Utah Admin. Code R614-4-4 - Explosive Materials, General Requirements

A. Any new or existing operation shall have written operating rules and practices developed and approved by management as being in accordance with this part. The operating rules and practices shall include but are not limited to such items as:

1. Safety requirements,

2. Personal protective clothing and equipment,

3. Personnel and explosive material limits,

4. Equipment designation, inspection and maintenance,

5. Location and sequence of operations,

6. Housekeeping procedures,

7. Mixing procedures,

8. Destruction or disposal of explosive material,

9. Test on product and ingredients for compatibility and sensitivity before production.

B. No deviations from the operating rules and practices shall be permitted without written management approval.

C. An emergency action plan shall be in writing and shall cover those designated actions employers and employees must take to ensure employee safety in emergencies (i.e., fire, explosion, and adverse weather conditions). The following elements, at a minimum, shall be included in the plan:

1. Emergency evacuation procedures and emergency escape route assignments;

2. Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical operations or fight fires before they evacuate;

3. Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed;

4. Rescue and medical duties for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed;

5. The preferred means of reporting explosions, fires, and other emergencies;

6. Where fire departments or other agencies are depended on for emergency assistance, prior notice shall be given of potential hazards, and

7. Names or regular job titles of persons or departments to be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.

D. Employees shall be trained regarding pertinent requirements of R614-4-4.A.,B., and C.

E. Applicable portions of the operating rules and practices shall be convenient to all employees involved in the operation. Supervisory personnel shall maintain copies of the overall operating procedure and be responsible for the enforcement of its provisions.

F. Buildings on explosives materials plant sites shall be separated by minimum distances conforming to the requirements of the "Intra Plant Distance Table for Use only Within Confines of Explosives Manufacturing Plants" which Table is contained in "The American Table of Distances", 1991 edition as published by the Institute of Makers of Explosives, and incorporated herein by this reference in this rule; except those buildings or sites that meet the specific requirements of other organizations such as the Department of Defense.

G. Mixing facilities for blasting agents shall be separated from storage facilities and each other in accordance with the "Table of Separation Distances of Ammonium Nitrate and Blasting Agents from Explosives or Blasting Agents" which Table is contained in "The American Table of Distances", 1991 edition as published by the Institute of Makers of Explosives, and incorporated herein by this reference in this rule.

H. All explosive material operations shall be scrutinized to devise methods for reducing the number of employees exposed, or the quantity of material subject to a single incident. Where necessary to protect employees, appropriate shields, substantial dividing walls or barricades shall be provided to shield employees from hazards; where this is not practicable, work by remote control shall be utilized.

I. An explosive material shall not be put in production unless safe working limits have been determined and posted. Operations shall be shut down whenever limits are exceeded.

J. Appropriate visual inspections shall be made of mixing, conveying, packaging, or other equipment to establish that such equipment is in safe operating condition. All problems relating to the safety of employees shall be corrected.

K. Floors and work surfaces in hazardous locations shall be constructed to facilitate cleaning and shall have no cracks or crevices in which explosive material may lodge.

L. Buildings shall be cleaned to prevent accumulations of explosive materials. Combustible or explosive waste shall be removed from buildings as often as necessary.

M. Explosive material spills shall be cleaned up immediately. An appropriate cleaning and collection system for hazardous residues shall be provided and used.

N. Waste explosives and materials contaminated with explosives shall be kept separate from all other waste.

O. Care shall be exercised so that foreign objects or materials do not get into explosive materials.

P. Appropriate tools and equipment shall be used in explosive materials operations.

Q. Only properly identified and inspected explosives materials shall be mixed.

R. Finished explosive materials shall be identified.

S. No person shall store, handle or transport explosives or materials when such storage handling, and transportation of explosives or material constitutes an undue hazard to life.

T. Explosive material areas shall be placarded at each entrance. Personnel entering these areas shall present the proper credentials and turn over all articles prohibited by management before entering the area. Plant boundaries shall be fenced unless topography and/or other physical considerations accomplish this; the boundaries of restricted areas shall be posted at intervals to warn against trespassing.

U. Parking of vehicles in restricted areas near explosives facilities shall be controlled to minimize fire and explosion hazards and prevent congestion in event of emergency. Vehicles shall be parked in designated areas only.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R614-4-4