(225 ILCS 710/27) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 4234)
Sec. 27.
Blasting.
It shall be unlawful to use anything but wooden
tamping rods in tamping explosives or tamping material in the bore holes, and
it shall be the duty of the mine foreman to see that no iron or steel tools are
used for tamping. Detonators of not less strength than No. 6 containing 1 gram
of fulminating composition, shall be used in firing blasts. It shall be the
duty of the mine foreman to fix the time of all blasting and firing. Miners
about to fire shots shall cause warning to be given in every direction and all
entrances to the place or places where charges are to be fired shall be
guarded, so far as possible, by people; otherwise by signs, which shall be such
as will not fail to attract the attention of anybody passing.
The number of explosives in every blast, except in case of simultaneous
firing or blasts in stopes, shall be counted by the person firing the same,
and if the total number of explosions is less than the number of charges
fired, a report of the discrepancy shall be made as the superintendent
shall direct. When a blast has been fired and it is not certain that all
the charges have exploded, no person shall enter the place where such
charges were placed within 30 minutes after the explosion.
When electricity is used to fire shots, it shall be unlawful for any
person knowingly to enter the vicinity of the place where such shots have
been fired until the cable from the source of electrical energy to the face
of the blast shall have been disconnected. It shall be the duty of the mine
foreman to see that all such cables are disconnected immediately after such
firing and to examine or direct the examination of such place where shots
have been fired before any people are permitted to work therein. All miners
shall immediately report to the proper authority the finding of any loose
wires under or in the rock loosened by such firing and in such event the
mine foreman or, in his or her absence, the shift boss or other properly
constituted authority, shall at once order work to cease until such wires
have been disconnected or removed.
It shall be unlawful to use electricity from any grounded circuit for
firing shots. It shall be the duty of the mine foreman to see that special
precautions are taken against the shot-firing cables or wires coming into
contact with the lighting, power, or other circuits, or with any metal pipe
lines. All portable devices for generating or supplying electricity for
shot firing shall, when in the mine be in charge of the mine foreman. No
person, other than the mine foreman or some competent employee especially
designated by him or her, shall connect the firing machine or battery to the
shot firing leads, and such connection shall not be made until all other steps
preparatory to the firing of a shot shall have been connected. The primary
or secondary batteries used for shot firing shall be provided with a
suitable case in which all contacts shall be made or broken except that the
binding post for making connections to the firing leads may be outside.
These binding posts shall be completely covered with insulating material of
a permanent character, such as hard rubber, or fibre, except at the points
where the firing leads make connection with the binding posts. Such
batteries shall be provided with a detachable plug or key without which the
detonating circuit cannot be closed, or provided with one or more safety
contact buttons that are well countersunk or protected by a non-conducting
housing. The plug or key shall be detached when not actually in use for
firing a shot, and shall not under any circumstances pass from the custody
of the mine foreman.
Electricity from light or power circuits shall not be used for firing
shots in a mine, except where the electrical connections to such light or
power circuits are made within an enclosed switch room, which shall be kept
securely locked and shall be accessible only to the authorized mine foreman
or other competent person especially designated by him or her.
(Source: P.A. 87-1133.)
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