# Chapter 9: Disposing of Explosives ## Learning Objectives - List the critical information employers and workers need to know with respect to the proper disposal of explosives. - Recognize the signs of damaged and deteriorated explosives. - Describe how to safely destroy deteriorated or defective explosives by detonating or burning them. - Describe how to manage degraded dynamite and nitroglycerine contamination caused by sweating. - Discuss methods to manage degraded emulsion, water-gel, and ammonium nitrate-based explosives. - Describe how to manage abandoned or buried explosives and the consequences of mismanaging them. - Describe what must be done with explosives equipment before disposing of it. --- ## What Employers and Workers Need to Know Any person who owns or possesses explosives has a legal responsibility to properly dispose of them. Surplus explosives in good condition may be returned to a storage facility or the supplier. Damaged or deteriorated explosives must be destroyed safely. Every blaster must: - Recognize and know the causes of damage and deterioration. - Understand the dangers involved. - Understand safe procedures for disposing of the more common types of explosives. - Understand their duty to report abandoned explosives. > **Important:** Always manage deteriorated or damaged explosives with special care. They may be more hazardous than explosives in good condition. Always dispose of explosives in accordance with applicable federal, provincial, and local laws, regulations, and bylaws. This includes following all requirements related to packaging, marking, and transportation of explosives. Never reuse any packaging of explosives. Empty original, disposable packaging must be destroyed safely or as recommended by the manufacturer. --- ## Damage and Deterioration Deterioration can alter the composition or properties of an explosive. Exposure to moisture and extreme temperatures is the main cause of deterioration. Fuels and solvents can also cause deterioration. Some products deteriorate with age, but many retain their composition and properties for several years when stored in a dry, well-ventilated area. If the protective shell or wrapping is damaged or removed and the product comes in contact with water or chemicals, the deterioration process will speed up. Many explosives will become insensitive and not perform as intended. However, detonators and nitroglycerine (NG) explosives that have deteriorated are extremely dangerous to handle or use. Damaged or deteriorated products should be clearly identified and kept separate from serviceable explosives. The area in which deteriorated products are stored, handled, or destroyed must be kept clear of hazards. ### Signs of Damage Signs of damage include: - Broken, stained, or crushed packaging - Liquid leaking from the outer wrappings of explosives - Unexploded, used detonators - Detonators with damaged wires or tubing Using damaged detonators can result in accidental detonation, misfires, poor breakage, and excessive fumes. The authorization of a federal explosives inspector must be obtained before transporting any degraded explosives. --- ## Disposal Procedures Explosives or blasting accessories that have deteriorated, or are believed to be defective, must not be used. They must be handled and disposed of in a safe manner in accordance with the federal Explosives Act and Regulations. ### Destruction by Detonation In many cases, the best way to destroy deteriorated explosives is to place them in a blast hole (under the collar or stemming) with other explosives and initiate the other explosives. This should be done as part of a planned blasting operation. If the explosives are still in good condition, small quantities of explosives can be added in the blast hole. Special care must be taken to not mix different types of explosives. This helps to avoid contamination or incompatibility between the explosives to be blasted and the explosives to be destroyed. #### Requirements for Disposal by Detonation Disposing of deteriorated explosives in a blast may only be done if the explosives: - Can be safely handled, placed, and used - Are initiated with a fresh primer - Will detonate reliably with the desired effects - Will be placed by a certified blaster trained in disposal ### Destruction by Burning Another option is to destroy deteriorated explosives by burning them. This requires a licence or certificate issued by the Explosives Regulatory Division of Natural Resources Canada. There is always a chance of an explosion when burning deteriorated explosives. For this reason, a remote location must be chosen so that no damage to property or injury to people will result. #### Precautions During Burning Operations During burning operations, every precaution must be taken to ensure that: - Approved procedures are in place and workers have been properly trained. - No detonators of any kind are among the deteriorated explosives to be burned. The presence of even one detonator or a metallic object will probably lead to detonation. Carefully examine deteriorated dynamite, detonating cord, cast boosters, and safety fuses for the presence of detonators. Destroy detonators separately. - At any given time, only one type of explosive is to be burned. - The explosives and their packaging are not confined or burned in such a way that they can become confined (e.g., in incinerators or barrels). Scrap or deteriorated explosives must be packaged according to the federal Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations before they are transported to a destruction site. > **Note:** The burning of explosives may contribute to pollution, particularly when ammonium nitrate-based and water-gel explosives are involved. Consult the B.C. Ministry of Environment and the local government before proceeding. --- ## Dealing with Degraded Dynamite and Nitroglycerine Contamination NG-based explosives, such as the dynamites, may "sweat." This sweating is the exudation (slow, steady discharge) of nitroglycerine. Sweating greatly increases an explosive's sensitivity to friction. Storing NG explosives in a hot, moist atmosphere greatly increases sweating. But sweating can occur even under good storage conditions. ### Signs of Sweating Beads of nitroglycerine form on the outside and ends of cartridges. Over time, the exuded nitroglycerine soaks into the bottom and lower sides of the cases, staining them noticeably. The sweating may be observed earlier on cartridges in open cases. ### Managing Sweating Cartridges In either event, the cartridges in all packages should be examined: - If the cartridges are still serviceable, they should be taken for early use. They should be issued only if the person receiving them understands their condition. - If the sweating observed is so great that the cartridges are unserviceable, they should be destroyed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. The authorization of a federal explosives inspector must be obtained before transporting degraded NG explosives. These explosives can be very sensitive to shock and friction. For this reason, specific procedures must be followed for packaging and transportation. ### Decontamination Procedures Where nitroglycerine exudation has occurred to the point where the liquid has seeped from the cases to the floor, special decontamination procedures must be performed: 1. Contaminated wooden battens, duckboards, and false floors should be removed from the magazine and burned. > **Caution:** Nitroglycerine-contaminated wood can explode when burned. 2. Any free, liquid nitroglycerine must be removed with sawdust or absorbents. The contaminated absorbents must then be burned by following special procedures recommended by the manufacturer. 3. Make sure the floor is perfectly dry before storing other explosives on it. --- ## Dealing with Degraded Emulsion, Water-Gel, and Ammonium Nitrate-Based Explosives These types of explosives are much less sensitive to shock and friction than NG explosives. Nevertheless, they are every bit as powerful, and all safety rules must be applied. Any spillage of explosives must be carefully collected and destroyed. ### Signs of Degradation **Water-gel explosives:** Wetness on the outside of a cartridge or separation of the ingredients indicates that gel breakdown has occurred. In such cases, the product will likely fail to shoot. **Emulsions:** An emulsion that has become stiff or crusty, rather than feeling smooth and pliable, has probably become insensitive. **ANFO:** If ANFO is kept too long, fuel oil may leak through the plastic bags and contaminate the magazine. This creates a fire hazard. If the condition is severe, contaminated floor sections may need to be replaced. If ANFO bags are kept for a long time, they should be rotated or turned over. This reduces the oil migration through the material to the bottom of the packaging. ### Cleaning Up Spills Leakage of explosives through their packaging may contaminate the magazine. Spills must be cleaned up properly. Pay close attention where spilled emulsion or ANFO leaves an oily residue. This residue creates a fire hazard. If all explosives cannot be cleaned up (e.g., spills in cracks or in porous materials), contaminated floor sections may need to be replaced. --- ## Abandoned or Buried Explosives Under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and the federal Explosives Act, explosives must not be buried or abandoned. They must be placed in suitable storage or disposed of in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. ### Dangers of Abandoned Explosives Abandoned and buried explosives have caused many accidents. Some explosives may retain their explosive properties for years, even after exposure to cold temperatures and water. For example: - **Nitroglycerine**, a component of dynamite, does not degrade with time. In many cases, lives have been lost when nitroglycerine exploded after lying for more than 20 years in the ground, in crevices between rocks, or underwater. - **TNT** and some other explosives do not lose their explosive force with time. > **Warning:** With the exception of some blasting agents, burying an explosive or soaking it in water will not safely dispose of it. ### Handling Found Explosives Damaged or deteriorated explosives can be extremely dangerous and must be disposed of by competent persons. Do not attempt to dispose of a large quantity of explosives or an unfamiliar type of product. Instead, secure the area and get help from the manufacturer's representative. If abandoned or buried explosives are found, report them to Natural Resources Canada and the local authorities. --- ## Decommissioning and Disposing of Explosives Equipment "Explosives equipment" refers to items used in the life cycle of explosives. Examples of such equipment include: - Magazines - Pumps - Hoses - Mobile manufacturing and transport vehicles Persons responsible for decommissioning and/or disposing of explosives equipment must ensure that the equipment is free of explosives before disposing of it. This helps reduce the risk to workers who handle the equipment and may not be aware of the hazards.