(1)The number of shots which explode shall, unless shots are fired electrically, be counted by the shotfirer and any another competent person authorised for the purpose and unless it is certain that all the shots have been exploded, no person shall re-enter or be permitted to reenter the place until 30 minutes after the firing of shots:Provided that where shots are fired electrically, this interval may be reduced to not less than five minutes after the source of electricity has been disconnected from the cable.(2)In the event of a misfire, the entrance or entrances to the working place shall be fenced so as to prevent inadvertent access and no work other than that of locating or relieving the misfire shall be done therein until the misfire has been located and relieved.(3)In opencast working, it shall be sufficient to mark the place of the misfire with a red flag.(4)In the event of a misfire, a second charge shall not be placed in the same hole.(5)If the misfire contains a detonator, the leads or fuse thereof shall be attached by a string to the shotfiring cable or some distinctive marker.(6)Except where the misfire is due to faulty cable or a faulty connection, and the shot is fired as soon as practicable after the defect is remedied, another shot shall be fired in a relieving hole which shall be so placed and drilled in such a direction that at no point shall it be nearer than 30 centimetres from the misfired hole:Provided that the new hole shall be bored in the presence of a shotfirer, preferably the same person who fired the shot.(7)After a relieving shot has been fired, a careful search for cartridges and detonators, if any, shall be made in the presence of the shotfirer, amongst the material brought down by the shot:Provided that in the case of working belowground if such cartridge or detonator is not recovered, the tubs into which the material is loaded shall be marked and a further search made on the surface and the loading of any coal, stone or debris which may contain a detonator, shall be carried out without the aid of tools.(8)If a misfired hole is not dislodged by a relieving shot, the procedure laid down in sub-regulation (6) and (7) Shall be repeated and a misfired hole which cannot be dealt with in the manner so provided, shall be securely plugged with a wooden plug and no person other than a shotfirer an official or a person authorised for the purpose shall remove or attempt to remove such plug.(9)When a misfired shot is not found, or when a misfired shot is not relieved, the shotfirer shall, before leaving the mine, give information of the failure to such shotfirer or official as may relieve or take over charge from him and he shall also record, in a bound paged book kept for the purpose, a report on every misfire, whether suspected, and whether the shothole is relieved or not relieved.Provided that the relieving shotfirer or official shall sign the report and record in the said book the action taken for reliving the misfired shothole.(10)The shotfirer of the next shifts shall locate and blast the misfired hole, but if after a thorough examination of the place where the misfire was reported to have occurred he is satisfied that no misfire has actually occurred, he may permit drilling in the place.(11)In case of opencast mines, the owner, agent and manager of a mine shall draw up a plan which shall instruct all shotfirers the detail procedure to be followed in the event of a misfired shot.
