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Arizona Administrative Code (Last Updated: November 17, 2016) |
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Title 11. MINES |
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Chapter 1. STATE MINE INSPECTOR |
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Article 2. EXPLOSIVES AND BLASTING |
Section R11-1-265. Loading of blasting agents
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General:
1. All fittings used in the construction of the hopper and pickup equipment and hose connections of loading equip- ment must be constructed of materials compatible with the ammonium nitrate composition.
2. Blasting agents shall not be blown into boreholes that contain electrically nonconductive liners, even if the primer is not inserted until after the blowing has been completed.
3. Primers which contain a blasting cap, electric blasting cap or delay electric blasting cap shall not be handled by persons who have previously been operating pneumatic loading devices unless that person has grounded himself to bleed off any static charges.
4. Loading in boreholes containing electric blasting caps, delay electric blasting caps, or blasting caps:
a. All pneumatic and air-pressure equipment used for loading blasting agents must be adequately grounded to dissipate static electric charges that may cause premature initiation of the detonator. The machine or hopper, discharge hose, fittings, dis- charge tube, and loading tube must form a continu- ous electrically conductive path to a ground. The system ground conductor and loading tube shall have a resistance high enough to prevent hazards from stray currents, yet low enough to adequately maintain static electricity energy below hazardous levels.
b. Water lines, air lines, fan lines, rails, or the perma- nent grounding system shall not be used as a ground for pneumatic loading equipment.
c. Loading equipment mounted on a car and rails must be thoroughly insulated from the car and rails and grounded by a separate, static-dissipating ground.
d. When loading over electric blasting cap wires, con- tact between any metal parts of the loader and cap leg wires shall be avoided.
e. Metal or other low electrical resistance loading tubes shall not be used.
f. All loading equipment must be removed from the area before leg wire shunts are removed and the loaded holes are tied in for blasting.
g. Ventilation -- When ammonium nitrate blasting agents are used, Section 27-411 of the Arizona Min- ing Code shall apply.