DOC.

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Safety Standard DIVISION

SS/MIN-01
TITLE
1 of 4

COMP
BY
AUTH
BY

A K S Solanki

SIGNED

N K Gupta

SIGNED

West Bokaro
Drilling and
blasting of deep
Holes.

EFF DATE
REVISION
DUE FOR
REVISION
DATE

25.08.2007
00
25.08.2010

DATE

06.08.2207

05.08.2007

1.0 Purpose: To ensure drilling and blasting of deep Holes

2.0 References: CMR 1957, Mines Act, DGMS circulars.
3.0 Associated hazards: explosion of old unexploded charges, damage of drill
machine, damage to man and machinery.
4.0 Applicability: All opencast mines of Tata Steel
5.0 Responsibility: Working departments, contractors, consultants
6.0 Procedure:
6.1 Definitions:
6.1.1

Overman: Overman means a person possessing a Managers or Overmans

Certificate, who is appointed by the manager in writing, under any
designated whatsoever, to perform the duties of supervision of control in a
mine or part thereof, and is as such superior to a sirdar.

6.1.2

Shot firer: A person appointed by mine manager for firing shot holes. He
must have required shot firers certificate.

6.1.3

Butts: remaining portion of old deep holes after blasting.

6.1.4

Explosives: A chemical compound or mixture of compounds which gives

tremendous amount of shock and gas energy within short period of time
after its initiation.

6.1.5

Magazine: A building in accordance with design approved by Chief

Controller of Explosive for the purpose of storage of explosive.

6.1.6

Stemming: Filling of remaining portion of charged holes with drill cuttings

or other suitable materials.

6.1.7

Detonators: This is aluminum or copper tube consisting high explosive at

one end and open at other for inserting detonating fuse or electric wire or
any other initiating device.

DOC.
DOC #
SHEET

Safety Standard DIVISION

TITLE
2 of 4

COMP
BY
AUTH
BY

A K S Solanki

SIGNED

N K Gupta

SIGNED

West Bokaro
Drilling
and
blasting of deep
Holes.

EFF DATE 25.09.2007

REVISION 0
DUE FOR
REVISION
DATE
05.08.2007
DATE

06.08.2207

6.2 Precautions while drilling:

6.2.1 The position of every deep-hole to be drilled shall be distinctly marked by
the overman so as to be readily seen by the drillers.
A. No drilling shall be commenced in an area, where shots have been fired,
until the blaster has made a thorough examination at all places, including
remaining butts of old deep-holes, for unexploded charges that the drill
may strike.
B. No drill or bore rod or pick shall be inserted in butts of old deep-holes
Even if above examination has failed to reveal presence of explosive.
6.2.2 Not more than one hole shall be in the process of being charged at any one
face at any one time.
6.2.3 Drilling and charging of deep-holes shall not be carried out in the same area
at the same time. Moreover drilling operations shall not be carried on
simultaneously on two benches, at places directly one above the other.
6.3 Duties of Drill operator:
6.3.1 At the beginning of his shift, the drill operator shall examine the drilling
equipment and satisfy himself that.
1. Crown blocks are mounted securely.
2. Where compressed air drills are used, all hose connections are in order;
and
3. The drilling equipment is in safe working condition.
6.3.2 The drill operator shall ensure that:
1. Work persons keep clear of drill bit and drill stem while the drill is in
motion.
2. Work persons do not work under suspended tools, when tools are
removed from the hole, these shall be lowered on the platform
3. All finished drill holes are properly plugged so as to avoid possible legInjuries to any one accidentally stepping into the hole.

DOC.
DOC #
SHEET

Safety Standard DIVISION

TITLE
3 of 4

COMP
BY
AUTH
BY

A K S Solanki

SIGNED

N K Gupta

SIGNED

West Bokaro
Drilling
and
blasting of deep
Holes.

EFF DATE 25.09.2007

REVISION 0
DUE FOR
REVISION
DATE
05.08.2007
DATE

06.08.2207

6.4 Transport of explosive:

6.4.1 Transport of explosives from the magazine to the priming station or the site
of blasting shall not be done except in daylight, and in the original wooden
packing cases. The quantity of explosives, transported at one time to the site
of blasting, shall not exceed the actual quantity required for use in one round
of shots. The explosives shall be transported to the site of blasting not more
than 30 minutes before the commencement of charging of the holes.
6.4.2 Explosives shall be transported from the magazine to the priming station or
the site of blasting in a explosive van of approved type.
6.4.3 Bulk explosives shall be transported by the explosive suppliers at the site in
their explosives van of approved type.
6.4.4 The shotfiring officer, and every person employed in the priming station,
shall take all due precautions for preventing the unauthorized persons from
having access to the priming station.
6.5 Charging of deep holes:
6.5.1 Not more than one hole shall be in the process of being charged at any one
face at any one time.
6.5.2 All charging, stemming, and connecting up shall be done while standing on
the solid, that is to say, on the side of holes remote from the quarry face
6.5.3 No person, other than the blaster and his assistant, if any, shall be permitted
to remain within a radius of 20 m or within 30 m on the same bench, where
charging of holes with explosives is being carried out
6.6 Precautions During firing:
6.6.1 Shots shall not be fired except during the hours of daylight. All holes
charged ,On any one day, shall be fired on the same day.
6.6.2 The danger zone shall be distinctly demarcated (by means of red flags
properly arranged and supported) at least 30 minutes before the firing of
holes is to commence.
6.6.3 Ten minutes before firing, a siren, installed for the purpose, shall be blown
three times for one minute each at intervals of one minute, and no shots shall
be fired unless the blasting overman, with the assistance of sufficient number
of persons has ensured that all persons have left the danger zone, or have
taken adequate shelter.

DOC.
DOC #
SHEET

Safety Standard DIVISION

TITLE
4 of 4

COMP
BY
AUTH
BY

A K S Solanki

SIGNED

N K Gupta

SIGNED

West Bokaro
Drilling
and
blasting of deep
Holes.

EFF DATE 25.09.2007

REVISION 0
DUE FOR
REVISION
DATE
05.08.2007
DATE

06.08.2207

6.6.4

No shot shall be fired when there is traffic on any road or railway track
within the danger zone.
6.6.5 The preparation of charges and the charging and stemming of shot holes
shall be carried out under the personal supervision of an overman, who
shall fire the shots himself.
6.7 Precautions against Electrical Storm:
6.7.1 No explosives, particularly detonators, shall be handled.
6.7.2 If charging operations have begun, the work shall be discontinued until the
storm has passed
6.7.3 If the blast is to be fired electrically, all exposed wires shall be coiled up,
and if possible, placed in the mouth of the holes, or kept covered by
something other than a metal plate.
6.7.4 All wires shall be removed from contact with the steel rails of a haulage
track, so as to prevent the charge being exploded prematurely by a local
strike of the lightning.