Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 55 - PUBLIC SAFETY
Part I - State Police
Chapter 15 - Explosives Code
Subchapter A - General
Section I-1533 - Loading of Explosives in Blast Holes

A. All drill holes shall be sufficiently large to admit freely the insertion of the cartridges of explosives.

B. Tamping shall be done only with wood rods without exposed metal parts. Nonsparking metal connectors may be used for jointed poles. Plastic tamping poles may be used provided they have been approved by the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Public Safety Services. Violent tamping shall be avoided.

C. No hole shall be loaded except those to be fired in the next round of blasting. Seismographic operations shall follow this procedure wherever possible for maximum safety, but where practicality will not permit or where a seismic charge is anchored in the bottom of the hole, they are excepted from the provisions of this Subsection.

D. Drilling shall not be started until all remaining butts of old holes are examined for unexploded charges, and if any are found, they shall be refired by or under the direction of a competent and experienced person before work proceeds.

E. No person shall be allowed to deepen drill holes which have contained explosives.

F. After loading for a blast is completed, all excess detonators and other explosives shall immediately be returned to their separate storage magazines unless they are promptly removed to another job site in accordance with transportation and storage rules provided herein.