Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 460 - Department of Mines
Chapter 15 - Underground Coal and Asphalt
Subchapter 1 - General Standards
Section 460:15-1-31 - Permissible explosives
Universal Citation: OK Admin Code 460:15-1-31
Current through Vol. 41, No. 13, March 15, 2024
(a) Black powder or dynamite is prohibited from being used or stored at any underground coal mine.
(1) Magazines shall be fire and
bullet proof, lined with a non-parking material, secured with two (2) locks
that can only be opened with a key and kept free of any inflammable material
for a minimum distance of twenty-five (25) feet.
(2) Magazines shall not be closer than two
hundred (200) feet from any mine opening.
(3) Signs shall be placed at each magazine
prohibiting smoking and open lights and designating the area as explosives.
Signs shall be so placed that a bullet fired at any of the signs will not hit
the magazines.
(4) Explosives and
detonators shall be stored in separate magazines.
(5) Explosives and detonators transported
into the mine shall be in substantially constructed container and lined with a
nonconductive material. Explosives and detonators shall be in separate
containers or separated by a minimum of four (4) inches of hardwood or the
equivalent.
(6) Underground storage
boxes shall be of substantial construction-lined with a nonconductive material
and places in a crosscut or idle room neck at least twenty-five (25) feet from
roadways, power wires, and in a well rock-dusted area.
(7) Not more than a forty-eight (48) hour
supply of explosives shall be stored underground.
(8) Only enough explosives and detonators
will be taken to the face to shoot one area.
(9) Only permissible explosives shall be used
in an underground coal mine.
(10)
No more than one and one-half (1 1/2) pounds of permissible explosives can be
charged in a continuous train.
(11)
No portion of the shot hole shall be drilled on the solid, and all portions of
shot holes shall have a burden in all directions of at least eighteen (18)
inches.
(12) Stemming shall be of
incombustible material and tamped with a nonconductive tamping bar.
(b) Blasting.
(1) It shall be the duty of the mine operator
to employ adequate personnel who are certified as mine superintendent, mine
foreman, fire-boss, or shot-firer to charge, tamp and fire all shots.
(2) When blasting for the sinking of shafts,
slopes or for construction of overcast, undercast, roof brushing, or boom
holes, a plan shall be submitted to the Department of Mines for
approval.
(3) When the coal is to
be undercut and shot, the roof, floor and ribs shall be rock-dusted to the
face.
(4) Before firing the shot
the shot-firer shall make a check of gas, clear the area of all personnel, and
announce three times, with a pause between each announcement, "fire-in
the-hole". The charge may be fired if the area is clear.
(5) The shot-firer will inspect the shot area
as soon as possible after the detonation for roof conditions, gas, fire,
mis-fires, undetonated explosives, and other unsafe conditions which shall be
reported immediately.
(6) Only
electric detonators shall be used.
(7) A permissible blasting unit and at least
one hundred (100) feet of well insulated blasting cable shall be used. The
shot-firer shall take cover in a cross cut at least forty (40) feet outby the
face and out of the line of air.
(8) The cable shall be short circuited at the
power end until ready to attach to the blasting unit.
(9) The mine inspector shall approve all
blasting plans and will make an inspection at least monthly with the
shot-firer.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Oklahoma may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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