Chapter 296-52 Safety standards for possession, handling, and use of explosives.

(1) Construction. A bin, including supports, must be:(a) Waterproof.(b) Constructed of compatible materials.(c) Adequately supported and braced to withstand the combined force of all loads, including impact from product movement within the bin and accidental vehicle contact with …

(1) Public highways. The following must comply with the United States Department of Transportation's (U.S. DOT) requirements:(a) Packaging, marking, and labeling containers of blasting agents that are being transported on public highways. (b) Vehicles must follow placard regulati…

WAC SectionsPART ADEFINITIONS, PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND APPLICATIONHTMLPDF296-52-099Definitions.HTMLPDF296-52-60005Implementation of the Washington State Explosives Act.HTMLPDF296-52-60010Purpose and intent.HTMLPDF296-52-60015Coverage.HTMLPDF296-52-60020Exemptions.STATE AND LOCAL GOVE…

(1) Contains explosive substance. Water-gel and emulsion explosive materials that contain a substance classified as an explosive must be classified as an explosive.(2) Contains no explosive substance. Water-gel and emulsion explosive materials that do not contain any substance cl…

(1) Buildings.(a) Locations.(i) Separation distance tables. Buildings or other facilities used for manufacturing emulsions and water-gels must meet the separation distance requirements of Table H-21 for:(A) Inhabited buildings;(B) Passenger railroads;(C) Public highways.(ii) Dete…

(1) Vehicle design. The design of bulk delivery/mixing vehicles must comply with these requirements: (a) Public highways. Vehicles used for the bulk transportation of emulsion, water-gels, or ingredients classified as dangerous commodities on public highways, must meet: (i) U.S. …

(1) A blast cannot be fired while any moving vessel is within one thousand five hundred feet of the blasting area.(2) People on board vessels or crafts moored or anchored within one thousand five hundred feet must be notified before a blast is fired.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.1…

(1) A blast cannot be fired while any swimmers or divers are in the vicinity of the blasting area.(2) If swimming and diving activities are in progress, a signaling arrangement must be agreed upon to communicate blast warnings prior to blasting.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010…

Water resistant initiation systems must be used for underwater blasting.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-03-125, § 296-52-67190, filed 1/23/02, effective 3/1/02.]

(1) When a tube is necessary, loading must be done through a nonsparking loading tube.(2) Loading tubes and casings must be the same type of metal to prevent electric transient currents from occurring as a result of a galvanic reaction of the metals and water.[Statutory Authority…

(1) When more than one charge is placed underwater, a float device must be attached to an element of each charge to make sure it will be released when the charge is fired.(2) Blasting flags must be displayed.(3) Misfires must be handled according to the requirements of WAC 296-52…

(1) Permanent storage. The following are requirements for permanent storage:(a) Explosives or blasting agents cannot be permanently stored in an underground operation until at least two exit routes are developed.(b) Permanent underground storage magazines:(i) Must be a minimum of…

When an electrical storm is approaching, explosives at the adit, or the top of any shaft leading to where people are working, must be moved to a distance equal to the distance required for inhabited buildings (Table H-20), unless this would create a greater hazard.[Statutory Auth…

(1) Fume Class 1. Fume Class 1 explosives must be used for underground operations, as specified by the IME.(2) Fume Classes 2 and 3. Explosives complying with the requirements of fume Class 2 and 3 may be used if adequate ventilation is provided.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.01…

Explosives cannot be loaded or used underground where combustible gases or combustible dusts exist unless approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-03-125, § 296-52-67225, filed 1/23/02, …

Electric systems.(1) Safety switch. A safety switch must be:(a) Placed at intervals in the permanent firing line when firing from a power circuit.(b) Made:(i) So it can only be locked in the "off position"; or(ii) With a short-circuiting arrangement of the firing lines to the det…

(1) Employee evacuation. The blaster must make sure all employees are out of the blast area before firing a blast.(2) Guarding entrances. All entrances:(a) Leading into the blasting area must be carefully guarded.(b) To any working place where a drift, raise, or other opening is …

(1) Smoke and fumes. The blaster in charge must wait a minimum of fifteen minutes to allow smoke and fumes to clear before returning to the shot.(2) Muck pile. Workers cannot return to work until the muck pile has been watered down.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040…

Note:The following requirements apply when primers are made up at a central primer house for use in high speed tunneling:(1) Primers.(a) Only enough primer must be made for each round of blasting.(b) Primers must be placed in separate containers and bins, categorized by the degre…

Transportation of explosives on public highways are:(1) Regulated by:(a) United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) (49 C.F.R., Parts 100 - 199);(b) The Washington utilities and transportation commission.(2) Administered and enforced by the Washington state patrol.[Sta…

The transportation rules in this chapter apply to:(1) On job sites and off highway roads.(2) Privately financed, constructed, or maintained roads.Note:These rules do not apply to state or interstate highway systems.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49…

No one may:(1) Smoke or carry matches, or any other flame producing device, while in or near a vehicle transporting explosives.(2) Carry firearms or ammunition while in or near a vehicle transporting explosives, except guards or commissioned law enforcement officers.(3) Drive, lo…

Only authorized personnel properly trained in the safe handling of explosives will be allowed in vehicles transporting explosives, provided seat belts are available for all occupants.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 06-19-074, § 296-52-680…

Materials and supplies cannot be placed in the cargo space of vehicles or conveyance containing:(1) Explosives;(2) Detonating cord; or(3) Detonators.Note:It is okay to transport safety fuses and properly secured nonsparking equipment in cargo spaces.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.1…

All vehicles used for transporting explosives must:(1) Be strong enough to carry the load without difficulty;(2) Be in good mechanical condition;(3) Have a tight floor in the cargo compartment(s);(4) Not have any exposed spark producing metal inside the vehicle, which could come …

(1) Locations of use. While loaded with explosives, open top vehicles must only be used on:(a) The job site; or(b) Roads that are closed to public travel.(2) Containers. Explosives being transported in open top vehicles or trailers must be transported in:(a) The original U.S. DOT…

All vehicles transporting explosives material must have placards. They must:(1) Be displayed as specified by U.S. DOT;(2) Remain on the vehicle until all explosives have been removed.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 17-16-132, § 296-52…

(1) Fire extinguishers.(a) Driver training. The driver must be trained to use the fire extinguishers on the vehicle;(b) Equipment specifications. Vehicles used for transporting explosive materials must be equipped with fire extinguishers according to the gross vehicle weight:(i) …

(1) Authorized explosives transportation. Explosives may only be transported by a:(a) Licensed manufacturer;(b) Blaster;(c) Purchaser, seller, or their designated representative; or(d) Contract carrier for hire who complies with all requirements for transportation of hazardous ma…

(1) Fuse type detonators, detonators with a safety fuse, or detonators with a metal clad mild detonating fuse, cannot be transported in the same vehicle or trailer with other explosives, unless they comply with U.S. DOT hazardous material regulations for:(a) Packaging;(b) Separat…

In underground blasting operations, explosives and blasting agents must be hoisted, lowered, or transported in a powder car.(1) State approval. A state-approved powder car or conveyance must be used underground.(2) Two-unit compartments. Compartments for transporting detonators a…

Hoist operators must be notified before explosives or blasting agents are transported in a shaft conveyance.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-03-125, § 296-52-68080, filed 1/23/02, effective 3/1/02.]

(1) Explosives and blasting agents. These requirements must be followed when transporting explosives and blasting agents underground:(a) Companion items.(i) Explosives or blasting agents cannot be transported in the same shaft conveyance with other materials, supplies, or equipme…

Detonators must not be stored in magazines where other explosives are stored.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-03-125, § 296-52-69005, filed 1/23/02, effective 3/1/02.]

All Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 explosives, special industrial explosives, and any newly developed unclassified explosives, must be kept in magazines that meet the requirements of RCW 70.74.120 and this chapter, unless the explosives are:(1) In the manufacturing process;(2) B…

Explosives exempt from these storage requirements are:Type of ExplosiveExempted AmountStocks of: • Small arms ammunition,Quantities less than 750,000• Propellant-actuated power cartridges, and • Small arms ammunition primers Smokeless powderQuantities less than 150 poundsBlack po…

Explosives, except as specified in WAC 296-52-69015, and detonators in quantities of more than one thousand must be stored in permanent Type 1 magazines or approved and licensed magazines.Note 1:Components storage.Any two components which when mixed and become capable of detonati…

All explosive manufacturing buildings and magazines that store explosives or blasting agents (except small arms ammunition and smokeless powder), must meet the requirements as specified in:(1) Table H-20, Distances for Storage of Explosives;(2) Table H-21, Distance Table for Sepa…

(1) Storage materials. Magazines cannot be used for storage of metal tools or any commodity other than:(a) Explosives;(b) Blasting agents;(c) Blasting supplies.(2) Black powder.(a) Black powder must be stored separately from other explosives in a magazine.(b) Kegs must be stored …

More than 300,000 pounds of explosive materials or 20,000,000 of detonators cannot be stored in the same storage magazine.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-03-125, § 296-52-69035, filed 1/23/02, effective 3/1/02.]

Any person who stores explosive material must notify the local fire safety authority, who has jurisdiction over the area where the explosive material is stored.(1) The local fire safety authority must be notified:(a) Orally, on the first day explosive materials are stored;(b) In …

Before beginning repair activities that could cause sparks or fire:(1) All explosives must be removed from the magazine under repair and placed in another magazine or a safe distance away;(2) Explosives must be properly guarded until they are returned to the magazine;(3) The floo…

(1) A qualified person must be: (a) Responsible for the magazine at all times;(b) At least twenty-one years old;(c) Held responsible for the enforcement of all safety requirements.(2) Explosives must:(a) Be accounted for at all times;(b) Be kept in a locked magazine when not in u…

(1) Weekly inspection.(a) The person or company responsible for the contents of the magazine must inspect the magazine at least every seven days to determine whether there has been an unauthorized:(i) Attempted entry into the magazine; or(ii) Removal of explosives from the magazi…

(1) Firearms. Only qualified guards and qualified law enforcement officers are allowed to carry firearms inside or within fifty feet of a magazine.(2) Area maintenance. The area surrounding magazines must:(a) Be kept clear of rubbish, brush, dry grass, or trees, except live trees…

(1) Explosives must be immediately destroyed, according to the manufacturer's recommendations, whenever they are suspected of deteriorating to the point they are:(a) Unstable;(b) Dangerous;(c) Leaking nitroglycerine.(2) Only a licensed blaster may destroy explosives.[Statutory Au…

(1) Storage. Explosives recovered from misfires must be placed in a separate licensed magazine until they can be disposed of according to the manufacturer's recommendations.(2) Detonator use. Detonators suspected of being defective cannot be reused.(3) Disposal. The blaster in ch…