WAC 296-52-67110   Precautions after firing.  (1) Immediately after firing. Immediately after firing, the blaster in charge must:

     (a) Disconnect the firing line from the blasting machine.

     (b) Lock the power switches in the "open" or "off" position.

     (c) Carefully trace all wires and search for unexploded charges.

     (2) Post blast inspection. The blaster in charge must perform an inspection of the area and surrounding rubble to determine if all charges have been exploded before employees are allowed to return to the operation.

     (3) Misfires.

     (a) Misfire found. Misfires must be:

     (i) Immediately reported to their supervisor.

     (ii) Recorded on the blast record.

     (iii) Reported to the department within twenty-four hours if not cleared.

     (b) Responsible person. A blaster in charge must be present and direct the handling of all misfires.

     (c) Termination of work.

     (i) All work must stop, except activities needed to remove the misfire hazard.

     (ii) Drilling, digging, or picking is not permitted until:

     (A) All misfired holes have been detonated

     OR

     (B) The blaster in charge determines work can proceed

     (d) Evacuation precautions. The following evacuation precautions must be taken in the event of a misfire:

     (i) If a misfire is found, the blaster in charge must make sure safeguards are in place to keep all employees or other personnel from the danger zone, except those needed to remove the misfire hazard.

     (ii) Workers cannot return to misfired holes for at least:

     (A) Thirty minutes when electric blasting caps are used

     (B) One hour when detonators and fuses are used

     (e) Charged or misfired holes.

     (i) Attempts cannot be made to remove explosives from any charged or misfired hole.

     (ii) A new primer must be connected and the hole refired.

     (f) Refiring hazard. If refiring a misfired hole presents a hazard, explosives may be:

     (i) Removed by washing out the explosives with water

     OR

     (ii) Removed with air, if the misfire is under water.

     (4) Burning holes.

     (a) Everyone in the endangered area must move to a safe location when explosives are suspected of burning in a hole.

     (b) No one, under any circumstances, may return to the hole:

     (i) Until the danger has passed

     OR

     (ii) For at least one hour after the hole has been found.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and[49.17].050 . 02-03-125, § 296-52-67110, filed 1/23/02, effective 3/1/02.]