(1)The shot-firer shall, before a shot is charged, stemmed or fired, see that all persons other than his assistants, if any, in the vicinity, have taken proper shelter, and he shall also take suitable steps to prevent any person approaching the shot and shall himself take adequate shelter, along with his assistants, if any, before firing the shots.(2)In the case of an opencast working, the shot-firer shall not charge or fire a shot-(a)unless he has taken the precautions laid down in sub-regulation (1);(b)unless sufficient warning, by efficient signals or other means approved by the manager, is given over the entire area falling within a radius of 500 meters from the place of firing (hereinafter referred to as the danger zone) and also he has ensured that all persons within such area have taken proper shelter;(c)where any part of a public road or railway lies within the danger zone, unless two persons are posted, one each in either direction at the two extreme points of such road or railway which fall within the danger zone who have, by an efficient system of telephonic communication or hooter or loudspeakers or other means intimated clearance of traffic to the shot-firer and have also warned the passersby and whenever possible the vehicle also, if any, which have passed by such road or railway.(3)In the case of an opencast working, where any permanent building or structure of permanent nature not belonging to the owner lies within the danger zone, the aggregate maximum charge per delay and per round shall not exceed the amount fixed by the Chief Inspector, by a permission in writing granted on the basis of a scientific study, and subject to such other conditions as he may specify therein.(4)Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (3), the Chief Inspector may, by an order in writing and subject to such conditions as he may specify, exempt any mine or part thereof from the operation of the provisions of sub-regulation (3), on the ground that the observance of its provisions is not necessary or reasonably practicable on account of the special conditions existing thereat.(5)Where the workings, either above or belowground, offer insufficient protection against flying fragments or missiles, adequate shelters or other protection shall be provided.(6)When two working places belowground have approached within 9 meters of each other, the shotfirer shall not fire any shot in any one of the said workings unless all persons have been withdrawn from the other working place and the same has been so fenced off as to prevent persons inadvertently coming in direct line of the shot.
