PART IX
BLASTING
Definitions of this Part
51.  In this Part —
“explosives supervisor” means a person appointed by an operator to organise and supervise all work at a blasting site involving the use of explosives;
“operator” means a person in overall control of a blasting operation.
Licence to conduct blasting operations
52.  A licence to conduct blasting operations shall —
(a)be in Form A in the Ninth Schedule;
(b)be subject to the restrictions set out in the licence; and
(c)be valid for a period of 2 years from the date of issue, or such shorter period as the Licensing Officer may determine.
[S 174/2017 wef 24/04/2017]
Restrictions on blasting operation
53.—(1)  No person shall conduct a blasting operation —
(a)without a licence under rule 52; or
(b)in contravention of any restriction contained in the licence.
(2)  Any person who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
Approval for particular blasting operation
54.—(1)  A person licensed to conduct blasting operations shall obtain the approval of the Licensing Officer for a particular blasting operation to take place before commencing the blasting operation.
(2)  Any person who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
Operator to be present during blasting operation
55.—(1)  An operator at a blasting site —
(a)shall not leave the blasting site until the entire blasting operation is completed; and
(b)shall not permit any other person to act as the operator of the blasting site.
(2)  Any operator who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
Safety at blasting site
56.  An operator shall ensure that —
(a)all danger areas in the blasting site are clearly marked;
(b)equipment or barriers designed to prevent inadvertent entry by any unauthorised person are installed at every danger area in the blasting site where, because of the nature of the work being carried out there or for any other reason, there is —
(i)a risk of a person suffering personal injury as a result of falling from a height;
(ii)a risk of a person suffering personal injury as a result of being struck by a falling object; or
(iii)significant danger to the health and safety of persons; and
(c)appropriate measures are taken to protect the health and safety of all persons authorised to enter or work in danger areas in the blasting site.
General responsibilities of operator
57.—(1)  An operator shall —
(a)ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that all explosives are stored and carried safely and securely and used safely;
(b)appoint one or more competent persons as explosives supervisor; and
(c)ensure that at all times there is only one person acting as the explosives supervisor at the blasting site.
(2)  An operator shall ensure that —
(a)suitable procedures for —
(i)shotfiring operations at the blasting site;
(ii)appointing shotfirers, trainee shotfirers and storekeepers;
(iii)appointing other persons involved in the storage, carriage or use of explosives;
(iv)dealing with misfires; and
(v)ensuring, as far as is reasonably practicable, that such procedures are complied with,
are established and laid down in writing;
(b)an adequate written specification is prepared for each shotfiring operation at the blasting site to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that such firing will not give rise to danger; and
(c)a copy of the specification is given to every person on whom duties are imposed under the specification.
(3)  An operator shall ensure that every operation involving the storage, carriage or use of explosives is carried out by —
(a)a duly authorised and competent person; or
(b)a trainee under the close supervision of a duly authorised and competent person.
(4)  An operator shall ensure that —
(a)the facilities and equipment necessary to enable shotfiring operations to be carried out safely are provided;
(b)every vehicle which is provided for use in relation to shotfiring operations is so marked as to be readily identifiable from a distance;
(c)detonators are stored in separate containers from other explosives; and
(d)explosives are at all times kept in a locked explosives store or under the constant supervision of a suitable person.
(5)  An operator shall ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that each shotfiring operation is carried out safely and in accordance with the procedures required to be established under paragraph (2)(a) and any specification required to be prepared under paragraph (2)(b).
Supervision of shotfiring operation
58.—(1)  An operator shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that —
(a)a trainee shotfirer at the blasting site does not, and is not required to, fire shots —
(i)except when he is under the close personal supervision of a shotfirer; or
(ii)unless the operator is satisfied that the trainee shotfirer has completed a suitable period of training and has appropriate practical experience; and
(b)all shotfiring operations are carried out under the close personal supervision of the shotfirer.
(2)  An operator shall ensure, in respect of every shotfirer or trainee shotfirer employed at a blasting site, that a record of the employment of the shotfirer or trainee shotfirer at the blasting site is maintained until the end of 3 years after the date of termination of the employment of the shotfirer or trainee shotfirer at the blasting site.
Responsibilities of shotfirer
59.  Before a shot is fired at a blasting site, a shotfirer shall —
(a)check the shotfiring system or circuit to ensure that it has been connected correctly;
(b)where electrical detonators are used, ensure that they have been correctly connected to the shotfiring system or circuit and that the shotfiring system or circuit is tested with an instrument suitable for that purpose;
(c)where appropriate, ensure that the electrical integrity of the shotfiring system or circuit is such as to make a misfire unlikely; and
(d)ensure that the shot is fired from a safe place.
Measures to be taken in event of misfire
60.  In the event of a misfire of a shot, an operator shall ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that —
(a)no person other than himself, the explosives supervisor, a shotfirer, a trainee shotfirer or any other person authorised by him enters the danger area where the shot was fired until —
(i)a period of 30 minutes has elapsed from the time of the misfire; and
(ii)any shotfiring apparatus has been disconnected from the shot;
(b)appropriate steps are taken to determine the cause of, and to deal with, the misfire; and
(c)a suitable record is kept of the misfire.
Prohibited activities
61.—(1)  No person shall handle explosives at a blasting site unless he is —
(a)a person engaged in the carriage of explosives to or from the blasting site;
(b)a shotfirer or trainee shotfirer;
(c)a person authorised by the operator at the blasting site to handle explosives at the blasting site; or
(d)a person appointed by the operator at the blasting site to be in charge of the explosives store.
(2)  No person shall —
(a)bring any article or substance (other than any explosives) which is likely to cause an unintended explosion or fire; or
(b)except for the purpose of lighting an igniter cord or safety fuse, take any naked flame,
within 10 metres of any explosives in a blasting site.
(3)  No person shall forcibly remove any detonator lead, safety fuse or other system for initiating shots from a shothole in a blasting site after the shothole has been charged and primed.
(4)  No person shall charge or fire a shot —
(a)unless there is sufficient visibility to ensure that —
(i)all work preparatory to shotfiring;
(ii)the shotfiring operation; and
(iii)any site inspection after the shot is fired,
can be carried out safely;
(b)in a shothole which has previously been fired, unless he is dealing with a misfire; or
(c)in any tunnel or excavation (other than a shothole) in the face or side of a quarry for the purpose of extracting minerals or products of minerals.
(5)  No person shall fire a shot —
(a)unless he is a shotfirer or trainee shotfirer; and
(b)except by means of a suitable exploder or safety fuse.
(6)  No person shall cap a safety fuse with a detonator unless —
(a)he is using equipment designed for that purpose; and
(b)he is in a suitably sheltered place designated by an operator for that purpose.