Canada Oil and Gas Geophysical Operations Regulations (SOR/96-117)

20 (1) Every operator who is conducting an onshore geophysical operation shall, when charges are being loaded into a shot hole, ensure that

• (a) detonator lead wires are unravelled or unwound slowly when a charge is being lowered into a shot hole and are not unravelled or unwound by being thrown or dragged along the ground;

• (b) damaged lead wires and damaged connecting wires are not used in blasting circuits;

• (c) every member of the geophysical crew who is engaged in the handling of explosives or involved in the blasting operation is warned of the potential build-up of static electricity on the member’s clothing or in the atmosphere as a result of drifting sand or snow and of possible accidental firing of detonators if detonator lead wires are thrown to the ground;

• (d) loading poles and pole extension fittings for them are made of non-sparking, anti-static material;

• (e) undue force is not used to insert a charge into position in a shot hole; and

• (f) any device that is used to decrease the buoyancy of a charge or to anchor a charge in a shot hole is made of non-sparking material.

(2) Every operator who is conducting an onshore geophysical operation shall, once a charge is loaded into a shot hole, ensure that

• (a) the detonator lead wires remain shunted at all times except during circuit testing;

• (b) detonation of the charge occurs within 30 days after the day on which the charge is loaded into the shot hole, or any longer period approved by a conservation officer; and

• (c) in inhabited areas or areas where there is the possibility that the detonator lead wires or detonating cord of the charge may be tampered with, a temporary plug is placed in the shot hole and the ground in the vicinity of the shot hole is levelled.

(3) Every operator who is conducting an onshore geophysical operation shall ensure that

• (a) when blasting in the vicinity of buildings, railways, roads or inhabited areas, the charge used is no larger than required;

• (b) when blasting within 50 m of an overhead power line, the shooter who is responsible for the blasting uses

  • (i) detonating cord as a downline to the charge, and

  • (ii) a short detonator lead wire to initiate the detonating cord if the total detonator lead wire length is less than the distance from the overhead power line to the nearest point on the ground at the blasting site;

• (c) when blasting in the area of a commercial electromagnetic transmitter with power in an amount that is set out in column I of an item of Schedule III, a charge is not loaded into a shot hole, primed or detonated unless the shot hole is located at least the distance set out in column II of that item from the base of the transmitter mast; and

• (d) the circuit of every electric detonator is tested with a blaster’s galvanometer immediately after the charge is loaded into a shot hole and, if the test indicates that the circuit is open, no attempt is made to remove the charge and a fresh primed cartridge is inserted into the shot hole.

(4) Every operator who is conducting an onshore geophysical operation shall ensure that charges are not loaded into a shot hole during an electrical storm or when an electrical storm is imminent.