RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD.

UNION SECTION
DECLINE SECTION TM3

STANDARD PRACTICE - CODE 8 REF. NO. 8.5

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DESTRUCTION OF OLD EXPLOSIVES
OBJECTIVE

To provide Miners and Supervisors with enough knowledge and guidance to enable them to be able
to destroy old explosives in a safe and effective manner.

8.5.1 UNDERGROUND DESTRUCTION OF EXPLOSIVES

a. Cordtex (detonating fuse)

i. Must be cut into lengths of not more than 3 metres.

ii. Not more than 20 lengths of 3 metres to be destroyed at any one time as one bomb.

iii. Destruction must take place in an A.S.D. or Road Way where there is no danger of damage to
equipment or material.

iv. The lengths of cordtex will be securely tied together with twine line. A 6d fuse and primer will
be tied onto the bundle also with twine line.

v. The miner who is the holder of a blasting certificate will ensure that the necessary safety
precautions are in place and light up the fuse at the end of the shift.

vi. Precautions must be taken to prevent the inadvertent entry of persons into areas which have
been selected to destroy explosives by the persons carrying out this operation.

b. Powergel and Energex

i. Not more than five sticks or packs will be blasted together.

ii. Sticks / packs will be tied together securely with twine line.

iii. A 6d detonator will be inserted into the sticks / packs to be destroyed.

iv. The explosives will be covered with mud - the area examined and watered down.
 RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD.
UNION SECTION
DECLINE SECTION TM3

STANDARD PRACTICE - CODE 8 REF. NO. 8.5

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DESTRUCTION OF OLD EXPLOSIVES

v. The miner will take reasonable precautions to prevent damage to equipment or material.

vi. If more than one bundle is to be blasted the “Bombs” must be spaced at least 6 metres apart.

vii. The miner will ensure that the area is safeguarded in such a manner that no person can
inadvertently enter whilst blasting is in progress.

ix. Any “mud blast” will be lit only by the holder of a blasting certificate.

C. Capped fuses 8d and 6d detonators

i. The detonators will be cut off of the fuse by means of a Sharp Knife.

ii. A maximum amount of twenty five detonators will be tied together with twine line.

iii. A new fuse will be attached in this bundle.

iv. A mud blast will be made and the same rules adopted as for explosive destruction.

v. Only the certificated miner will light up this mudblast.

D. Anfex

i. Damaged cord to be rolled up and placed into approved container.

ii. Igniter cord must not be destroyed underground.

iii. Bring cord to surface and it will be burnt in the destruction bay.

iv. Shift Supervisor and Mine Overseer will make the necessary arrangements for safe
transportation.

v. The cord will only be transported as laid down in these standards.

 RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD.
UNION SECTION
DECLINE SECTION TM3

STANDARD PRACTICE - CODE 8 REF. NO. 8.5

-3-
DESTRUCTION OF OLD EXPLOSIVES
8.5.2 SURFACE DESTRUCTION OF OLD EXPLOSIVES

A. Old explosive boxes clearance and control

i. Old explosive boxes will be provided for each type of explosives at the location directed by
the Mine Overseer. These boxes will be red and labeled as regulations.

ii. Boxes will be emptied at least every four days and findings will be logged and written log
signed by the person destroying the explosives.

iii. The old explosives destruction log book will be signed by the Shaft Foreman daily and will
be kept in the Mine Overseers office.

iv. The Mine overseer will sign the book weekly and the Section Manager on a monthly basis.

v. No person shall be instructed to clear or destroy any old explosives unless he is the holder of a
blasting certificate and has acknowledged these instructions by signing a copy of them.

B. Dynegal , Gelignite , Powergel and Energex

i. Not more than 25kg of explosives may be destroyed without the Regional Directors permission.

ii. Explosives will be placed in 0,6m deep pits, spaced 10 metre apart. A maximum of 5kg (I.e.
25 sticks or packs) may be placed in each pit. Each of these charges will be primed with a
capped fuse or electric detonator. A sheet of paper will be placed over charge in pit.

iii. Each pit will be filled with sifted sand or soil over the charge to be detonated.

iv. Guards will be placed more than 200 metres from the destruction site and these will be issued
with red flags and whistles.

v. Once the site has been cleared , warnings given and guards placed the blaster will initiate /
detonate the blast from a safe distance electronically.
 RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD.
UNION SECTION
DECLINE SECTION TM3

STANDARD PRACTICE - CODE 8 REF. NO. 8.5

-4-

DESTRUCTION OF OLD EXPLOSIVES

vi. The blaster will keep guards in place and wait at least 30 minutes after the last explosion has
occurred before returning to pits to check that all explosives were destroyed.

vii. Explosives in a liquid state will be placed in pit with sufficient igniter cord and electric starter
to ignite and burn them. The ignition must take place from at least 200m away in case
explosive detonate instead of burning.

C. Detonators and Cordtex

i. Up to 100 detonators can be destroyed by tying them in a bundle and inserting a new
detonator in the middle.

ii. This bundle with detonators pointing downwards is placed into an 0,6m deep pit, covered
with sifted sand or soil and detonated from a safe place electronically.

iii. The same standards for explosive destruction regarding guards area, clearing etc. will be
applied throughout.

iv. A maximum of a half reel of cortex will be destroyed at one time in any 0,6m deep pit.
A detonator will be attached to a good dry portion of the cordtex , the fuse used will be
ignited electronically from plus 200 metre away after all safety precautions have been
followed.

v. The blaster will ensure that all guards posted are fully conversant with the procedures and
able to perform their duties properly before he detonates any blast.

D. Ignitor Cord

i. All igniter cord will be destroyed by burning.

ii. The igniter cord will be left on the reel and not more than one 200 metre reel will be burnt
at any one time in any one pit.
 RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD.
UNION SECTION
DECLINE SECTION TM3

STANDARD PRACTICE - CODE 8 REF. NO. 8.5

-5-
DESTRUCTION OF OLD EXPLOSIVES
iii. Sufficient ignitor cord will be unreeled to allow blaster to walk a safe distance before
reel burns.

iv. Blaster will ensure that where igniter cord is unreeled there is no dry grass, or combustible
material which can inadvertently be ignited by the burning cord.

v. The guards and the other safety precautions will be applied when cord is burnt.

E. Destruction Bay

i. The destruction bay will be located in a safe place away from buildings , materials or
property that can be damaged by blasting.

ii. An area of not less than 4,0m x 5,0m will be cleared of all vegetation and rubbish and
fenced off.

iii. The following signs will be displayed on the fences.

(a No Smoking
(b No Naked light or flame
(c. Danger of explosion

iv. The blaster and Shaft Foreman will report on condition of destruction bay at least weekly.

v. Pits will be examined weekly by blaster and foreman only non ferrous implements must be
used to check any choked pit.

F. Surface Burning Bay

i. The Mine Overseer will provide a surface burning bay site for all empty cardboard containers
and plastic bags.

ii. Adjacent to be more than 10metres away from the burning bay there will be placed as per
the regulations old explosive boxes , where any explosives recovered can be stored for
destruction.
 RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD.
UNION SECTION
DECLINE SECTION TM3

STANDARD PRACTICE - CODE 8 REF. NO. 8.5

-6-

DESTRUCTION OF OLD EXPLOSIVES

iii. A competent person will be appointed and responsible to burn all explosive containers.

iv. Prior to any containers being burnt they will be turned inside out and checked to make sure
that they contain no explosives.

v. Any explosives found in any containers will be placed in the appropriate old explosive boxes
by the appointed competent person and reported to the Shaft Foreman.

vi. The appointed competent person will record containers burnt and explosives recovered in
the book provided.

vii. The quantity and time of burning of containers will be determined by the Shaft Foreman as
weather and quantity conditions dictate. The ventilation officer and shaft foreman will at
least once in each month be present at the site during burning to monitor, sparks and smoke
patterns. Containers will only be burnt after the main day shift ends.

G. Explosives Search

i. A random search of persons leaving the declines security area will be conducted once
per week by the Shaft Foreman or a late Shift Supervisor.

ii. The explosive search book will be completed by the person conducting the search and the
following detail will be recorded :

a. Date

b. Name of person searched

c. Number of persons searched

d. Results of search

e. Details of persons searched

 RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD.
UNION SECTION
DECLINE SECTION TM 3

STANDARD PRACTICE - CODE 8 REF. NO. 8.5

-7-

DESTRUCTION OF OLD EXPLOSIVES

iii. Any persons found in possession of any explosives will be reported to the Security Dept.
without delay.

iv. The searches will be conducted in a dignified manner and persons to be searched will be
informed as to the reason for the search.

v. The persons conducting searches will ensure that the searches are conducted at random
I.e. the days of the search as well as the persons searched.

APPROVED :

B.A.M. ENGINEERING :……………………………………. DATE :……………………….

SECTION ENGINEER :……………………………………. DATE :………………………..

B.A.M. DECLINES (TM 3 ) :……………………………………. DATE :………………………..

REVISED STANDARD NO : ……………………………………. DATE : ……………………….

MF / TS EFFECTIVE DATE :……../………./……….