Storage and Use of Explosives PDF

STORAGE AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES CHAPTER X The Railway Administration shall prescribe the type and quantity of explosives STORAGE AND USE OF to be kep...

STORAGE AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES CHAPTER X The Railway Administration shall prescribe the type and quantity of explosives STORAGE AND USE OF to be kept with inspectors for removing EXPLOSIVES boulders falling on running lines. The Administration shall also prescribe the locations for stocking these explosives 1001 General magazines in the sub-division. Reference may be made to the following for detailed provisions: Blasting works may be carried out departmentally or by contract; in either case a) Indian Explosive Act 1884 it should be ensured that competent qualified staff are engaged and safe working practices b) BIS Codes are employed. If the work is done through contract, the Contractor shall be in possession IS: 4081-1986 :Safety code for blasting and of a license to purchase, store and use related drilling operations. explosives. Blasting operation can be carried out only through persons(Blasting Mates) who IS: 4756-1978 : Safety code for tunnelling work. are authorised by the appropriate Department. c) Other rules and special instructions For major works, the Railway issued by Railway Administration or by Administration will draw up special instructions State Government from time to time. which should cover every aspect of each operation and be illustrated with sketches 1002 Issue of Instructions on Use of where necessary; the instructions should Explosives include:- Explosives are used in the following (i) Duties of Blasting Mates and other staff. cases:- (ii) Description of materials used for a) for clearing boulders which fall on the blasting, such as explosives, railway line, as in ghat sections; detonators, safety-fuses, blasting cables, joint adapters, fuse lighters, exploders b) for quarrying rock; and crimpers. c) for widening rock cuttings; (iii) Collection and transport of materials. d) for deepening wells; (iv) Testing of materials used for blasting. e) for cuttings in rock, (v) Procedure and methods of boring and charging of holes and blasting for each f) excavation of foundations in rock; and type of explosive. g) construction of tunnels. (vi) Imposition and removal of traffic and/or 218  STORAGE AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES power blocks. c) The Assistant Engineers and Section Engineer (Works) within whose jurisdiction (vii) Safety-distances. magazines are situated, should make a special mention of these in their handing over (viii) Protection of track and structures during notes and ensure that their relievers blasting operations. understand the orders relating to these magazines. Mention should also be made in (ix) Precautions before, during and after the handing over notes of any modifications blasting. which may have been suggested by the Inspector of Explosives or District Magistrate (x) Danger and all clear signals before and on his last inspection and whether these have after a blasting operation. been carried out. (xi) Submission of periodical progress 1004 Carriage of Explosives reports. Assistant Engineers and Inspectors (xii) Custody and storage of explosives in should make themselves acquainted with the magazines and their accountal. instructions contained in the I.R.C.A. Red Tariff No.16 "Rules and rates for the conveyance 1003 Observance of Rules by rail of explosives and other dangerous goods". If carried by a road vehicle, the vehicle a) Possession of explosives shall be should have the necessary licence issued for covered by a license as required by the the purpose. extant Explosive Rules. 1005 Protection to Trains and Railway b) The Divisional/Dy. Chief Engineer, Property Assistant Engineer and the Section Engineer (Works) shall be responsible to ensure that a) In vicinity of railway line. Blasting rules issued by the Government and the operations within 100 metres of a running line Administration in regard to the storage and should normally be carried out under block use of explosives on works are strictly obeyed. protection. Tracks within 60 metres of the rock The Inspector of Explosives and the District to be blasted should be protected by covering Magistrate have powers to inspect all with old sleepers which should be removed magazines. All staff should willingly assist in after the blasting is over and before removal such inspections. of the block. The Divisional/Dy. Chief Engineer and When the blasting operation is carried Assistant Engineer should, by frequent check, out without imposition of the block, the personally satisfy themselves that all staff Permanent Way Inspector shall ensure handling explosives are in possession of and protection to trains in such a case, no blasting understand the rules and any subsequent should be done within half-an-hour of the time modifications thereto. when any train is expected to pass. 219  STORAGE AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES b) In vicinity of buildings.- When any e) To ensure that no one interferes in his blasting operation is carried out within 100 absence with any explosive, detonators or metres of a building, the Works Inspector shall caps already drawn by him from the magazine; be present to ensure that special precautions, as may be prescribed by the Divisional/ f) To see that neither himself nor any Dy.Chief Engineer or the Assistant Engineer person within 10 metres of himself smokes or as stipulated by the licensing authority, are while he is conveying, handling or using taken and that the necessary warning is given explosives; to the inhabitants. g) To see that bore holes are of such a 1006 Precautions to be Observed size that cartridges can easily pass down During Blasting them; that bore holes are clear of all debris before a cartridge is inserted, that charging is The Blasting Mate shall be responsible:- done by himself and the position of the charged holes are noted carefully. a) To see that when blasting is conducted in the neighbourhood of a public or private road h) To drop several centimetres of tamping or building, or of any place where there may of sand or clay on top of the primer cartridge be people who would be endangered, before beginning to stem or press and that experienced Watchmen are sent, with red this tamping is gently pressed down on top of flags, to stop traffic or warn persons. These the primer without the use of force; Watchmen would be warned from the workspot, of the commencement and Note:- The primer-cartridge is the cessation of blasting operations: cartridge in which the detonator or cap and fuse are attached and is usually fixed as the b) To see that, before blasting last cartridge of the charge. commences, all persons except those who are actually to light the fuses, are warned by the j)To see that the safety fuses of the repeated striking of an empty tin or blowing of charged holes are lighted in his presence and a siren and are at a distance of not less than have properly ignited; 150 metres and that, in special cases, suitable extra precautions are taken; j)To compare the number of shots actually heard with shots intended to be fired and to c) To see that, in order to avoid damage carefully inspect the work after blast and to structures (such as girder bridges and satisfy himself that all holes have exploded telegraph wires) which may be in close and the broken rock does not contain any proximity to the blasting spot, only shallow unexploded cartridge or pieces of cartridges; bore-holes are drilled and light charge used or vary the angle of bores to control the blast; k) to take precautions as given below in cases of mis-fires d) To select and instruct carriers of the explosives, detonators and safety fuse after (i) if a charge has apparently missed fire, they have been drawn from the magazine; to immediately warn all present and see 220  STORAGE AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES that no person is allowed to go near it for he will immediately prevent any one from an hour, approaching the site whose presence is not absolutely essential. He will re-examine the (ii) if a charge misses fire, to examine the connections, check the wiring or re-wire as hole and mark a red cross over he thinks fit and will try again to fire the charge it, by electrical means. (iii) to see that a shot that has missed fire is b) Should he be unable to fire the not bored or picked out; that no further unexploded charge(s) by electrical means, he charge is introduced into the hole ; will then comply with paras 82-84 of the above Regulations, which are reproduced below, (iv) to determine the direction of the hole for using the means considered the most which purpose a few centimetres suitable:- (inches) of tamping may, if necessary, be picked out and a stick placed in the "82. No person shall bore out a hole that mis-fired hole and to drill, after 60 has once been charged or attempt to withdraw minutes have passed, a fresh hole near a charge either before firing or after a misfire the charge which has missed fire and or deepen or tamper with empty holes or that this is done at a safe distance from sockets left after blasting. the former hole and in such position and direction that the boring tool cannot come "83. When a misfire occurs, a portion of in contact with the explosive which has the tamping may be sludged out with missed fire. The Blasting Mate must not compressed air or water under pressure, but leave the spot on any account no kind of metal tool shall be used for this whatsoever until the second hole (which purpose. The hole shall thereafter be reprimed should explode the old charge) has been and fired. fired. He must carefully examine the result and continue the operation, if "84. No person shall drill or cause or necessary, until the original charge has permit to be drilled any hole within 300 mm of exploded. a misfired hole, and care shall be taken to drill the new hole in such a direction that there l) to make sure that there is only one is no danger of touching the unexploded key to the exploder and that this is in his pocket charge. The new holes shall be bored in the when he has to leave the exploder. This is presence of an authorised shot-firer and he necessary for his own protection. shall be present during operation undertaken for the removal of debris lying within 2 metres 1007 Misfires with Electrical Method of the misfired hole. A careful search amongst of Firing the debris shall be made for cartridges and detonators, if any. a) If after complying with para 21 of the Indian Metalliferous Mines Regulations, the c) Since with the electrical method of Official in-charge of the blasting operations at firing, it is possible for one shot to explode a site ascertains that a misfire has occurred, and blast out the rock in which an adjacent 221  STORAGE AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES charge has been placed but which has not train and fire this from one end by means exploded, the Official-in-charge is responsible, of a piece of safety fuse, but if more than at the end of each blast, for examining the one train is laid, care should be taken to working face minutely to detect whether any lay the second at such a distance from charges have misfired in this manner. If he the other as to run no risk of one being considers that this may have been possible, fired by the heated ground of another. a careful search must be made in the debris for the unexploded detonator. b) Dynamite and other similar explosives - Not more than 2.5 Kg. of the explosive 1008 Explosives Disposal should be destroyed at a time. A clear space of ground, free from dry grass, a) No explosive shall be abandoned. about 100 square metres should be These shall be disposed off or destroyed selected at least 800 metres away from strictly in accordance with the approved buildings and dwelling places. A line of methods and in doing so the manufacturers shavings or dry grass, about 450 mm or the appropriate authority shall be consulted. wide and at least 100 mm thick, should b) Explosives, caps, boxes liners or then be laid down. The direction of the material used in packing of explosives shall line should be at an angle of about not be left lying around in places to which 45 degrees to the direction of the wind. children or unauthorised persons or livestock The work should not be undertaken on a can have access. day when the wind would be strong enough to disturb or blow away the c) Paper or fibrous material employed in shavings. This line of shavings or dry packing explosives shall not be put to any grass should then be adequately subsequent use. Such material shall be sprinkled with kerosene oil to ensure its destroyed by burning in the presence of a burning continuously. The cartridges with responsible person. the wrappers opened and unrolled should then be placed in a continuous line not 1009 Destruction of Explosives more than 2 abreast with an interval of 25 mm between each line of cartridges The destruction of explosives should, in and with the cartridge wrappers or other all cases, be supervised by the Assistant paper lightly placed below them. The Engineer. cartridges should be placed at about 6 metres from the weather end of the line When destroying explosives, the of shavings, at the extreme weather end following instructions should be strictly of which will be placed an adequate length adhered to:- of safety fuse. To ensure the ignition of the shavings, it may be found necessary a) Black powder- Black powder should be to place a small quantity of cotton waste thrown into water, preferably hot water, soaked in petrol adjacent to the end of which dissolves out the saltpetre and the safety fuse and on the shavings. The renders the explosive harmless. An safety fuse should then be lighted and alternative method is to lay it out in a the operator should retire quickly to a 222  STORAGE AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES safe distance when after a short time the them thoroughly in light mineral oil for dynamite will burn steadily without 48 hours and then destroy them by exploding. throwing them one at a time into a fire with due precautions. c) Detonators -Surplus detonators should be disposed of by throwing them, one at d) Safety fuse - Safety fuse should be a time, into a deep pool of a river or the destroyed by burning in lengths in the sea. An alternative method is to soak open. HHHHHHH 223