Coal Mining Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/90-97)

11. (1) No explosive or detonator shall be stored underground in a coal mine.

(2) Explosives and detonators that are intended for use underground shall be stored in a structure above ground that has been approved by the Coal Mining Safety Commission.

(3) The maximum quantity of explosives and detonators that are stored in accordance with subsection (2) shall be not more than the quantity required for use underground during the 24-hour period immediately following its storage.

(4) Detonators shall be stored separately from explosives in a room that has a wall of masonry not less than 150 mm thick between it and any room in which explosives are stored.

12. (1) All explosives and detonators that are transported underground, other than explosives and detonators referred to in subsection 28(3) or 29(4), shall be in secure cases or canisters with the detonators in separate cases or canisters from the explosives.

(2) No case or canister referred to in subsection (1) shall contain more than 5 kg of explosive unless approval for the transportation of the explosive in bulk has been given by the Coal Mining Safety Commission.

13. (1) Every employee who receives, transports or uses explosives or detonators shall return any explosive or detonator that is not used during the employee’s shift to the surface structure in which it had been stored.

(2) Where an explosive or detonator is transported underground, it shall be kept in its secure case or canister until it is used.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), each case or canister referred to in subsection (2) shall be kept separate from every other case or canister and from all equipment that is likely to cause the ignition of the explosive or the detonator, by as great a distance as is practicable in the area where the explosive or detonator is kept.

(4) The distance referred to in subsection (3) shall be not less than 300 mm.

14. (1) A qualified person shall have control of the storage, issue and receipt of all explosives and detonators.

(2) The qualified person referred to in subsection (1) shall

• (a) test each detonator for electrical continuity before issuing it;

• (b) issue detonators to no person other than a shotfirer; and

• (c) receive and store unused explosives and detonators returned from underground.

15. (1) A qualified person shall, at least once every three months, clean and thoroughly overhaul all blasting machines that are in service.

(2) A record of the work performed pursuant to subsection (1) shall be made by the qualified person who performed the work.

16. (1) No person other than a shotfirer shall fire a shot.

(2) No shotfirer shall fire a shot unless the shotfirer has been authorized to fire that type of shot.