Hong Kong Regulations

DANGEROUS GOODS (GENERAL) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 55

Firing of charges for blasting

(1) When blasting is carried out-

   (a)  save as provided in regulation 57(1)(i), blasting shall be done by
        means of bore hole charges only and no surface charges shall be used
        except with the permission of the Authority;

   (b)  no bore hole shall be loaded with more than such quantity of explosive
        as shall be determined by the shot firer in each particular case;

   (c)  no blast shall be fired unless effective and adequate precautions are
        taken to prevent any fragments being projected in a dangerous manner;

   (d)  (Repealed L.N. 104 of 1967)

   (e)  for a period lasting from 5 minutes prior to the blasting until all
        charges have been fired, warning gongs shall be beaten continuously so
        as to be audible at a distance of 150 mm therefrom and red flags shall
        be displayed continuously at all points of access to the place of
        blasting and at a distance of 150 mm from such place; (L.N. 104 of
        1967; L.N. 119 of 1983; L.N. 386 of 1993)

   (f)  no fuse with a burning time of less than 2 minutes shall be used if
        ignition is not effected by means of igniter cord; (L.N. 21 of 1971)

   (fa) no fuse with a burning time of less than 1 1/2 minutes shall be used
        if ignition is effected by means of igniter cord; (L.N. 21 of 1971)

   (g)  if matches are used to light fuses, not more than 2 fuses shall be lit
        by any one person at any one time, and if 2 fuses are so lit, the
        first fuse lit shall be of not less than 3 minutes burning time (2 m
        of standard safety fuse); (L.N. 119 of 1983)

   (h)  no fuse shall be lit by means of an acetylene lamp; (L.N. 104 of 1967)

   (i)  if fuses are to be lit in a series by means of an igniting squib,
        then, except with the prior permission in writing of the Authority-

        (i)    the series shall consist of not more than 10 fuses,

        (ii)   each fuse of the series shall be longer than the preceding fuse
               by not less than 15 seconds burning time (150 mm of standard
               safety fuse), (L.N. 119 of 1983)

        (iii)  the person using the igniting squib shall be accompanied by
               another person having a box of matches or other suitable means
               of immediately relighting the igniting squib if it should
               become extinguished, and

        (iv)   the fuses shall be lit seriatim commencing with the longest
               fuse; (L.N. 104 of 1967)

   (j)  no dynamite or home-made igniting squibs shall be used to light fuses;

   (k)  any electric exploder used for firing charges shall be fitted with a
        detachable handle or key and shall be so designed as to prevent
        unauthorized use, the leads to the exploder or firing switch shall not
        be connected until the shot firer has tested the circuit with a
        galvanometer, or until immediately before firing takes place, the
        exploder shall be set in a position where the shot firer can see it
        while he is connecting the charges and the shot firer shall carry with
        him the detachable handle or key of the exploder while he is so
        connecting the charges;

   (l)  no electric mains shall be used for firing except with the permission
        of the Authority; and when so used the switch controlling the circuit
        shall be contained in a box so arranged that the box cannot be closed
        unless the switch is removed from the box, and the shot firer shall
        carry the key of the switch while he connects the charges and shall
        carry out the firing himself;

   (m)  if a detonating fuse is used, the single detonator required to
        discharge all blasts shall not be inserted until after the warning
        signals required by sub-paragraph (e) have been commenced; (L.N. 104
        of 1967)

   (n)  on completion of the blasting the shot firer in charge thereof shall
        ensure that all charges have been detonated and that no unexploded
        explosives remain at the place of blasting. (L.N. 104 of 1967)

(2) Any person who, after the commencement of the warning signals referred to
in paragraph (1), enters or, upon request being made to him by any public
servant or any person engaged in the blasting, refuses to leave the blasting
area shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) Where blasting is carried out under water, the provision of this
regulation shall apply subject to such modification as that circumstance may
require.