A. Misfires shall be reported promptly to the mine foreman and no other work shall be performed in the blasting area until the hazard has been corrected. A waiting period of at least fifteen minutes shall elapse before anyone returns to the misfired holes. If explosives are suspected of burning in a hole, all persons affected shall move to a safe location for the longer of one hour or until the danger has passed. When such failure involves electronic detonators, the blasting cable shall be disconnected from the source of power and the battery ends short-circuited before electric connections are examined.

B. Explosives shall be removed by firing a separate charge at least two feet away from, and parallel to, the misfired charge or by washing the stemming and the charge from the borehole with water, or by inserting and firing a new primer after the stemming has been washed out.

C. A very careful search of the blasting area, and if necessary, of the coal after it reaches the tipple shall be made after blasting a misfired hole to recover any undetonated explosive.

D. The handling of a misfired shot shall be under the direct supervision of the foreman or an authorized person designated by him.

History

Code 1950, § 45-53.7; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, § 45.1-50; 1994, c. 28; 1999, c. 256.