(1)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL PROCEDURE

Storage of Explosives
Possession in Licensed Premises
1) A person holding licence for possession of explosives granted under these rules shall
store the explosives only in premises specified in the licence.
2) The licensed magazine or store house shall be kept securely closed or locked at all times
except when goods are being placed in or taken from it or when it must be kept open for
some other purpose in connection with the management of such premises.
3) The keys of the licensed magazine shall at all times be kept secured in licensees own
custody or of his authorized agent and shall be produced for opening the magazine or
store house whenever so required by an inspecting officer.
4) The name and address of the person along with passport size photograph with whom the
keys will be kept shall be furnished to the licensing authority and the Controller having
jurisdiction.
Stacking of packages
Packages shall be stacked in magazine or store house in such a manner so as to facilitate
inspection of the condition of all packages stored and to read the marking particulars of each
package and in the manner provided under Schedule VII.
Safe handling of Explosives
1) Only such minimum number of authorized person shall be allowed to remain at the site as
are required during handling of explosive / charging. All such person shall wear personal
protective equipments.
2) Explosives shall be loaded into / unloaded from the van, only in the form packed boxes
which are supplied by the manufacturer.
3) Smoking naked light or open flames shall not be allowed within 300 metres of the area
where charging of explosive is being carried on.
4) Primer explosive cartridge shall not be slit or deformed.
5) The cases of explosives shall not be thrown to avoid any sudden impact.

6) The cases of explosives shall not be open unless the holes are ready for charging in all
aspect.
7) As soon as possible after the transport of explosives to the site, explosives are to be
charged and blasted.
8) Explosives and detonators shall not be transported in the same vehicle, at the same time.
9) Explosives shall be delivered / charged first into the hole farthest from the priming
station.
10) All operation connected with charging, stemming and making connections shall be done
while standing on the solid ground.
11) The cartridges of explosive shall be lowered carefully into the shot holes, so as to avoid
sticking of cartridges into the shot holes thereby causing air space in the explosive
column.
12) The operation of mixing of the site mixed slurry / emulsion, and its loading, charging etc.
shall be carried out under the guidance of the technical service engineer of the explosive
manufacturer(s).
13) (a) The pump truck carrying premix / constituents shall be approved by the Chief
Controller of Explosives and shall be kept maintained in safe operating condition. It shall
be driven by a competent and licensed driver.
(b) The pump truck shall be kept in isolated location while loaded.
(c ) No smoking and no open flame shall be allowed within a radius of 60 metres of the
pump truck.
(d) The area surrounding the truck, not less than 10 metres in all direction, shall be kept
free of rubbish, dry grass or other materials of combustible nature.
(e) Due care shall be taken to ensure that the explosive is pumped into properly drilled
holes and that there is no spillage of explosive.
14) Charging of explosive shall be done in such a manner as to ensure continuity of the
explosive column in each shot hole. Where deck charging is done, continuity shall be
ensured for each deck of the explosive charge.
15) The hose used for loading the SMS / SME explosives shall have antistatic properties and
shall have a diameter less than the critical diameter for that particular explosive so that
the mixture remains non explosive while loading.
16) The pump truck shall also be properly earthed with chain link while loading.
17) The charging and firing of holes shall be carried out in day light hours only.
18) The area of the loaded holes shall be conspicuously marked and all entrances to the area
shall be effectively cordoned off to prevent inadvertent and unauthorized entry.

19) Proper record of the quantity/ratio of each ingredient in the mixture, density of the
mixture, quantity of explosive charged in each shot hole, and the quantity of charge in
each round of blast, giving therein the place of firing, type of strata, fragmentation
obtained distance of the fly rock, ground vibration and the quantity of overburden / ore
broken, shall be kept maintained in respect of every blast. The record shall be signed by
a competent person possessing managers certificate, appointed for the purpose as a
Blasting Officer and the technical services engineer of the manufacturer(s) supervising
the operations and shall be countersigned by the manager of the mine.
20) Adequate amount of cast booster / cap sensitive explosive shall be used with the non cap
sensitive explosive charged to ensure complete detonation of explosive charge.
21) It shall be ensured that water in the holes dose not mix up with the SMS / SME explosive
being charged.
22) Unused explosives shall be returned to the magazine.
SAFE BLASTING
1) Operation connected with charging blasting stemming and blasting of deep holes shall be
placed under overall charge of an Assistant Manager holding at least a second class
managers certificate of competency granted under MMR, 1961, who shall supervise the
said operations in accordance with the guidelines and directives issued by the Manager.
2) While on duty Blasting Incharge / Supervisor and his crew shall wear personal protective
equipments.
3) Not withstanding anything contained in the MMR, 1961, preparation of charges, charging
stemming of holes shall be carried out under the personal supervision of a mine foreman.
4) A proper record of every blast showing blasting parameters like hole size, spacing burden
depth of holes numbers of holes fired in the round charge / hole charge / delay and total
charge of explosives fired in the round with a rough sketch showing the drilling and
firing pattern shall be kept maintained in a bound paged book kept for the purpose.
5) General precaution and rules regarding handling of explosives shall be observed by the
blasting crew. Only such minimum number of person shall be allowed to remain at the
charging site as required during charging operations and blasting of shot holes.
6) Shots shall not be fired except during the hours of the day light.
7) Shots shall not be fired in crushed broken or fractured zone.
8) As far as practicable deep hole shall be fire either between the shifts or during the rest
interval or at the end of work for the day.
9) The danger zone shall be distinctly demarcated (by means of red flags or other suitable
means) at least 30 minutes before firing of holes.

10) Proper and distinct warning by a siren installed for the purpose shall be given within the
danger zone, at least 10 minutes before the holes are fired.
11) Before the holes are charged stemmed and fired the blasting incharge / supervisor with
assistance of his assistants appointed in sufficient number in writing by manager shall
ensure that all persons have either left the danger zone or have taken adequate shelter.
12) In case part of a public road lines within the danger zone, guards shall be posted on either
end of the road falling within the danger zone, and traffic shall be stopped before shots
are fired. In the event of any railway line lying within the danger zone no shots shall be
fired when there is traffic on railway track.
13) During lighting charging / blasting operations shall be discontinued and detonating fuse
shall be covered with something other than metal plate till the storm has passed.
14) It shall be ensured that shovels, drills, kiosks etc., are shifted to a safe place to avoid
damage on account of blasting.
15) After shots have been fired, no person shall enter or be allowed to enter the place, until
30 minutes after firing the shots. Before allowing any person to enter the area, the
blasting incharge shall make sure that area is free from dust, smoke or fumes.
16) In case of misfire, precautions as laid down in MMR 1961, shall be followed.
17) Unused explosives shall be returned to the magazine.
CHARGING DEEP HOLES
1) General precautions and rules regarding handling of explosives shall be observed by the
blasting crew. Only such minimum number of person shall be allowed to remain at the
charging site as are required during charging operations and firing of shot holes.
2) The entire area where charging of explosives is to be done shall be demarcated by
suitable flags and effectively guarded to prevent unauthorized entry of persons or plying
of other vehicles and shall be kept free from dry vegetation and other combustible
material.
3) Smoking naked light or open flames shall not be allowed within 300 m of the area where
charging of explosives is being carried on.
4) The holes shall be charged (and fired) as soon as possible after the explosive is
transported to the site of blasting. All normal precautions for charging (and firing) as laid
down in the Metalliferous Mines Regulations, 1961 shall be strictly observed.
5) Explosive cartridges shall not be slit or deformed.

Adequate amount of cap sensitive

explosive shall be used with non cap sensitive explosive charge to ensure complete
detonation of the explosive charge.

6) Explosives shall be delivered / charged first into the hole farthest from the Priming
Station/
7) Not more than one hole shall be in process of being charged on any face at any point of
time.
8) All operations connected with charging, stemming and making connections shall be done
while standing on the solid ground.
9) The cartridges of explosives shall be lowered carefully into the shot holes, so as to avoid
sticking of cartridges in the shot holes, thereby causing air space(s) in the explosive
column.

After charging such hole with explosives, the length of the uncharged /

remaining portion of the hole shall be measured to confirm that the cartridges are in close
contact with each other and there is no air gap between the explosives column. In case,
the length of uncharged portion of the hole is not as per calculation, thereby indicating
the presence of air space, attempt may be made to push down the charge in case of slurry
explosives only. The remaining hole shall be stemmed with moist sand before blasting
the shot holes.
10) Explosive charge shall not be allowed to sleep over in holes unless express permission in
writing to the effect is obtained.

PRECAUTIONS DURING BLASTING / FIRING

1) Shots shall not be fired except during the hours of day light. All holes charges on any one
day shall be fired on the same day.
2) Shorts shall not be fired in crushed broken or fractured ground.
3) As far as practicable deep holes shall be fired either between the shifts, or during the rest
interval or at the end of work for the day.
4) The danger zone shall be distinctly demarcated (be means of red flags or other suitable
means) at lease 30 minutes before firing of holes.
5) Proper distinct warning by a siren installed for the purpose shall be given within the
danger zone, at least 10 minutes before the holes are fired.
6) Before the holes are charged, stemmed and fired, the shortfirer / blasting foreman, with
assistance of his assistants, appointed in sufficient number in writing by the manager,
shall ensure that all the persons have either left the danger zone, or have taken adequate
shelter.
7) In case part of a public road lies within the danger zone, guards shall be posted on either
end of the road failing within the danger zone, and traffic shall be stopped before shots
are fired. In the event of any railway line lying within the danger zone, no shot shall be
fired when there is traffic on the railway track.
8) During approach of an electric storm, following precautions shall be taken
a) No explosives particularly detonators shall be handled.
b) If charging operations have begun, work shall be discontinued till the storm has
passed.
c) If shots are being fired electrically, all exposed wires shall be coiled up and kept
covered by something other than a metal plate.
d) All wires shall be removed from contract with metallic plates / steel rails so as to
prevent the charge from exploding prematurely by a local strike of the lightning.
9) After shots have been fired, no person shall enter or be allowed to enter the place until 30
minutes after firing of the shots. Before allowing any person to enter the area the Asstt /
Under Manager In-charge of the blasting operations shall make sure that the area is free
from dust smoke or fumes

10) In case of misfires, precautions as laid down in Regulation 167 of Metalliferous Mines
Regulations, 1961 shall be taken.