The Stratified Ironstone, Shale and Fireclay Mines (Explosives) Regulations 1956

Precautions after shot firing

33.—(1) After the firing of any shot the person who fired it or (if any arrangements described in paragraph (3) of this regulation are for the time being in force in the mine) a deputy acting in accordance with those arrangements shall—

(a)ascertain by a personal examination whether it is safe for ordinary working to be resumed in each working place affected by that shot; and

(b)ensure that any necessary action is taken to make each such place safe for such working.

(2) Where a round of shots has been fired—

(a)that examination shall not be made, if the round was a round of six shots or less, before the expiry of five minutes or, in any other case, before the expiry of ten minutes, from the firing of the round;

(b)the person making the examination shall in the course thereof examine for sockets in the face, for any explosive remaining in any such socket and, if he has reason to think that any shot may not have completely exploded, for any unexploded charge in the material brought down.

(3) Arrangements in writing made by the manager and approved by an inspector may provide that, after the firing of every shot, the person who fired it shall not comply with paragraph (1) of this regulation but shall, at each entrance to the danger zone determined in pursuance of paragraph (1) of regulation thirty-one, leave placed an appropriate fence conspicuously marked as specified in paragraph (2) of that regulation, that the requirements of the said paragraph (1) of this regulation shall be fulfilled, in the course of the making in pursuance of regulation twelve of the Coal and Other Mines (Managers and Officials) Regulations, 1956(1) of the next pre-shift inspection of the deputy's district in which the shot was fired, by the deputy for the time being in charge of that district, and for matters ancillary and supplemental thereto.

(4) No person other than a deputy acting in accordance with arrangements made in pursuance of the last preceding paragraph or a person acting with the authority of such a deputy shall remove any fence left so placed.

(5) The manager of every mine at which there are for the time being in force arrangements described in paragraph (3) of this regulation shall ensure that a copy thereof is provided in the covered accommodation provided in pursuance of section one hundred and thirty-five of the Act and that a copy thereof is supplied to each deputy, shot firer and person appointed to fire shots by fuse employed at the mine.