PART VSHOTFIRING PROCEDURES
Examination for general safety and tests for firedamp18
1
Immediately before–
a
charging a shothole or round of shotholes; or
b
firing a shot or round of shots,
the person who is to fire the shot or round of shots shall make suitable tests for the presence of firedamp and (where appropriate) an examination for general safety.
2
If any test carried out in accordance with paragraph (1) shows the presence of firedamp in a concentration of or greater than 1.25 per cent by volume or (where the estimated period of delay between the first and the last shot to be fired, calculated by reference to the markings on the detonators, exceeds 0.1 seconds) 0.8 per cent by volume, the person who made the test shall not proceed with charging or firing until the concentration of firedamp has been reduced below 1.25 per cent or, as the case may be, 0.8 per cent by volume; and when the concentration of firedamp cannot be so reduced, he shall–
a
inform the person having immediate control of the mining operations being carried on in the part of the mine where the relevant concentration was detected of that fact; and
b
take appropriate precautions to prevent danger arising from any shothole which he has charged but not fired.