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Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Group 18. Explosives and Pyrotechnics
Article 118. Explosives for Well Service Industry

§5312. Loading or Assembling of Industrial Explosives and Devices.

(a) Loading operation of projectile firing devices which would fire in other than a vertical plane shall be isolated from other operations by a partition constructed of materials capable of withstanding the explosion of the device or shall be carried on in a separate area at least 25 feet from other work areas.

(b) Loading operations of projectile firing devices which fire only in a vertical direction shall have the work areas clearly delineated to separate them from other work areas.

(c) Loading operations of other types of explosive and/or propellant-actuated power devices shall be conducted in clearly defined areas separated from other work areas.

(d) Electrical apparatus in the loading area shall conform with the wiring requirements for Class II, Division 2, Hazardous Areas, Electrical Safety Orders, except that no electrical outlets or electrical tools are permitted on the loading bench. Metal parts of loading benches and racks shall be electrically bonded and grounded.

(e) Work benches used for loading shall be smooth finished to facilitate cleaning.

(f) Materials not necessary for the operation shall not be stored in the loading area.

(g) Only personnel necessary to the loading operation shall be in the loading area.

(h) The amount of explosive materials in the loading area shall be limited to that amount required for the day's loading operations.

(i) Waste, scrap and unused explosive materials shall be kept in labeled, covered containers and be returned to the magazine immediately upon completion of the days loading activities. More than one day's accumulation of waste or scrap explosives shall be stored in at least a Type 2 magazine, located outside the loading area, or destroyed or desensitized in a safe manner.

(j) Spilled explosives shall be cleaned up promptly.

(k) Explosives shall not be subjected to excessive heat, friction, or force during loading operations.

(l) Detonators shall not be installed in explosive devices in the loading area unless assembly of the detonator is necessary at the time of loading.

(m) Explosive loading areas shall be posted with a sign reading, “EXPLOSIVES,” with letters 4 inches high and a 5/8-inch stroke on a background of sharply contrasting color.

NOTE

Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

HISTORY

1. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 10-17-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 42).

2. Amendment of section heading and section and new Note filed 7-11-2003; operative 8-10-2003 (Register 2003, No. 28).

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