PART XIX GENERAL BLASTING — Electrical initiation
435
(1) Where there is danger from extraneous electricity, a blasting operation shall be fully non-electric.
435(2)
A blasting operation or handling of an explosive shall not be carried out on the approach of or during an electrical storm and persons shall remain outside the danger area at that time.
435(3)
To minimize hazards from radio frequency energy, electrical blasting shall not be carried out at a distance from a transmitter less than shown in Table 1 or Table 2, whichever is applicable: Table 1 Recommended Safe Distances for Commercial AM Broadcast Transmitters 0.535 to 1.705 MHz Transmitter Power (watts) Minimum Distance (metres) Up to 4,000 220 5,000 244 10,000 345 25,000 546 50,000 762 100,000 1,098 500,000 2,439 Table 2 Recommended Safe Distances for Mobile Transmitters and Cellular Telephones Transmitter Power (watts) Minimum distances (metres) MF 1.7 to 3.4 MHz Fixed Mobile Maritime HF 28 to 29.7 MHz Amateur VHF 35 to 36 MHz Public Use 42 to 44 MHz Public Use 50 to 54 Mhz Amateur VHF 144 to 148 MHz Amateur 150.8 to 161.6 MHz Public Use UHF 450 to 470 MHz Public Use Cellular Telephones Above 800 MHz 1 5 14 11 4 2 5 10 32 25 8 5 10 14 45 35 12 8 50 31 101 79 26 17 100 44 143 112 37 24 150 59 191 150 49 32 200 62 202 158 52 34 250 70 225 177 58 38 500 98 319 249 82 53 600 108 349 273 90 58 1,000 139 451 353 116 75 1,500 170 552 432 141 91 10,000 438 1,425 1,116 365 236
435(4)
An employer shall ensure that during the commencement of a blasting operation and while it is in progress
435(a)
where it is an electric blasting operation, a sign bearing the words "Blasting Operations, Turn Off Radio Transmitter" is posted on all public roads leading to a blasting area and is visible to persons entering the area; or 100 metres where the speed limit on the road is 50 kilometres an hour or less; or mobile transmitters shall be kept away from the blasting area and where absolute control cannot be exercised, warning signs shall be posted to remind vehicle operators to turn off transmitters and, where necessary as determined by the blaster, flagmen shall be posted to instruct operators accordingly; and
435(b)
where it is a fully non-electric blasting operation, a sign bearing the words "Blasting Operations" is posted on all public roads leading to a blasting area and is visible to persons entering the area; and 300 metres where the speed limit on the road is greater than 50 kilometres an hour. blasting circuits shall be kept on the ground and bare connections shall be elevated sufficiently to prevent current leakage.
435(c)
a sign bearing the words "End of Blasting" is posted on all public roads leading from a blasting area and is visible to persons leaving the area.
435(5)
A sign required under subsection (4) shall have letters not less than 15 centimetres high on a contrasting background and shall be 90 centimetres wide and 120 centimetres tall.
435(6)
Where a sign referred to in this section is required to be visible to persons entering a blasting area, it shall be located at a distance from the blasting area of
435(7)
An employer shall ensure that a sign required under this section is removed or covered when the blasting operation is completed.
435(8)
In addition to the other requirements of this section, the following precautions shall be adopted to reduce the potential hazards of electrical blasting near radio frequency energy sources:
Not legal advice. Verify the cited article against the signed agreement.