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

17. The handling of explosives and detonators in the preparation underground of a shot or shot hole shall be under the direct supervision and control of a shotfirer.

18. Where shotfiring is to be done underground during a shift, the shotfirer shall verify that no more explosives or detonators than are required for the shotfiring are kept in the danger area referred to in paragraph 22(1)(a) in which the shotfiring is to be done.

• 19. (1) A shotfirer shall use

  • (a) only one class, grade or quality of explosive in a shot;

  • (b) an explosive that is in its original wrapping;

  • (c) no more explosive in any shot hole than the amount that is necessary for the work to be performed or the maximum amount of that type of explosive that is set out in column II of Part I of Schedule II, whichever is the lesser;

  • (d) tamping rods and stemmers that are constructed of non-metallic materials; and

  • (e) a cleaner and crack detector that is capable of cleaning the full length of the shot hole and detecting transverse and longitudinal cracks of 3 mm or more in the shot hole.

• (2) No shot shall be fired

  • (a) in broken coal or in a support pillar; or

  • (b) in an area where the concentration of flammable gas in the air exceeds 1.25 per cent.

• (3) Every coal-cutting machine shall be stopped before shots are fired at the return brushing face in a longwall section.

20. Before initiating the preparations for charging a shot hole referred to in section 21, a shotfirer shall verify that all broken coal is removed from the area of the shot hole and shall allow sufficient time for dust in the air to settle.

21. A shotfirer shall, immediately before charging a shot hole underground,

• (a) subject to subsection 27(3), verify, using a methanometer and a locked-flame safety lamp, that the concentration of flammable gas in the general body of the air in the area of the shot hole and in any area contiguous thereto does not exceed 1.25 per cent;

• (b) examine the shot hole to verify that it has been thoroughly cleaned;

• (c) verify that the shot hole does not intersect any cracks or crevices greater than 3 mm;

• (d) verify that the shot hole is at least 3 mm larger than the diameter of the cartridge of the explosive to be used;

• (e) place a plug of stemming in the back of the shot hole; and

• (f) verify that any dust in the area of the shot hole has been treated with stone dust to a minimum of three 25 kg bags of stone dust per metre of advance.

• 22. (1) Before firing a shot, a shotfirer shall

  • (a) determine a danger area that extends at least 30 m from the shot hole;

  • (b) evacuate all persons from the danger area; and

  • (c) post sentries at the limits of the danger area.

• (2) The sentries referred to in paragraph (1)(c) shall prevent any person, other than the shotfirer, from entering the danger area until the shotfirer verifies that the area is safe to enter.

• (3) No person, other than a shotfirer, shall enter the danger area referred to in subsection (1) until the person has been informed by the shotfirer or a sentry that it is safe to do so.