Storage and Use of Explosives in Railways

Storage and Use of Explosives

• General: The "Indian Explosive Act 1884", "BIS Codes", and Railway Administration/State Government instructions provide guidance on explosive use.
• Explosives Use: Explosives are used for various purposes on railways, including clearing boulders, quarrying, widening cuttings, deepening wells, rock cuttings, excavating foundations, and tunnel construction.
• Instructions on Use: Detailed instructions are mandatory for major works and should cover:
  • Duties of Blasting Mates and other staff.
  • Description of materials used (e.g. explosives, detonators, safety-fuses, blasting cables, joint adapters, fuse lighters, exploders, and crimpers).
  • Collection and transport of materials.
  • Testing of materials used for blasting.
  • Procedure and methods of boring, charging holes, and blasting.
  • Imposition and removal of traffic blocks.
  • Safety distances.
  • Protection of track and structures during blasting.
  • Precautions before, during, and after blasting.
  • Danger and all clear signals.
  • Periodical progress reports.
  • Custody and storage of explosives in magazines and their accountal.
• Observance of Rules:
  • Explosive Possession: A license is required by the Explosive Rules.
  • Responsibility: Divisional/Dy.Chief Engineer, Assistant Engineer, and Section Engineer (Works) ensure adherence to government and administration rules regarding explosive storage and use.
  • Inspections: The Inspector of Explosives and District Magistrate have inspection powers over all magazines.
  • Staff Awareness: Frequent checks ensure staff handling explosives understand the rules and modifications.
• Carriage of Explosives: The "I.R.C.A. Red Tariff No.16" outlines how explosive transport by rail must be done. Explosives transported by road must have a vehicle license.
• Protection to Trains and Railway Property:
  • Blasting Near Railway Line: Blasting operations within 100 meters of a running line should typically be carried out under block protection. Tracks within 60 meters of blast sites are protected using old sleepers. The Permanent Way Inspector ensures train protection when blasting without a block.
  • Misfired Charges: An Official in-charge is responsible for examining the blast site for misfired charges.
  • Search for Unexploded Detonators: A careful search for unexploded detonators is crucial within debris.
• Misfires with Electrical Firing:
  • Multiple Trains: If more than one train is laid with electrical firing, lay them at a distance to prevent unintentional detonation from heat.
• Explosives Disposal:
  • No Abandonment: Explosives should not be abandoned and are disposed of or destroyed according to approved methods. Manufacturers or the appropriate authority provide guidance.
  • Safe Handling: Explosives, caps, boxes, liners, or packing material should not be left in areas accessible to children, unauthorized persons, or livestock.
• Paper Material Disposal: Paper or fibrous material used in explosive packing should be destroyed by burning under the supervision of a responsible person.
• Destruction of Explosives:
  • Supervision: Assistant Engineer supervision is mandatory for all explosive destruction.
  • Black Powder: Black powder is dissolved in water, preferably hot, to safely dispose of it.
  • Dynamite and Similar Explosives: No more than 2.5 kg of explosives should be destroyed at a time. Destroy in a designated area at least 800 meters from buildings and dwellings.
  • Destruction Method: A line of shavings or dry grass is laid, sprinkled with kerosene oil, and ignited using a safety fuse. Cartridges are placed in a continuous line, spaced from the shavings line, to ensure complete destruction.

Handling Explosives

• Explosives must be handled with extreme care: Possession and use of explosives requires licensing and strict adherence to rules and regulations.
• Responsibility for implementing safe practices: The Divisional/Dy.Chief Engineer, Assistant Engineer, and Section Engineer are responsible for ensuring that all staff working with explosives understand and follow the relevant rules and regulations.
• Inspectors have authority: The Inspector of Explosives and the District Magistrate have the authority to inspect all magazines (storage facilities for explosives).
• Frequent checks on staff knowledge: Frequent checks must be conducted to ensure that all staff understand the rules and regulations governing explosives.

Blasting Operations

• Safety for trains: All blasting operations within 100 meters of a running railway line should be performed under block protection. Tracks within 60 meters of the blasting area should be protected with old sleepers.
• Timing for blasting: When blasting is conducted without block protection, no blasting should be done within 30 minutes of a train's expected arrival time.
• Warning system: Before blasting commences, all personnel except those responsible for lighting the fuses must be warned by a signal (e.g., striking an empty tin or blowing a siren) and must stay at least 150 meters away.
• Protection of structures: Shallow boreholes and light charges should be used when blasting near structures, such as bridges and telegraph wires. The angle of boreholes can be adjusted to control the blast.
• Blasting mate responsibilities: The Blasting Mate is responsible for:
  • Lighting fuses in the presence of other authorized personnel.
  • Ensuring the number of shots fired matches the planned amount.
  • Inspecting the work after blasting to ensure all holes have exploded and no unexploded cartridges remain.

Misfires:

-Safe distance: If a misfire is suspected, everyone must be warned and prevented from approaching the site. -Re-examination and re-wiring: The Blasting Mate should re-examine connections, check wiring, and re-wire if necessary. -Alternative firing: If the charge can’t be fired by electrical means, specific procedures for handling misfires outlined in paragraphs 82-84 of relevant regulations should be followed. -No manipulation: No person should attempt to bore out, withdraw, or tamper with a misfired hole or nearby holes. -Re-priming and firing: Tamping can be sludged out with compressed air or water but only under pressure.. The misfired hole should be re-primed and fired. -Drilling new holes: New holes should be drilled a minimum of 300mm (12 inches) away from the misfired hole, ensuring no contact with the remaining explosive. -Debris removal: Authorized shot-firers should supervise the removal of debris located within 2 meters of the misfired hole. -Careful search: Debris should be carefully searched for unexploded detonators and cartridges. -Adjacent charges: If a blast explodes a nearby charge that had not detonated, the blasting team must inspect the area to ensure no other charges have misfired.

Explosives Disposal

• No abandonment: Explosives must never be abandoned.
• Disposal methods: Explosives must be disposed of or destroyed according to approved methods. Manufacturers or relevant authorities should be consulted for guidance.
• Safe handling: Explosive components, including boxes, liners, and packing materials, should not be left in areas accessible to children, unauthorized personnel, or livestock.
• Disposal of packing materials: Paper or fibrous material used in packing explosives should not be reused and must be destroyed by burning in the presence of a responsible person.

Destruction of Explosives

• Assistant Engineer supervision: The destruction of explosives should always be supervised by the Assistant Engineer.
• Black powder destruction: Black powder should be thrown into water, preferably hot water, to dissolve the saltpetre and render the explosive harmless.
• Destruction of dynamite: Destruction of dynamite and similar explosives should be carried out in a designated area at least 800 meters away from buildings and dwelling places. No more than 2.5 kg of explosives should be destroyed at a time.
• Destructive procedure: A line of shavings or dry grass should be laid out at an angle to the wind. Kerosene oil should be used to create a continuous line of fire. Cartridges should be placed in a line spaced 25mm apart, with the wrappers removed and placed underneath. Cartridges should be placed approximately 6 meters from the line of flammable material, which will be ignited by a safety fuse.

This quiz covers important guidelines and instructions regarding the storage and use of explosives as per the Indian Explosive Act 1884 and related regulations. It includes details on the roles of staff, materials used, collection transport, safety measures, and procedures for blasting in railway operations.