Chapter 6: Handling Explosives

Learning Objectives

• Describe how (and how not) to handle explosives.
• Explain the separation requirements for explosives, detonators, and blasting accessories.
• Recognize the meaning and structure of factory, vendor, and user numbers.

Handling Requirements

Employers and blasters must ensure that explosives are handled in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. These instructions and technical data sheets must be readily available to workers at a worksite where explosives or blasting accessories are used.

The following handling requirements apply to most explosives:

General Requirements

• Never use explosives unless at least one of the following applies:
  • You are completely familiar with safety procedures for using the explosives.
  • You are under the direction of a qualified blaster.
• Ensure that explosives are attended by a competent person, except when they are stored in a locked magazine.
• Never store or keep different explosives in the same package.
• Never prime a charge in an area where explosives are stored.
• Never handle a detonator together with another type of explosive, except when priming a charge.
• Always keep electric detonators shunted or short-circuited, except during the testing or use of the detonators.
• Never investigate the contents of a detonator. Never pull wires, safety fuse, shock tube, coupling devices, plastic tubing, or detonating cord out of any detonator or delay device.

Fire and Electrical Safety

• Keep explosives a safe distance away from flammable materials or open flames.
• Never fight fires involving explosives. Remove yourself and all other persons to a safe location and guard the area.
• Never handle explosives during an electrical storm (i.e., if thunder or lightning is present). When a storm approaches, stop all blasting operations, move all persons to a safe distance, and guard the area. This applies to both surface and underground operations.

Physical Handling

• Do not drop or throw explosives.
• Do not expose explosives to excessive impact or friction.
• Never allow loaded firearms or shooting near explosives, magazines, or vehicles loaded with explosives.
• Never use sparking metal tools when handling explosives.
• Never use sparking metal tools to open packages of explosives.
• Never put explosives in your pockets or other parts of your clothing.
• Always keep explosives away from food, eyes, and skin. Flush areas of contact with large quantities of water.
• Do not remove the protective casing or wrapper from any explosive (except for dry, free-running blasting agents).

Damaged or Deteriorated Explosives

• A blaster or another qualified person must examine stained, damaged, or deteriorated explosives. If the defect is slight, the explosives may be used, but only with new explosives as a primer. If the explosives are unfit for use, they must be destroyed in a safe manner and in accordance with the Explosives Act and Regulations.
• Never use explosives that have been soaked in water, even if they now appear to be dried out.
• Do not bury or abandon explosives. Unused explosives must be returned to a container or magazine, or disposed of as recommended by the manufacturer. (See Chapter 9, "Disposing of explosives.")

Separation of Explosives

When explosives are handled, transported, stored in a magazine, or kept at a worksite, they must be kept separate from other materials. Such materials include drill rods, metal tools, and oily rags.

Explosives must also be kept away from sources of contamination, heat, or impact. And explosives, detonators, and some blasting accessories must be kept or stored separately. Blasting accessories include products that do not explode but are commonly used to set off a detonator.

Separation Requirements

The items in each group must be kept away from items in the other groups:

Factory, Vendor, and User Numbers

Under the federal Explosives Regulations, the outer packaging of explosives must be permanently marked to identify ownership. On most packaging, a printed strip or label records ownership.

Identification Number Format

How the System Works

The first (left-hand) space of the identification area contains the "F" or factory number of the manufacturer. The next space usually contains the "V" or vendor number of the original seller of the explosive.

Before releasing any explosives or detonators, the vendor marks the next space with the identification number of the vendor or user taking possession of the explosive. The "U" (user) number identifies the person who has purchased the explosives. The user must not sell the explosives and must protect them from theft.

Verification Requirements

The vendor must properly identify a person before that person takes possession of explosives. The purchaser must have an approval letter from the Explosives Regulatory Division of Natural Resources Canada or an equivalent document (e.g., a FAST card, a NEXUS card, or a Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence). A criminal record check is required as part of the application process for these documents.

Marking Requirements

The identification number of the last vendor or user to possess the explosives must be marked on the outer packaging. The person who opens a case of explosives must mark the inner cartons, packages, or spools with the appropriate identification numbers. This person must also update the inventory on the opened box and in the magazine log.