45.1-161.127 - Underground transportation of explosives.
§ 45.1-161.127. Underground transportation of explosives.
A. Explosives or detonators carried anywhere underground by any person shallbe in individual containers. Such containers shall be constructedsubstantially of nonconductive material, maintained in good condition, andkept closed.
B. Explosives or detonators transported underground in cars moved by means ofa locomotive or rope, or in shuttle cars, shall be in substantially coveredcars or in special substantially covered containers used specifically fortransporting detonators or explosives, and only under the followingconditions:
1. The bodies and covers of such cars and containers shall be constructed orlined with nonconductive material;
2. If explosives and detonators are hauled in the same explosive car or inthe same special container, they shall be separated by at least a four-inchsubstantially fastened hardwood partition or equivalent barrier;
3. Explosives, detonators, or other blasting devices shall not be transportedon the same trip with miners;
4. When explosives or detonators are transported in special cars orcontainers in cars, they shall be hauled in special trips not connected toany other trip; however, this shall not prohibit the use of such additionalcars as needed to lower a rope trip, or to haul supplies including timbers.Materials so transported shall not project above the top of the car. In nocase shall flammable materials such as oil or grease be hauled on the sametrip with explosives; and
5. Explosives or detonators shall not be hauled into or out of a mine withinfive minutes preceding or following a man-trip or any other trip. Iftraveling against the air current, the man-trip shall precede the explosivestrip; if traveling with the air current, the man-trip shall follow theexplosives trip.
C. In low coal seams where it is impractical to comply with subsection B,explosives may be transported in the original and unopened case, or insuitable individual containers, to the underground distribution magazine.
D. Explosives and detonators shall be transported underground by belt onlyunder the following conditions:
1. They shall be transported in the original and unopened case, in specialclosed cases constructed of nonconductive material, or in suitable individualcontainers;
2. Clearance requirements shall be the same as those for transporting minerson belts;
3. Suitable loading and unloading stations shall be provided; and
4. Stop controls shall be provided at loading and unloading points, and anauthorized person shall supervise the loading and unloading of explosives anddetonators.
E. Neither explosives nor detonators shall be transported on flight orshaking conveyors, scrapers, mechanical loading machines, locomotives,cutting machines, drill trucks, or any self-propelled mobile equipment;however, this shall not prohibit the transportation of explosives ordetonators in special closed containers in shuttle cars or in equipmentdesigned especially to transport such explosives or detonators.
(Code 1950, § 45-53.3; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, § 45.1-46; 1994, c. 28.)