Storage of Explosive Material

Miners must be very careful when storing, transporting, or using explosives on a mine site. To prevent injuries or damage to individuals or property within a mine site, workers must store explosive materials in magazines that meet the following requirements:

• Must be structurally sound
• Must be made of non-combustible material or have an exterior covered with fire-resistant material
• Must be lined with non-sparking material
• Must have ventilation holes at the upper and lower part of the storage building to control dampness and excessive heating
• Must be labeled with the appropriate warning signs to indicate the content within
• Must be kept clean and dry inside
• Must be locked when unattended
• Must be used exclusively for the storage of explosive material
• Must be electrically grounded when made of metal

It is crucial that 10 meters of ground surrounding explosives storage facilities be free of rubbish, brush, dry grass, and trees. Other combustible material cannot be stored within 20 meters of explosive material.

To learn more about MSHA Part 48 training requirements visit our MSHA Part 48 Subpart B Surface Mining Online Training web page.