30 CFR § 77.1910 Explosives and blasting; general.
(a) Light and power circuits shall be disconnected or removed from
the blasting area before charging and blasting.
(b) All explosive materials, detonators, and any other related
blasting material employed in the development of any slope or shaft shall be
stored, transported, carried, charged, and fired in accordance with the
provision of Subpart N, "Explosives and Blasting," of this Part 77. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, all shots
shall be fired from the surface.
(c) Where tests for methane have been conducted and methane has not
been found and only permissible blasting units are being employed, shots may
be fired from an upper level of the slope or shaft.
(d) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, all men
shall be removed from the slope or shaft prior to blasting.
(e) Blasting areas in slopes or shafts shall be covered with mats or
other suitable material when the excavation is too shallow to retain blasted
material.
(f) Where it is impracticable to prepare primers in the blasting
area, primers may be prepared on the surface and carried into the shaft in
specially constructed, insulated, covered containers.
(g) No other development operation shall be conducted in a shaft or
at the face of a slope while drill holes are being charged and until after
all shots have been fired.
(h) The sides of the slope or shaft between the overhead platform and
the bottom where men are working shall be examined after each blast and loose
material removed.
(i) Loose rock and other material shall be removed from timbers and
platforms after each blast before men are lowered to the shaft bottom.
