused explosive to a reserve station and detonators to a detonator store or such other places specified in the scheme.

(3) Every scheme of transit shall contain provisions to ensure that--

(a) the quantity of explosive in the mine which is conveyed in bulk in pursuance of the scheme and is unused does not at any time exceed the quantity of explosive so conveyed estimated to be required for use in the mine during the period of forty-eight hours immediately following,

(b) explosive shall, while being conveyed in bulk nearer to a working face (wherever situate) than the reserve station nearest to that face, be so conveyed in a manner specified in the scheme.

(4) A scheme of transit may impose duties and prohibitions on persons employed at the mine and those persons shall comply therewith. It shall be the duty of the manager of the mine to ensure that the provisions of any scheme of transit for that mine are executed and enforced.

(5) If an inspector is of opinion that a scheme of transit does not satisfy the requirements of paragraph (2) of this Regulation he may serve on the manager of the mine to which the scheme relates a notice stating that he is of that opinion and every such notice shall specify the nature of the provision which in his opinion ought to be made for the purpose of satisfying the said requirements and shall require the manager to amend the scheme accordingly, and any such notice shall become operative forthwith.

(6) It is hereby declared that the provisions of section 146 of the Act with respect to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under paragraph (5) of this Regulation, and for the purpose of subsection (4) of the said section 146 the relevant ground of objection shall be that the provisions contained in the scheme of transit to which the notice relates are adequate to ensure safety in relation to the matters mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Regulation.

(7) The person in charge of the explosive at a reserve station shall ensure that--

(a) any explosive in the station at the end of his period of duty is--

(i) in case the mine is not to be worked during the period of fourteen days next following-- forthwith returned to the explosives store,

(ii) in case the mine is to be worked during such period--

(I) delivered by him to a person appointed to have charge of them during the shift immediately following his period of duty, or

(II) forthwith returned to the explosives store, or

(III) securely locked in the reserve station, and

(b) in case such explosive is locked in the reserve station under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, the key thereof is forthwith--

(i) delivered to a person appointed to have charge of the explosive during the shift immediately following his period of duty, or

(ii) deposited in the explosives store.

(8) The manager of a mine at which a scheme of transit is in operation shall ensure that a copy thereof is posted and kept posted and in such characters as to be easily seen and read by persons employed in the mine and that a copy thereof is supplied to each shot-firer, trainee shot-firer and person in charge of any explosive at any reserve station.

(9) In this regulation "explosive" includes a blasting agent.

PART V. Equipment to be provided for Shot-firers (Blasters) and provision, operation, testing and maintenance of Electric Shot-Firing Apparatus.

19. (1) Where a shot-firer is to fire, or supervise the firing of, shots by means of electric shot-firing apparatus he shall be provided by the owner of the mine with the necessary shot-firing cable which shall be suitable in all respects for use in firing single shots or in firing shots in a round, as the case may be.

(2) A shot-firing cable shall not be used for multishot-firing in a mine in which the use of lamps or lights, other than permitted lights, is unlawful or in any part of a mine being a part in which safety-lamps are for the time being in use by way of temporary precaution, unless the cable is free from joints and repairs other than joints and repairs which have been properly made and are either vulcanised or moulded.

(3) A shot-firing cable with an iron or steel wire covering shall not be used for firing shots in a mine except in a shaft which is in the course of being sunk; or where shots are fired by means of electric current from a lighting or power circuit.

20. A person shall not fire a shot in a mine by means of electric shot-firing apparatus or cable unless the apparatus or cable has been provided by the owner of the mine.

21. (1) Subject to paragraph (3) of this Regulation, a shot-firer or trainee shot-firer to whom electric shot-firing apparatus is issued in a mine shall retain the removable handle or key in his personal possession until he has completed his shot-firing duties.

(2) A person using any electric shot-firing apparatus shall not place the removable handle or key of the apparatus in position in the apparatus until he is about to fire a shot and shall remove such handle or key from the apparatus immediately after firing the shot.

(3) Nothing in this Regulation shall be construed as prohibiting a shot-firer to whom any electric shot-firing apparatus has been issued in a mine and who is supervising the firing of shots by a trainee shot-firer from giving possession of the removable handle or key of the apparatus to the trainee shot-firer for so long as may be necessary to enable the trainee shot-firer to fire those shots.

22. (1) A person shall not use in a mine any electric shot-firing apparatus which is or appears to be defective and in case such apparatus becomes defective while in use the person in charge of it shall not use it further but shall cause it to be returned to the surface forthwith and shall report the circumstances to the manager in writing.

(2) If any electric shot-firing apparatus for multi-shot firing fails to fire all the shots in any properly connected round in one operation, it shall be deemed to be defective for the purposes of the preceding paragraph, but not withstanding the provisions of that paragraph it may be used to fire the unfired shots in that round in accordance with the scheme for remedial action specified by the manager under Part IX of these Regulations.

23. It shall be the duty of the manager of a mine in which electric shot-firing apparatus is used to make and secure the efficient carrying out of arrangements to ensure that--

(a) all such apparatus is thoroughly cleaned and overhauled at intervals not exceeding three months by the manufacturer thereof or by a competent person appointed for that purpose by the manager;

(b) all electric multi-shot-firing apparatus is tested at the surface in the manner specified by its manufacturers;

(c) no such apparatus is taken or used below ground unless on the last previous test thereof it was found to be in satisfactory working order, and

(d) records of the date of each cleaning and overhaul and the date and result of each test in pursuance of this Regulation are entered in a book provided for the purpose by the owner of the mine.

24. (1) A person shall not open or otherwise tamper with any electric shot-firing apparatus below ground in a mine except in an under-ground workshop approved for the purpose by an inspector.

(2) Shot-firing cable used in a mine shall be kept in good and in case such cable is used for a purpose other than shot-firing, it shall not be subsequently used for shot-firing.

PART VI. Shot-Firing (Blasting)--General.

25. (1) Before drilling is commenced at a working place in a mine, the exposed face shall be washed with water and carefully examined for misfires and cut-off holes and special attention shall be given to old sockets and all such sockets shall be plugged with a wooden plug.

(2) Drilling shall be done neither within 152 millimetres (6 inches) of a hole in a mine that has been charged and blasted nor within 152 millimetres (6 inches) of any remnant of such a hole.

(3) Drilling shall not be done in a mine within 1·52 metres (5 feet) of a hole containing any explosives or blasting agent.

(4) Drilling and charging operations shall not be carried on simultaneously on the same face in a mine within 7·62 metres (25 feet) of each other.

(5) A person shall not drill in a mine a shot-hole or any part of a shot-hole with a drill the diameter of which does not exceed by at least 3·2 millimetres (one-eighth of an inch) the diameter of any cartridge intended to be inserted in the shot-hole.

(6) A person shall not, for the purpose of testing, cleaning out or charging any shot-hole in a mine, use any tool other than a tool suitable for the purpose and provided by the owner of the mine.

26. (1) A person shall not begin to charge a shot-hole in a mine unless the shot-hole has previously been thoroughly cleaned out.

(2) A person shall not use compressed air to clean out a shot-hole in a mine unless previously he ensures that the giving off of dust is minimised.

27. (1) A person shall not charge a shot-hole in a mine unless he is a shot-firer or is under the supervision of a shot-firer, and a shot-firer shall neither charge a shot-hole nor permit a shot-hole to be charged at any time other than the time at which it is necessary to charge the shot-hole for the purpose of firing a shot.

(2) A person shall not begin to charge any shot-hole in a mine unless he has satisfied himself by taking all reasonable precautions that the shot-hole is both placed and drilled so as to be safe for the firing of a shot.

(3) A person shall not charge a shot-hole in a development heading, cross-cut drift, raise or ripping or in a shaft or winze in a mine in which a charge is to be fired as one of a round unless all shot-holes to be used in the round have been completely drilled.

28. (1) Except where the provisions of Regulation 18 of these Regulations apply, a shot-firer shall not permit more than one canister of explosive to be open at any time for use in the charging of shot-holes by him or under his supervision.

(2) A person shall not charge a shot-hole in a mine--

(a) otherwise than with a complete cartridge or complete cartridges;

(b) with cartridges of different diameters or with different forms of explosives, except where the method of shot-firing being used determines otherwise.

Provided that subparagraph (a) of this paragraph shall not apply in a case in which, in the opinion of the person concerned, the insertion of a complete cartridge would overcharge the shot-hole.

(3) A person shall not violently or forcibly press any cartridge into a shot-hole in a mine.

(4) A person charging a shot-hole in a mine shall to the best of his judgment having regard to the task to be performed ensure that it is not overcharged.

29. (1) A person shall not insert more than one detonator in a shot-hole in a mine, except in accordance with Part IX of these Regulations or except where the method of shot-firing being used determines otherwise.

(2) A person shall not fire a shot in a mine of coal by means of a detonator other than an electric detonator or a safety fuse capped with a detonator.

(3) A shot-firer shall not use a delay detonator in a mine unless it is clearly marked with a number which indicates the period of delay.

(4) Where a delay detonator is to be used in a mine and the charge with which it is to be used consists of more than one cartridge, the person charging the shot-hole shall insert the primer cartridge first with its detonator at the back of the hole except where the method of shot-firing being used determines otherwise.

30. (1) A person charging a shot-hole in a mine shall ensure that it is stemmed, where necessary, with suitable and non-flammable stemming sufficient to prevent a blown-out shot.

(2) A person shall not insert a tool other than a tool made entirely of wood into a shot-hole in a mine containing explosive, except where--

(a) a device for pneumatic stemming approved by the Minister is being used, or

(b) a device approved by the Minister for removing a cartridge from a shot-hole in the event of a misfire is being used in accordance with the scheme of remedial action referred to in Regulation 51 of these Regulations.

31. (1)A person shall not remove any stemming from a charged shot-hole in a mine otherwise than by means of water or water and air.

(2) A person shall not pull out a detonator lead from any charged shot-hole in a mine.

(3) A person shall not remove any explosive from a charged shot-hole in a mine other than--

(a) explosive forming part of a cartridge or a portion of a cartridge which is left protruding from the hole as a result of the firing of a shot or round of shots, or

(b) in accordance with the proviso to Regulation 49 (1) of these Regulations.

32. (1) Except where the provisions of Regulation 47 of these Regulations apply, a person shall not fire a shot in a mine unless he has satisfied himself by taking all reasonable precautions that the shot is in a shot-hole which is placed and drilled so as to be safe for the firing of a shot and is charged and stemmed, where necessary, in accordance with these Regulations.

(2) Subject to paragraph (1) of this Regulation, each shot-firer shall fire every shot which has been charged by him or by some person under his supervision unless the shot is fired by a trainee shot-firer or he is prevented from firing the shot by circumstances beyond his control.

33. Except where the information is otherwise recorded, each shot-firer and trainee shot-firer shall keep a separate record of all shots fired by him during a shift in a book provided by the owner of the mine for that purpose.

34. (1) A shot-firer shall not fire a round of more than six shots in--

(a) a coal face, or

(b) any other place in a mine with respect to which an inspector has, by notice in writing served on the manager, directed that no round of more than six shots shall be fired in that place.

(2) It is hereby declared that the provisions of section 146 of the Act with respect to references upon notices shall apply to a notice served by an inspector under paragraph (1) of this Regulation and the relevant ground of objection to such a notice shall be that compliance therewith is wholly, or to a particular extent, unnecessary for securing the safety of persons employed in the mine.

(3) Except where the provisions of Regulation 48 of these Regulations apply, whenever a round of shots is to be fired in a mine by means of electric shot-firing apparatus, the person who is to fire the round shall ensure that the detonators are connected in series and no wire is used for connecting any of the detonator leads to each other, other than connecting wire manufactured solely for that purpose.

(4) A person who is about to use shot-firing cable in a mine shall ensure that it is not in, and cannot make contact with any other cable or electric apparatus.

(5) A person other than a shot-firer or trainee shot-firer shall not couple a shot-firing cable in a mine to a detonator or to shot-firing apparatus.

(6) A person shall not couple a shot-firing cable to shot-firing apparatus in a mine for the purpose of firing a shot unless the cable has been previously coupled by him to a detonator or detonator circuit.

(7) A person shall not fire any round of shots in a mine by means of electric shot-firing apparatus unless he has previously tested the circuit for continuity by means of a testing device approved by an inspector and has found the circuit to be satisfactory. A person shall not make any such test unless all persons in the vicinity have previously withdrawn to a place of safety, and he has taken proper shelter himself; provided that this provision shall not apply where approved testing devices, and only approved testing devices, are used.

(8) In this regulation "approved testing devices" means any devices for testing electric shot-firing circuits which meet the following requirements, namely:

(a) the current produced in the device is automatically limited to less than one-tenth of the minimum current rquired to explode a low tension detonator, and

(b) the device is for the time being approved by an inspector.

35 (1) A shot-firer shall neither fire a single shot in a mine by a fuese less than 0·91 metres (3 feet) in length nor fire a shot in a round by a fuse less than 1·22 metres (4 feet) in length.

(2) A shot-firer shall neither fire nor attempt to fire more than four shots at one time by fuse other than by a means approved by an inspector.

(3) Where any shot is to be fired in a mine by fuse the shot-firer shall ensure that--

(a) neither naked lights nor a person who is smoking is directly above, nor within 1·22 metres (4 feet) in any other direction of, any shot-hole, explosive or detonator, and

(b) any surplus explosive is removed from the vicinity of the shot-hole before a naked light is brought to it for the purpose of lighting the fuse.

36. In every case in which a shot when fired may blow through into a place in a mine other than that where the shot is to be fired, the person who is to fire the shot shall before firing cause due warning to be given to all persons in that place, and after the shot is fired he shall cause notice that the period of danger is ended to be given to such persons.

37. (1) Any person proposing to fire a shot in a mine shall before the firing determine the danger zone likely to be created by the shot.

(2) Whenever a person determines a danger zone in accordance with paragraph (1) of this Regulation, he shall before firing the relevant shot--

(a) either post a person to guard each entrance to the danger zone or place an appropriate fence conspicuously marked with the words "DANGER" and "SHOTFIRING" or "BLASTING" at each such entrance,

(b) ensure that all persons have either withdrawn from the danger zone or taken proper shelter within the zone, and

(c) take proper shelter himself.

38. (1) A person who has been posted in pursuance of Regulation 37 of these Regulations shall not leave the place at which he was posted to return to the working place until the person who so posted him has personally directed him to do so.

(2) A person shall neither pass a fence placed in pursuance of the said Regulation 37 without the authority of the person by whom it was so placed nor pass a person posted under the said Regulation 37 who has forbidden him to do so.

39. (1) The manager of a mine shall from time to time appoint so many shot-firers or other competent persons as he considers appropriate to carry out the duties mentioned in the following paragraphs of this regulation.

(2) Whenever a shot has been fired in a mine, a person appointed under paragraph (1) of this regulation shall--

(a) neither enter nor allow other persons to enter the place where the charges have been fixed until he has disconnected the firing cables or wires from the shot-firing apparatus and short-circuited these cables or wires,

(b) personally ascertain whether it is safe for ordinary working to be resumed in each working place affected by the shot, and

(c) ensure that any necessary action is taken to make each working place safe for such working.

(3) Where a round of shots has been fired--

(a) the examination referred to in paragraph (2) (b) of this Regulation shall be commenced not earlier than five minutes after the round has been fired,

(b) the person making the examination shall in the course thereof examine for misfires, for sockets in the face, for any explosive remaining in any such socket and, if he has reason to think that any shot may not have been completely exploded, for any unexploded charge in the material brought down, and

(c) if in the course of making the examination the person making it finds any explosive remaining in any socket in the face, he shall (if he is a shot-firer) forthwith explode that explosive by means of a fresh primer cartridge, or (if he is not a shot-firer) forthwith report the circumstances to the shot-firer concerned who shall thereupon take steps in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph as if he himself had found the explosive.

(4) Whenever there is a misfire in a mine, the person who has fired the shot or a person appointed under paragraph (1) of this regulation shall, before leaving the mine, report the circumstances thereof to the senior official on duty at the mine, and shall record the fact of the misfire in the record of shots referred to in Regulation 33 of these Regulations.

PART VII. Shot-Firing (Blasting)--Shafts and Winzes.

40. A person shall not take any explosive or blasting agent into a shaft or winze in a mine for use therein unless it is immediately required for charging a shot-hole.

41. A person other than a shot-firer or trainee shot-firer shall not take a primer cartridge fitted with a detonator into a shaft in a mine which is in the course of being sunk and a shot-firer or trainee shot-firer shall not take a primer cartridge so fitted into such a shaft otherwise than in a thick felt bag or other receptacle suitable for protecting the cartridge from shock.

42. A person shall not fire a shot in a shaft or winze in a mine other than by means of an electric detonator.

43. (1) A person shall not couple a shot-firing cable to a detonator in a shaft or winze in a mine provided with winding apparatus unless--

(a) a bucket or kibble is placed so that men in the shaft or winze may conveniently enter the bucket or kibble, and

(b) he has satisfied himself that the person operating the winding apparatus is ready to raise the bucket or kibble and that the bucket or kibble can be effectively raised.

(2) A person shall not couple a shot-firing cable to shot-firing apparatus for the purpose of firing any shot in a shaft or winze in a mine unless all persons who may be affected by the shot are in a place of safety.

PART VIII. Shots Fired by means of Electric Current from Lighting or Power Circuits

44. This part of these regulations shall apply to, and only to, shot-firing by means of electric current from a lighting or power circuit.

45. The manager of a mine shall appoint one or more competent persons to have charge of the device for firing shots by means of electric current from a lighting or power circuit and shall ensure so that one such person is in charge whenever firing operations are being carried out.

46. A person shall not fire a round of shots in a mine by means of electric current from lighting or power circuits except with the written consent of an inspector and subject to such conditions as the inspector shall specify, and such conditions shall include a condition requiring the firing device used for firing charges with electricity from lighting or power cables to be constructed so that,

(a) the device's switch mechanism will automatically return by gravity to the open position,

(b) the live side of the device is installed in a fixed locked box accessible only to the shot-firer,

(c) provision is made in the device to ensure that the leads to the face of the mine are short-circuited whenever the contacts of the electric blasting device are in the open position,

(d) the electric blasting device and the short-circuiting device are mounted in a box which is provided with a lock and a door arranged so that it can be closed or locked only if both the contacts of the electric blasting device are open and the short-circuiting device relating to the leads to the face of the mine is operative,

(e) where the voltage exceeds 550 volts, the device is electro-magnetically operated.

47. A person shall not allow a shot to be fired in a mine by means of electric current from a lighting or power circuit unless he has satisfied himself by taking all reasonable precautions that the shot is in a shot-hole which is placed and drilled so as to be safe for the firing of a shot and is charged and stemmed in accordance with these Regulations.

48. Where a round of shots is to be fired in a mine as part of a system to be fired by means of electric current from a lighting or power circuit, the person who has charged the round shall ensure that the detonators are connected in series and that no wire other than connecting wire manufactured solely for that purpose, is used for connecting any of the detonator leads to each other.

PART IX. Misfires

49. (1) A shot shall be treated as a misfire if it fails to explode--

(a) in the case of a shot being fired (whether or not in conjunction with detonating fuse) by safety fuse, and either as a single shot or in a round, after the shot-firer has withdrawn after once lighting or attempting to light the safety fuse or any other material used for firing shots in conjunction therewith, or

(b) in the case of a shot being so fired electrically, and either as a single shot or in a round, after the shot-firer, having attempted unsuccessfully to fire the shot, has followed the procedure described in paragraph (2) of this regulation.

(2) The procedure mentioned in Paragraph (1) of this regulation is the following, namely, the shot-firer shall--

(a) disconnect from the shot-firing apparatus the removable handle or key and the shot-firing cable,

(b) after waiting five minutes, examine the cable and connections for any defect, and remedy any defect found, and

(c) make a further attempt to fire the shot.

50. (1) In the event of a misfire in a mine no person shall approach the shot-hole until,--

(a) in case the shot is being fired by safety fuse, there have elapsed, from the lighting of, or the attempt to light, the fuse or any material used for firing shots in conjunction therewith, not less than thirty minutes, or

(b) in case the shot is being fired electrically, the shot-firer has disconnected the removable handle or key and the shot-firing cable from the shot-firing apparatus, and there have elapsed, from the last attempt to fire the shot, not less than five minutes.

(2) A person shall not attempt to remove any part of the charge from the shot-hole of any shot which is to be treated under this regulation as a misfire except a cartridge of explosive which is protruding out of the mouth of the hole.

(3) Whenever only misfired shot is dislodged by the firing of another shot, before any person resumes work near the place where the misfire is dislodged and before any further shot is fired at or near that place, where practicable a search for the detonator (if any) and the charge thereof shall be made under the supervision of the person who fired the other shot or an official of the mine. If after the search has been completed any detonator or cartridge is not found, all mineral so dislodged shall be conveyed out of the mine separately from any other mineral and under the like supervision.

(4) In case a shot which is to be treated as a misfire under this regulation the shot-firer concerned shall, if he leaves the working place before the completion of the appropriate procedure specified in any scheme in force in pursuance of Regulation 51 of these Regulations cause notice of the misfire to be given to the person in charge of the part of the mine where the shot was fired.

51. (1) The manager of every mine in which explosives are used shall ensure that there shall be in force a scheme specifying the procedure to be followed in the event of a misfire, and any such scheme shall contain provisions for securing the safety of all persons in the vicinity of a misfire.

(2) The manager of every mine at which such a scheme is in force shall ensure that a copy thereof in such characters as to be easily seen and read by persons employed is posted and kept posted in the mine and that a copy thereof is supplied to each shot-firer employed at the mine.

(3) If an inspector is of opinion with respect to any such scheme, that the provisions thereof are not adequate to ensure the taking of proper remedial action in the event of a misfire or to ensure the taking of proper safety precautions, he may serve on the manager of the mine a notice stating that he is of that opinion, and the notice shall specify the nature of the provision which in his opinion ought to be made and require the manager to amend the scheme accordingly and such notice shall, if it is so specified therein, become operative forthwith.

(4) It is hereby declared that the provisions of section 146 of the Act with respect to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under the last preceding paragraph and the relevant ground of objection to such a notice shall be that the provisions contained in the relevant scheme are adequate to ensure the taking of proper remedial action or proper safety precautions (as the case may be).

PART X. Revocations.

52. The following are hereby revoked:

(a) the Coal Mines (Storage and Use of Explosives) Order, 1952 ( S.I. No. 288 of 1952 ); and

(b) Regulation 14 of the Metalliferous Mines (General) Regulations, 1956 ( S.I. No. 273 of 1956 ).

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 17th day of May, 1972.

JOSEPH BRENNAN,

Minister for Labour.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These regulations make provision for the storage, care, issue, transport and use of explosives in mines. They regulate the duties of mine Managers and other persons involved in blasting operations and in firing explosives. They prescribe the type of equipment to be used and the safety measures to be adopted in using this equipment.