As used in this chapter:
(a) "Explosives" means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is intended for the purpose of producing an explosion that contains any oxidizing and combustible units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion or by a detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects, or of destroying life or limb. Manufactured articles shall not be held to be explosives when the individual units contain explosives in such limited quantities, of such nature or in such packing, that it is impossible to procure a simultaneous or a destructive explosion of such units, to the injury of life, limb or property, by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion or by a detonator, such as fixed ammunition for small arms, firecrackers or safety fuse matches.
(ORC 4511.01(T))
(14) Unfit Explosives. Explosives which have deteriorated or have been damaged so that they have become unfit for use shall be destroyed by a qualified person experienced in this work and designated by the blaster or contractor and in a manner and at such location as approved by the City.
(15) Thunderstorms. All use of explosives and handling thereof shall be stopped immediately upon the approach of a thunderstorm and all personnel in the area shall immediately seek a place of safety in a proper location designated by the superintendent or his representative.
(16) Electrical Storms. All transportation of explosives on the surface or underground and any handling incident thereto shall be stopped immediately upon the approach of an electrical storm and all persons shall immediately retire to a place of safety.
(17) Transportation. Any vehicle transporting explosives, either on public ways or on the construction area over which the contractor exercises control, shall comply with State rules and regulations and the provisions of these Codified Ordinances governing transportation of explosives. Access for vehicles to magazines shall be by a good, clean, even, traveled way which shall likewise be provided between the storage magazine and the site of blasting operations.
(18) Approva1 of Magazines: Posting of Permits. The location and construction of every magazine shall be approved by the Police Chief. Blasting permits shall be posted in such magazines.
(19) Storage Generally. All explosives shall be stored in approved magazines.
(20) Locking of Magazines; Supervision. All magazines and all enclosures used for explosives shall be kept locked at all times except while placing explosives therein, removing explosives therefrom, cleaning or during inspections and such magazines shall be under the immediate charge of a reliable and competent person who shall be assigned no conflicting duties.
(21) Access to Magazines. Only persons authorized by the blaster shall have access to magazines.
(22) Detonators. Detonators shall be stored in a separate magazine and no other explosives, materials or tools, except a wooden wedge and wooden mallet, shall be stored in such magazines.
(23) Separate Storage. All explosives, other than detonators, shall be stored in a separate magazine devoted exclusively to such explosives.
(24) Storage of Equipment and Tools. When not in use all blasting equipment and loading tools used in connection with blasting shall be stored in a separate place, compartment or enclosure devoted to such purpose and so constructed as to keep such equipment and tools in good working condition at all times.
(25) Location and Protection of Magazines. All magazines shall be so located and so protected as to prevent accidental impact from vehicles or falling objects.
(26) Condition of Magazines. Every magazine and the area surrounding it shall at all times be kept clean and free from particles of explosives and such magazines shall be kept cool and dry.
(27) Painting of Magazines. Every magazine shall be painted a bright red of an approved shade and hue.
(28) Unauthorized Persons. Every magazine shall be protected against approach or interference by unauthorized persons.
(29) Lighting. Artificial lighting of the area surrounding the magazine shall be by floodlights. No lights shall be permitted in a magazine except electric flashlights or electric lanterns, so constructed that it will not be possible to obtain a difference of potential between any two points of the outside of the lamp casing.
(30) Priority of Use. In using explosives, those of appropriate kind that have been longest in the magazine shall be used first. Explosive containers should be stacked no more than six feet high and in a manner to insure using first those of appropriate grades and kinds that have been longest in storage.
(31) Opening Packages. Packages of explosives shall not be opened at any point less than fifty feet distant from any magazine. No tools except wooden wedges and wooden, fiber or rubber mallets shall be used for opening packages of explosives except that; nonferrous slitters may be used for opening fiberboard containers, provided such slitters cannot come within range of metallic case fasteners.
(32) Lock Specifications. Doors of all Class A magazines shall be equipped with two mortise locks; or with two padlocks fastened in separate hasps and staples; or with a combination of a mortise lock and a padlock; or with a mortise lock that requires two keys to open; or with a three-point lock. Padlocks and mortise locks shall be the equivalent of a five tumbler jar-proof lock.
(33) Protection of Padlocks. Any padlock on a Class A magazine shall be protected with approved one-quarter inch steel approved cups so constructed as to positively prevent lever action on the lock or hasp.
(34) Magazine Doors. Doors shall be provided with strong hinged hasps and staples attached by welds, rivets or by bolts fitted with lock washers and nuts on the inside of the magazine and installed in such a manner that the fastening cannot be removed when the magazine door is closed and locked and that metal is not exposed on the inside surface. Doors shall be bullet resistant and constructed of not less than three thicknesses of seven-eighths of an inch matched hardwood, covered on the outside with three-eighths of an inch steel plate.
(35) Openings: Ventilation. Openings shall be provided only for entrance and ventilation. Ventilators at the base of walls shall be constructed with offsets and heavily screened. Those in the roof and at the eaves shall be screened to prevent sparks from entering.
(36) Construction of Magazines. All magazines shall be either of fireproof or flame resistant construction.
(37) Signs: Contents: Placement. The premises on which a permanent magazine is located shall be conspicuously marked by signs containing the words "EXPLOSIVES KEEP OFF." Such signs shall adequately warn any person approaching the magazine of the presence of explosives, but the sign shall not be so placed as to direct general public attention to the location of the magazine.
(38) Location of Signs. No sign shall be placed on surface magazines or barricades, or be so located that a bullet passing directly through the face of the sign will strike the magazine.
(39) Combustible Materials on Premises. The area surrounding a magazine for not less than fifty feet in all directions shall be kept free of rubbish, dry grass or other combustible material.
(40) Persons Present. Blasting operations shall be carried on with the smallest possible number of persons present.
(41) Diameter of Cartridges. The diameter of explosives cartridges shall be of appropriate size to permit charging drill holes throughout their lengths without either forcing or ramming explosives.
(42) Removal of Explosives from Wrappers. Explosives should not be removed from the original wrapper before being loaded into bore holes except when irregularities of the hole make it impossible to load whole cartridges with safety, or in block holing where small charges are desirable. This rule shall not apply to free running explosives.
(43) Ramming and Tamping. Excessive ramming should be avoided in loading or tamping explosives in a bore hole. In tamping, only wooden tools of suitable diameter with square cut ends and without exposed metal parts shall be used. Plastic pipe with a wooden plug at the end should be used for long, small diameter holes. When a tamping stick is used in charging drill holes, the force of impact shall be insufficient to penetrate explosive cartridges. Primed cartridges shall not be tamped.
(44) Loading Faces: Flying Material. No activity of a continuous nature, nor more than two men engaged in intermittent work, shall be permitted in front of a face being loaded with explosives and within the probable range of flying material in the case of a premature blast. When steam equipment is being employed or when primers containing electric blasting caps are employed, the probable range of flying material shall be considered to be not less than 100 feet to one and one-half times the height of the face of the rock cut, whichever is greater, provided that end clearance may be reduced by one-half.
(45) Free Running and Bulk Explosives. When loading free running or bulk explosives, a bronze, wooden or heavy paper funnel shall be used unless the explosives can be poured directly from a container into the hole in such a manner as to prevent scattering of loose explosives around the collar of the hole. The use of mechanical or pneumatic methods of loading is prohibited.
(46) Primers. Primers shall not be made up until just prior to loading into the hole.
(47) Electric Blasting Caps: Leg Wires. Electric blasting caps used in churn drill holes or any small bore holes shall always be tested with a blasting galvanometer before any stemming is placed in the hole, and also during loading whenever any question arises as to the condition of the leg wires. The leg wires shall be short circuited after testing and remain so until they are connected into the circuit.
(48) Leg Wire Shunt; Leading Wires. In short length small diameter bore holes containing only one electric blasting cap the leg wire shunt shall be left in place until connection is made either into the completed circuit or the leading wires are coiled near the blasting area and shunted at the power connection circuit or the leading wires are coiled near the blasting area and shunted at the power connection end. Leading wires shall always be in the blaster's possession, uncoiled or strung toward the power source, not grounded, and before connection is made the circuit shall be tested with a blasting galvanometer. If the circuit is defective, the leading wires shall be reshunted and recoiled to the blasting area before investigation for the trouble. If a defective cap or leg wire occurs in a bore hole, the stemming shall be removed by compressed air or a water jet and a new primer inserted.
(49) Brand of Blasting Caps. In any single series and in the same blast, electric blasting caps shall be the same brand.
(50) Prevention of Scattering; Rock Slides. When required by the City Engineer, the area to be blasted shall be covered with strong woven matting or rope or wire and a number of heavy logs or timbers securely tied together by chains or cables of sufficient weight to prevent the scattering of the loosened or shattered material. Displacement of such matting due to detonation shall be kept to a minimum. Extreme care shall be exercised at all times to prevent rock slides due to excessive vibration.
(51) Firing. A blast shall only be fired electrically with either a power circuit or blasting machine, except that individual holes may be initiated with electrical firing devices or detonating fuses. The method of fire shall at all times be maintained in good operating condition. The efficiency of the blasting machine shall be tested periodically to make certain that it can deliver power at its rated capacity. The power circuit shall be energized by not less than 200 volts nor more than 500 volts. For alternating current, not less than forty cycles per second shall be used.
(52) Power Circuits and Blasting Machines. When firing from a power circuit, sufficient power shall be provided to supply ample current and voltage requirements for each blast. When firing with a blasting machine, it shall not be used for series or parallel series circuits, unless specifically designed for parallel circuits and approved therefor. The explosives manufacturers instructions shall be followed for all electric blasting, regardless of the source of power.
(53) Wire Safety. The power wires, leading wires and connecting wires shall be thoroughly insulated and kept from contact with any electrical conductor, air lines or pools of water or oil. The leg wires of detonators shall be kept short-circuited until connected into either the circuit or to the shunted leading wires. All bare connections shall be either taped or blocked up in position so as to prevent current leakage or entrance of stray or active currents. While making connections in the blast area the leading wires shall be kept short-circuited at the power source end but not grounded and shall remain in the possession of the blaster. The leading wires shall then be strung from the blast area toward the source of power to make the final connections to fire the blast. Before connecting the leading wires to the power circuit, the blaster shall make certain by a blasting galvanometer test that an unsafe difference in potential does not exist between the two wires of a blasting line. If the test shows either a short circuit or no circuit, the reshunted leading wires shall be recoiled to the blast area before investigating for the trouble.
(54) Contact of Lead Wires with Power Lines. Positive steps shall be taken to prevent lead wires from being dislodged and making contact with overhead high voltage electric power lines. Should accidental contact be made, the blaster shall prevent any person from touching the blasting device and he shall clear the area of all persons immediately. No person shall enter the area until the blaster has notified the owner of the power line and the latter has eliminated the danger of electric shock.
(55) Control of Power Circuit. A power circuit used for firing shall be controlled by a switch located at a safe distance to be determined by the blaster but not less than 150 feet from the blast area. Such switch when in actual use shall be firmly fastened in position, thoroughly insulated against grounds and wholly enclosed in a tight box that shall be kept closed and locked at all times except while firing, and no person other than the blaster shall have access to the switch. The switch shall be provided with a short circuit in the "off" position and shall be so arranged that the box enclosure can be locked only when the switch is in the "off" position.
(56) Firing by Power Circuit. When firing by means of a power circuit the blasting circuit shall at all times be broken in at least one place by a gap of at least five feet on the incoming side of the switch, except during the firing operation.
(57) Firing by Blasting Machine. When firing with a blasting machine, it shall be located not less than 150 feet from the blast area.
(58) Blasting Machine Leading Wires. When firing by means of a blasting machine, the leading wires shall be kept short circuited until the shot is ready for firing, shall not be connected to the blasting machine until immediately before the tune of firing and shall be disconnected from the blasting machine and short circuited immediately after firing.
(59) Testing of Detonator and Circuits. Electric detonators and blasting circuits shall be tested only by means of a blasting galvanometer designed for this purpose.
(60) Clearing of Danger Zone. Before firing any blast, all means of access to the danger zone, the extent of which shall be determined by the blaster, shall be effectively guarded to exclude all unauthorized personnel. The blaster shall then sound a warning distinctly audible to all persons within the danger zone and all such persons shall retire to a safe shelter. The danger zone shall then be examined by the blaster to make certain that all persons have retired therefrom to a place of safety. No blast shall be fired while any person is in the danger zone.
(61) Pedestrian and Vehicular Traffic. It shall be the responsibility of the contractor to safeguard pedestrians and other highway users and their vehicles from injury or damage due to blasting operations. When the blast area is within 300 feet of a highway, the blaster shall just prior to the blast designate a sufficient number of employees of the contractor, each carrying an approved red warning flag or sign, to stop all vehicular and pedestrian traffic on each possible route of travel in the vicinity of the blast area until the blast has been fired. Qualified employees shall be dispatched to predetermined points on the highways for the purpose of keeping vehicles from entering the danger zone. A check shall be made of the highways in the danger zone to insure that there are no parked vehicles or pedestrians who would be endangered by the blast.
(62) Highway Barriers. When the floor of a rock cut is more than five feet below the average grade of a public highway at any point within 100 feet of such highway, an effective and approved barrier shall be erected by the contractor along the property line nearest the highway for an approved distance to provide protection against the drop or fall of vehicles or persons.
(63) Misfired Charges. Immediately following the blast the area shall be examined by the blaster for evidence of misfired charges. If such is found, he shall provide proper safeguards for excluding all personnel from the danger zone, except for minimum personnel who, in the opinion of the blaster, are required to remove the misfire.
(64) Correction of Misfires. All misfires shall be reported at once to the blaster and inspectors who shall then determine the safe and proper method of disposal. Each misfire presents an individual problem which shall be placed under the supervision of a person thoroughly competent to handle such matters. The unexploded charge shall be detonated if such can be accomplished without risk of injury to personnel. If repriming is necessary, any stemming present in the hole may be removed by a jet of water or air. In cases where competent supervision is not available locally, the explosives manufacturer shall be consulted as to the availability thereof.
(65) Drilling. Drilling in any hole that is known to contain or have contained explosives is prohibited until satisfactory neutralization is effected.
(66) Record of Misfires. A complete record shall be kept at the contractors field office showing all misfires, their courses and the method of disposal.
(67) Reloading Bore Holes. In case of a sprung hole or where a charge fires but does not bring down the burden, it is permissible to reload the bore hole, if it is in suitable condition to perform its functions, but only after the temperature of the hole has been reduced by water or otherwise to not more than 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
(68) Stemming of Blast Holes. Each blast hole shall be stemmed to the collar or to a high enough point to provide efficient confinement of the charge and to minimize the chance of injury to personnel from flying material.
(69) Toe Holes. For toe holes the collar stemming shall in no case be less than one-third- the depth of the hole.
(70) Block Holes. Block holes shall contain at least eighty-five percent of stemming material.
(71) Radio-Frequency Energy. The following requirements shall be complied with to eliminate the hazards of radio-frequency energy in connection with the use of electric blasting caps:
(a) Irrespective of ownership, mobile transmitting stations with outputs of up to thirty watts, such as those of the portable type or those installed in automobiles, shall be kept at least 100 feet away from any electric blasting cap except when it is in its original container. Users of such stations shall be notified by the contractor and such users shall comply with the requirements of this subsection.
(b) When such radio transmitters are less than 100 feet away from electric blasting caps in other than original containers, they will be de-energized and should be effectively locked.
(c) When electric blasting caps are transported in a motor vehicle equipped with a radio transmitter, they shall either be in their original package or stored in a closed metal box that is lined with a cushioning material such as wood or sponge rubber. When the electric blasting caps are being placed into or removed from the box, the transmitter circuit shall be disconnected.
(d) All blasting operations shall be conducted at no less than the distances from any fixed or mobile radio transmitter indicated in the following table:
Transmitted Power Output (in watts) | Minimum Distance From Blasting Operations Using Electric Blasting Caps (in feet) |
5 - 25 | 100 |
26 - 50 | 150 |
51 - 100 | 220 |
101 - 250 | 350 |
251 - 500 | 450 |
501 - 1,000 | 650 |
1,001 - 2,500 | 1,000 |
2,501 - 5,000 | 1,500 |
5,001 - 10,000 | 2,200 |
10,001 - 25,000 | 3,500 |
25,001 - 50,000 | 5,000 |
50,001 - 100,000 | 7,000 |
When it can be demonstrated by means of approved tests that electric blasting may be carried out at lesser distances from the transmitter than required by the above table, the Police Chief may allow a variation from the requirements of such table.
(72) Short Period Delay Firing. Short period delay firing shall be used when necessary to comply with the requirements of this chapter.
(73) Making Up Primers: Containers: Number. Primers shall be made up near the face, at special benches provided for the purpose. They must be kept in insulated carriers or containers, separate from other explosives at all times until placed in bore holes. Primers shall be made up immediately prior to their use in the blast and the number of such primers shall not be more than is necessary for such blast.
(O.F. Ord. 1969-16. Passed 6-23-69.)
(74) Penalty. Whoever violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues. Punishment shall be as provided in Section 698.02.