Handling, Storage, and Transportation Issues

Handling, storage, and transportation of explosives must be in line with the prescribed Federal regulations, per the USACE EM 385-1-1, Safety and Health Requirements, applicable state laws and regulations, and any local restrictions. All USACE projects as of the 2014 edition of EM 385-1-1 require that an Explosive Safety Site Plan be filed and approved with the Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board. These laws and regulations are needed to protect the safety and welfare of the public and of all personnel involved in the handling, storage, or transportation of explosives.

These regulations and requirements change based on the location of the project and may change over time. The following are a list of the Federal regulatory agencies and industry standards that should be consulted when dealing with explosives:

1. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
2. 27 Code of the Federal Regulations (CFR) 555 – ATF Commerce in Explosives.
3. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
4. 29 CFR 1910.109 – OSHA Explosives and Blasting Agents.
5. 29 CFR 1926 Subpart U – OSHA Blasting and the Use of Explosives.
6. Department of Transportation (DOT).
7. U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
8. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
9. Department of Defense (DoD).
10. DoD 6055.9-STD – Ammunition and Explosives Safety Standards.
11. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
12. EM 385-1-1 Section 29 Blasting.
13. EM 385-1-97, Chapter II, “Explosive Safety for Construction Activities.”
14. American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
15. American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASSE A10.7 – Safety Requirements for Transportation, Storage, Handling and Use of Commercial Explosives.
16. Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME).
17. Safety Library Publications.