Section 225.55  Shooting

a)         The shot firer may fire only twenty (20) shots in any given blast at the working face.  The shot firer may blast only two (2) working faces per blast.

b)         The shot firer may only use one kind of permissible explosive or detonator in the same drill hole.

c)         After the shot firer loads all the boreholes, the shot firer must:

1)         remove all unused permissible explosives or unused electric detonators from face; and

2)         store the unused permissible explosives or unused electric detonators in accordance with Sections 225.45(f) and 225.45(g) on storing permissible explosives underground.

d)         The shot firer, before blasting, must:

1)         visually examine the roof and ribs pursuant to Sections 13.04, 30.04, and 30.05, of the Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985 ch. 96½, pars. 1304, 3004, 3005); and

2)         check for methane pursuant to Section 31.04 of the Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985 ch. 96½, par. 3104); and

3)         if, pursuant to Sections 31.04 and 31.09 of the Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985 ch. 96½, pars. 3104, 3109), the concentration of methane is equal to or greater than one percent;

A)        stop work, and

B)        notify the shot firer's supervisor.

e)         The shot firer must hang warning devices made of reflective material to warn of an impending blast.  These warning devices must be placed at all approachable areas to the blasting face.  The shot firer when shooting cross cuts, must ensure all persons have been removed from the adjoining place that they are blasting towards.

f)         The shot firer must:

1)         keep the blasting cable shunted except when testing continuity or connecting into circuit, and

2)         wire the boreholes in a series circuit.

            However, at no time may anyone wire the legwires from one borehole to another with an exposed electric blasting cap.

g)         Before attaching to a blasting unit, which the Mine Safety and Health Administration has approved under 30 CFR 24.0-24.9 (1985) or under 30 CFR 25.1-25.13, 25.20-25.21, 25.25-25.26 (1985) the shot firer must ensure the blasting cable is shunted until ready to be checked with a galvanometer for continuity.

h)         All blasting charges must be surrounded by at least eighteen (18) inches of rock, coal, or both in all directions if the height of the coal permits.

i)          The shot firer must ensure that when the blasting cable is attached to the leg wires, the ends are either staggered or kept well separated.

j)          The shot firer must unreel the blasting cable from the face outby to a position at least fifty (50) feet and at a ninety degree (90 ) angle from where the shot firer intends to blast.

k)         The shot firer must give a loud, verbal warning such as "fire in the hole" at least three (3) times before blasting.

l)          No shot firer may fire nor any supervisor order any unlawful shot.

m)        After the permissible explosives and electric detonators have detonated, the shot firer must:

1)         remove the blasting cable from the blasting unit;

2)         join the two strands of wire together (shunt); and

3)         after allowing sufficient time for the smoke to clear;

A)        make an immediate examination of the roof, and ribs, pursuant to Sections 13.04, 30.04, and 30.05 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985 ch. 96 1/2, pars. 1304, 3004, 3005)

B)        check for:

i)          methane pursuant to Section 31.04 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 96½, par. 3104),

ii)         carbon monoxide, and

iii)        misfires.

n)         At the shift's end, the shot firer must:

1)         return all unused permissible explosives and electric detonators to the section storage magazine;

2)         lock the section magazine's cover; and

3)         keep the inventory records which 62 Ill. Adm. Code 225.47 requires.