North Carolina Administrative Code
Title 13 - LABOR
Chapter 07 - OFFICE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
Subchapter F - STANDARDS
Section .0700 - BLASTING AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES
Section 07F .0703 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Universal Citation: 13 NC Admin Code 07F .0703

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 6, September 16, 2024

Additions and amendments to 29 CFR 1926.900 General Provisions apply throughout the Rules in this Section as follows:

(a) The employer shall permit only persons qualified pursuant to §1926.901 to handle and use explosives. A blaster shall be in charge of each blasting operation; hereafter, referred to as the Blaster-in-Charge.

(b) Smoking, firearms, sparks, open flame or heat producing devices shall be prohibited where explosives are being stored, handled, transported or used. Exception: This does not apply to devices specifically designed to initiate detonation, which by their nature produce heat or sparks.

(c) See 1926.901(b).

(d) All explosives shall be accounted for at all times. Explosives not being used and not attended shall be kept in a magazine or container that meets the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (hereafter, ATF) storage and access requirements contained in 27 CFR Part 55, which is incorporated herein by reference, including any subsequent amendments and editions. Each employer shall maintain an inventory and use record of all explosives in that employer's possession. The employer, or employer authorized person, shall comply with all applicable local, State and federal laws and regulations requiring notification of any loss, theft, or unauthorized entry into a magazine or container.

(g) Original containers, ATF Type 2, Type 3, Type 4 or Type 5 magazines or Institute of Makers of Explosives (hereafter, IME) - 22 containers, shall be used for taking detonators and other explosives from storage magazines to the blast site.

(h) In proximity to people, a structure, railway, highway or any other installation, the blaster shall take additional precautions to control the throw of fragments and to prevent bodily injury to employees and people not working directly on the blasting operation. Such additional precautions shall be taken in the loading, delaying, initiation and confinement of each blast and shall include confinement with mats or with mats and other methods.

(i) All blast site employees shall follow the directions of the Blaster-in-Charge. All blast site employees shall use and adhere to every precaution to ensure employee safety including, but not limited to, visual and audible warning signals, flags, or barricades.

(k) Precautions shall be taken to prevent accidental discharge of electric detonators from current induced by radar, radio transmitters including 2-way radios and mobile telephones, lightning, adjacent powerlines, dust storms, or other sources of extraneous electricity. These precautions shall include:

(1) See Section 1926.906(a) and (b).

(2) At the approach and progress of an electric storm, blasting operations shall be suspended and personnel removed to an area safe from concussion (shock wave), flying material, or gases from an explosion.

(3)
(i) The prominent display of adequate signs, warning against the use of mobile radio transmitters, (e.g., telephones and 2-way radios) on all roads within 1,000 feet of electric blasting operations. If adherence to the 1,000-foot distance would create an operational handicap, then a competent person (as defined in 29 CFR 1926 Subparts L and P) shall be consulted to evaluate the particular situation, and alternative provisions may be made which are designed to prevent any premature firing of electric detonators. A description of any such alternatives shall be reduced to writing and shall be certified by the competent person consulted as meeting the purposes of this subdivision. The description shall be maintained at the construction during the duration of the work, and shall be available for inspection by representatives of the Commissioner of Labor.

(ii) Examples of signs which would meet the requirements of paragraphs (i) and (k)(3) of this section are the following:

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BLASTING TURN OFF

ZONE 2-WAY

1000 FT RADIO

About 48" x 48" About 42" x 36"

(4) Ensuring that mobile transmitters including telephones and 2-way radios which are less than 100 feet away from electric detonators, in other than original containers, shall be de-energized and effectively prevented from operating, (e.g., locked);

(5) The Blaster-in-Charge shall comply with the recommendations of IME with regard to blasting in the vicinity of radio transmitters as stipulated in Safety Guide for the Prevention of Radio Frequency Radiation Hazards in the Use of Commercial Electric Detonators (Blasting Caps), IME Safety Library Publication No. 20, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference, including any subsequent amendments and editions.

(l) Empty boxes and associated paper and fiber packing materials, which have previously contained explosives, shall not be used for any purpose, other than that associated with the blasting operation. Such boxes, paper and packing materials shall be disposed of in a manner that prevents reuse and does not constitute a hazard. Disposal may include but shall not be limited to burning. The method used for disposal shall comply with all applicable local, State or federal laws.

(n) Delivery and issue of explosives shall only be made by and to authorized persons (as defined in 27 CFR Part 55) and into magazines or temporary storage or handling areas that meet the ATF storage requirements contained in 27 CFR Part 55.

(o) Blasting operations in the proximity of overhead power lines, communication lines, utility services, or other services and structures shall not commence until the operators or owners have been notified and measures for safe control have been taken.

(q) All loading and firing shall be directed and supervised by the Blaster-in-Charge.

(r) All blasts shall be fired under the control of a blaster, with an initiation system in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. All blasts shall be fired in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

(s) Buildings used for the mixing of blasting agents or water-based explosives shall conform to the requirements of this section.

(3) All fuel oil storage facilities shall be separated from the mixing plant and located in such a manner that in case of tank rupture, the oil will be contained and will not drain toward the mixing plant building.

(4) The building shall be adequately ventilated to prevent explosive or hazardous substance hazards.

(5) Heating units may be used in the building if they do not depend on combustion processes, and are properly designed and located to prevent explosive or other hazards. All direct sources of heat shall be provided exclusively from units located outside the mixing building.

(6) All internal-combustion engines used for electric power generation shall be located outside the mixing plant building, or shall be isolated by a firewall and shall be properly ventilated to prevent explosive or exhaust gas hazards to employees. The exhaust systems on all such engines shall be located so any heat or spark generated or emitted cannot be a hazard to any materials in or adjacent to the plant.

(t) See .900(s).

(1) See .900(s)(1).

(2) See .900(s)(2).

(3) See .900(s)(3).

(4) See .900(s)(4).

(5) See .900(s)(5).

(6) See .900(s)(6).

(u) To guard against unauthorized entry or initiation of a blast, a blast site shall be attended if loading is suspended or loaded holes are awaiting firing. Additionally, the blast site shall be barricaded, posted, and flagged as necessary to prevent unauthorized access.

(v) No one shall carry explosives or explosives detonating materials (e.g., blasting caps, detonators, fuse, primers) of any kind on his or her person. This does not prohibit hand-carrying or passing such materials when a hole is being loaded.

Authority G.S. 95-131;
Recodified from 13 NCAC 07F .0201 Eff. August 3, 2005;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. March 1, 2016.

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