CODE OF VIRGINIA

MISFIRES (§ 45.1-161.131)

A. Where misfires occur with electric detonators, a waiting period of at least
fifteen minutes shall elapse before a miner shall be allowed to return to the
shot area. After such failure, 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 working place, and, if necessary, of the coal
shall be conducted after the coal reaches the tipple after blasting a misfired
hole to recover any undetonated explosive.

D. The handling of a misfired shot shall be directly supervised by the mine
foreman or a certified person designated by him.

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