30 CFR § 77.1303
Explosives, handling and use.
(a) Persons who use or handle explosives or detonators shall be
experienced men who understand the hazards involved; trainees shall do such
work only under the supervision of and in the immediate presence of
experienced men.
(b) Blasting operations shall be under the direct control of
authorized persons.
(c) Substantial nonconductive closed containers shall be used to
carry explosives, other than blasting agents to the blasting site.
(d) Damaged or deteriorated explosives or detonators shall be
destroyed in a safe manner.
(e) Where electric blasting is to be performed, electric circuits to
equipment in the immediate area to be blasted shall be deenergized before
explosives or detonators are brought into the area; the power shall not be
turned on again until after the shots are fired.
(f) Explosives shall be kept separated from detonators until charging
is started.
(g) Areas in which charged holes are awaiting firing shall be
guarded, or barricaded and posted, or flagged against unauthorized entry.
(h) Ample warning shall be given before blasts are fired. All persons
shall be cleared and removed from the blasting area unless suitable blasting
shelters are provided to protect men endangered by concussion or flyrock
from blasting.
(i) Lead wires and blasting lines shall not be strung across power
conductors, pipelines, railroad tracks, or within 20 feet of bare powerlines.
They shall be protected from sources of static or other electrical contact.
(j) For the protection of underground workers, special precautions
shall be taken when blasting in close proximity to underground operations,
and no blasting shall be done that would be hazardous to persons working
underground.
(k) Holes shall not be drilled where there is danger of intersecting
a charged or misfired hole.
(l) Only wooden or other nonsparking implements shall be used to
punch holes in an explosive cartridge.
(m) Tamping poles shall be blunt and squared at one end and made of
wood, nonsparking material, or of special plastic acceptable to the Mine
Safety and Health Administration.
(n) Delay connectors for firing detonating cord shall be treated and
handled with the same safety precautions as blasting caps and electric
detonators.
(o) Capped primers shall be made up at the time of charging and as
close to the blasting site as conditions allow.
(p) A capped primer shall be prepared so that the detonator is
contained securely and is completely embedded within the explosive cartridge.
(q) No tamping shall be done directly on a capped primer.
(r) Detonating cord shall not be used if it has been kinked, bent, or
otherwise handled in such a manner that the train of detonation may be
interrupted.
(s) Fuse shall not be used if it has been kinked, bent sharply, or
handled roughly in such a manner that the train of deflagration may be
interrupted.
(t) Blasting caps shall be crimped to fuses only with implements
designed for that specific purpose.
(u) When firing from 1 to 15 blast-holes with safety fuse ignited
individually using hand-held lighters, the fuses shall be of such lengths to
provide the minimum burning time specified in the following table for a
particular size round: