WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

49.24.220 - Explosives, use of -- Blasting.

Explosives, use of — Blasting.

(1) No greater quantity of explosives than that which is required for immediate use shall be taken into the working chamber.

     (2) Explosives shall be conveyed in a suitable covered wooden box.

     (3) Detonators shall be conveyed in a separate covered wooden box.

     (4) Explosives and detonators shall be taken separately into the caissons.

     (5) After blasting is completed, all explosives and detonators shall be returned at once to the magazine.

     (6) No naked light shall be used in the vicinity of open chests or magazines containing explosives, nor near where a charge is being primed.

     (7) No tools or other articles shall be carried with the explosives or with the detonators.

     (8) All power lines and electric light wires shall be disconnected at a point outside the blasting switch before the loading of holes. No current by grounding of power or bonded rails shall be allowed beyond blasting switch after explosives are taken in preparatory to blasting, and under no circumstances shall grounded current be used for exploding blasts.

     (9) Before drilling is commenced on any shift, all remaining holes shall be examined with a wooden stick for unexploded charges or cartridges, and if any are found, same shall be refired before work proceeds.

     (10) No person shall be allowed to deepen holes that have previously contained explosives.

     (11) All wires in broken rock shall be carefully traced and search made for unexploded cartridges.

     (12) Whenever blasting is being done in a tunnel, at points liable to break through to where other persons are at work, the person in charge shall, before any holes are loaded, give warning of danger to all persons that may be working where the blasts may break through, and he or she shall not allow any holes to be charged until warning is acknowledged and persons are removed.

     (13) Blasters when testing circuit through charged holes shall use sufficient leading wires to be at a safe distance and shall use only approved types of galvanometers. No tests of circuits in charged holes shall be made until persons are removed to safe distance.

     (14) No blasts shall be fired with fuse, except electrically ignited fuse, in vertical or steep shafts.

     (15) In shaft sinking where the electric current is used for firing, a separate switch not controlling any electric lights must be used for blasting and proper safeguard similar to those in tunnels must be followed in order to insure against premature firing.