GOVERNMENT OF SIKKIM
ROADS AND BRIDGES DEPARTMENT
GANGTOK
 

C I R C U L A R

This is for the information of all concerned that the following points are to be strictly followed while indenting/transportation, storage, handling and usage of Explosives:

1. Only authorized person shall receive the explosives for the particular work from the Store magazine with proper indent.
2. Explosives should be strictly transported in departmental explosive van.
3. No person who is physically handicapped shall be employed for any works connected with storage, loading, unloading, transport or use of explosives.
4. The explosives should be stored in portable magazines as per explosives act.
5. All tools & implements kept or used in opening/closing of packages of explosives shall be made only of wood.
6. Daily account shall be maintained for receipt & usage of explosives in Form 32 & Form 34 of Schedule V of explosives Rules 1083 respectively and the Department representative shall endorse the account.
7. Information to local Police Station and Panchayats shall be given for publicity and to exercise caution so as not to endanger lives & properties in the areas.
8. A competent person holding a shot firer’s permit granted under explosive Act 1983 shall carry out all blasting operation.
9.  Blasting operation shall be carried out only between SUNRISE TO    SUNSET.
10. The unused explosive must be returned to the Store with a proper return indent.
11. All losses, shortages of stock and thefts of explosive shall be reported without delay to the nearest Police Station and the concerned Subdivision.
12. For charging or stemming a shot hole no person shall use an iron or steel tools, scrapers or tamping rod, nor shall forcibly press the explosive into a hole of insufficient size. A tamping rod made entirely of wood shall be used.
13. Before exploding any blasting charges, adequate measures shall be taken so as to prevent as far as possible, the projection of fragments of stone by the explosion of the blasting charge.
14. No person shall re-bore or tamper a hole that has once been charged or attempt to withdraw a charge either before firing or after a misfire or deepen or tamper with empty holes or sockets left after blasting.
15. Before commencing shot firing should give sufficient warning to the public by an efficient system of signals and by putting up red flags in the danger zone, and should see that all persons in the vicinity have taken shelter.
16. Public should be warned not to approach the site of blasting operation atleast within an hour after explosion or in the case of unopen quarry, not to approach such quarry within half an hour after explosion.
17. The number of shots, which explodes, shall be counted and unless it is certain that all the shots have been exploded no person shall approach or be permitted to approach the place until 30 (thirty) minutes after the firing of shots.

18. In the event of a misfire, a relieving hole is to be drilled which shall not be placed within 30 (thirty) centimeters from the misfire hole. The relieving hole shall run parallel to the misfire hole.

19. Explosives of Class 2 or Class 3 shall be used in their original cartridge packing and such cartridge shall not be cut to remove explosives for making cartridges of different size.
20. Explosives shall only be conveyed from the licensed storage premises to near the site in original on open packages or in closed containers used solely for that purpose.
21. Explosives shall not be conveyed in any vehicle with any other materials, tools or implements other than that required for the purpose of blasting.
22. Explosives leftover after the day’s   work shall be returned to the licensed premises  magazine from which the same was taken.
23. The containers used for carrying explosives from original packages shall be maintained thoroughly clean and shall be kept closed when not in use. The containers shall be provided with either handles or carrying straps of adequate strength and shall be conspicuously marked with the word “EXPLOSIVES”.
24. Detonators shall be conveyed in special containers. This shall not be carried with other explosives. Batteries, dry cells and other source of electric energy shall not be carried in the vehicle carrying detonators.
25. Explosives before use shall be visually examined for any visible defects and any defective explosives shall not be used.
26. Any explosives showing signs of deterioration of any kind should be reported immediately to the Licening Authority and such explosives set aside for examination by such authority.
27. Electric power at the blasting site shall be disconnected as far as practicable before charging the explosives.
28. No work other than that associated with the charging operations shall be carried out within 10 meters of the holes unless otherwise specified to the contrary by the Licening Authority.
29. When charging is completed any surplus explosives detonators and fuses shall be removed from the vicinity of the hole and stored at a distance which would prevent sympathetic detonation in the event of a charge detonating prematurely in any hole.
30. The holes, which have been charged with explosives, shall not be left unattended till the blasting is completed.
31. Care shall be taken to ensure that fuse or wires connected to the detonators are not damaged during the placing of stemming materials and temping.
32. The issue of explosives and detonators will be strictly made with batch nos. as marked on the cartons/packages. The stores and magazine in charge must maintain the batch nos.
33. All running on a/c. bills including final bills of all projects using explosives must contain a certificate stating the all explosives and detonators are properly used and accounted for.

Principal Chief Engineer (Mech./Stores)

Roads & Bridges Department.