View Full Version : Safety measures
Machiavelli
October 6th, 2001, 10:08 PM
In the last few days we had 2 posts about accidents. In the resulting threads other people have posted about their acciddents and one thing became rather clear, most of these accidents could have been avoided.
So I started this thread to avoid futher accidents. After all, in this field accidents can create lots of difficulties, eg
-you can't play guitar anymore
-you can't pick locks anymore
-you can't finger-fuck your girlfriend anymore
-people blame the forum for your stupidity
You see, there're many things that should and can be avoided. Explosives are in widespread use nowadays because people have learned how to safely manufacture, transport and use them.
So I'd like this thread to become a comprehensive collection of safety measures, starting from the manufacturing in the "lab" over to storing, transporting it to the blasting site to detonating it.
So, what do you do to prevent accidents and what do you do to minimize the damage they can cause, if they do happen. Please don't post any hypothetical stuff, only things you're using or that are being used in the industry.
How do you protect yourself?
(sorry, I can't post any useful infos myself at the moment, I'm fucking drunk )
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Give someone a match and he'll feel warm for a few seconds, set him on fire and he'll feel warm for the rest of his life
nbk2000
October 6th, 2001, 10:54 PM
Well, a good place to start would be the use of pumice, as detailed in the high explosives section topic by me.
Pumice use is being integrated into the US military for storage and shipment of explosive materials and weapons. So, if you're storing explosive chemicals, do so in a bin of pumice.
Not only does it absorb explosive shocks, but is also an excellent insulator of heat. So if you have a fire, the other chemicals will be insulated for awhile, giving you time to put out the fire before it spreads. Or at least slowing down the spread if you're not around.
Another thing I've read about is a large container (think 5 gallon jug) filled with water and sealed with a wax plug. The jug is suspended over the source of a possible fire. If there IS a fire, the heat melts out the plug, dumping the water onto the fire. Seems easy enough to do.
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mongo blongo
October 7th, 2001, 04:22 PM
I think it would be worth mentioning that it is not just the explosives themselves that pose a dangerous risk, but the chemicals used to make them! There are a lot of highly toxic precursors in this field and it would be interesting how people deal with this.
For example i posted some stuff about Azides in the Lead Azide thread (HE).
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AAARRRRRHHH! My beautiful eyes! It burns!
The goggles do nothing!
Anthony
October 7th, 2001, 07:44 PM
I often break the rule of transporting charges and blasting caps together to the blast site. It can't be helped if I go alone (most often), but if I go with a friend I spilt them between us.
I *always* wrap the blasting cap in a thick tea towel for transport (I carry the shit in a bag on my back). This stops scrapnel from the cap going into my back incase of accidental detonation and reduces the risk of the main charge being detonated by a cap accidentally exploding.
If using electric caps I always shunt (twist together) the wires on the cap and also the drop wire.
I use a wooden level press to press my caps, it took all of about 10mins to make by puts me at least 3ft away from cap. I also use a small piece of 1/4" steel as a guard.
I always keep explosive peroxides in open, shallow containers to prevent detonation if it should decide to go off.
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Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups.
A-BOMB
October 8th, 2001, 01:55 PM
With me I was always safe transporting my goods the the site of the blast I have or mean had,(lost in my fire) two 5/16 th's inch steel boxes that have one side of just thin tin sheet metal, on the side that points away from me for my caps and I store them in sand in little bottles and the bottles in sand too and my lab in which I had my fire I had 4 cap in the box and they didn't go off ever though the box got burn alittle. And why did I make they boxes, because of an accident I had 3 years ago with firecrakers I had made. So I made the armored boxes. And I've had many more than I can list I've been shocked by capcitors, burnt by flames, been froze by liquid CO2, shoot while been dove hunting and duck hunting, been attacked by dogs, hit by my uncles dumptruck and hurt more time than I can remember and I have learned each time and that firecraker accident never happend again. And my boxes probaly saveed me from many shrapenal wounds for a hole box of 12 cap when off in that box and the tin side just blew apart and the sharpenal was projected away from me.
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live by the bomb
die by the bomb
a_bab
October 8th, 2001, 07:05 PM
I transport to my blasting site the main charge in a different bag from the blasting cap(s). If I take a friend with me, he'll be the one who'll carry the main charge, as a accidentaly detonation is practically impossible. And is also the hardest 'piece' to carry http://theforum.virtualave.net/ubb/smilies/wink.gif (weight)
I hate to expose other people to dangers with my hazardous activities, so I prepare the charge ALONE, with my friend standing away, to a safe distance in case of a detonation. The most adrenaline rushing part is when I insert the blasting cap in the main charge, when I think '...and what if it goes off wright now ?"
I use mostly fused caps, but in the last time I used some electricals caps. When I connect an 'enhanced clock' to the blasting cap I think 'Damn, I hope that the transistor won't fail wright now'...
The blasting cap manufacture is another storry. I never used a shielg, gloves or gogles but in the future I'll do, because 'shit happends'.
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Damn, I got a nitro-headache again...
http://move.to/pyromania
mark
October 8th, 2001, 11:32 PM
Shater proof goggles, welders gloves, and good prayer are all good precations.
mongo blongo
October 9th, 2001, 01:16 AM
I know exactly what you mean about the "adrenaline rush" when starting the timer (in a dream)! http://theforum.virtualave.net/ubb/smilies/wink.gif
I want to use gloves when doing it but I can't because the buttons are too close together and me fingers are too fat!
Also if any of the buttons are touched after the arming switch is activated, Booom!
I always keep it away from the main charge until the timer is ticking.
You only realize the danger when it comes to doing it!
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AAARRRRRHHH! My beautiful eyes! It burns!
The goggles do nothing!
angelo
October 9th, 2001, 01:33 AM
in one of the PMJB's it has info on how to make a bomb disposaal suit. Could be helpful when making explosives. but I would guess it would be to heavy to use at a blasting site. Not to mention pretty obvious.
" duuuhhhh, wasn't me officer, I play the tinman at the school play "
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kinetic
July 23rd, 2003, 10:43 AM
I thought this info might be useful...
The minimum safe distance you can be from an explosive when detonated (blast only, not counting shrapnel) is calculated by the following formula:
D=K x W^(1/3)
D= distance in feet
K= "K factor" K factor is a constant. It is a conversion factor that is used to express pressure in PSI. There is a 50% chance of ear drum rupture at 3.4 PSI. Since ear protection should always be worn, I use a pressure of 4 PSI which relates to a K factor of 18.
W= weight of explosive in pounds of TNT. TNT has a relative effectivness factor (RE factor) of 1.0
Nitroglycerin has an RE factor of 1.5 so, for every 1 pound of nitro you have, multiply by RE to find the equivilant amount expresses in pounds TNT.
If you are behind shielding, divide D by 2 to find MSD.
I have put this formula to the test many times and i'm still here. The distances may seem very close but, blast overpressure IN THE OPEN dissipates very quickly. In an enclosed area, this formula will not work.
yt2095
July 23rd, 2003, 11:11 AM
when loading det caps, I also use a blast sheild (several MW transformers welded together), fiberglass tamping rod (cut from an old fishing pole), gogles, but most importantly a Mirror!
I NEVER allow any part of me to be in "line of sight" of schrapnel, and do all my loading looking via a mirror. sooner be in one peice and live long enough to enjoy my 7 years bad luck, than have bits missing!
a Mirror takes practice, an hour or 2 in the back yard squashing ants with your tamping rod using only a mirror to aim should do it nicely :)
avoid booze too! it shouldn`t need saying, but some get brave after a pint or 2, and get clumsy or try make things out of their league that they wouldn`t ordinarily.
kalashnikov
July 24th, 2003, 11:22 AM
I would agree with all of the safety precautions mentioned so far.
One thing I used to do with regards to storing explosives is put them in a metal box in a hole in the ground. That way if there was an accidental detonation most of the blast force would be upwards.
An obvious problems is damp (I countered this by using silica gel and airtight containers inside the box). Another possible problem is unwanted discovery (which was never a problem at my place because my folks knew I made explosives). We've moved now so I was thinking of building a containment center looking something like this:
|**: ###### :**| | = brick
|**: ###### :**| * = sand
|**: XXXXXXX :**| : = plank
|**: XXXXXXX :**| X = metal box containing explosives
|**: XXXXXXX :**| # = sandbag
+------------------+ - = ground
The obvious problems with this is again damp.
TRUTHSEEKER
November 9th, 2003, 02:34 AM
(This is my first post.)
I used to work for a company that manufactures detontators, initiators, explosive bolts, arming devices for launch vehicles, etc.
Some of this will not apply to the home chemist, but never-the-less will remind you of what you are dealing with.
The importance of safety can't be overemphasized. We had a chemist that worked there with one hand. There was a lady who worked there who's husband had lost both of his hands. These people worked with 1 or 2 pounds or RDX or lead azide on a routine basis. (The roofs of some of the small buildings were designed to blow off.)
Though pressure, shock, and heat are things to watch, static electricity was our biggest problem. Wrist straps for grounding, conductive shoes, and cotton or wool clothing (no synthetic fabrics) were required. Eye protection was also mandatory.
Most work was done with Lexan (polycarbonate) shielding. This was grounded (with metal screen since it is not conductive) or one of the modified conductive versions of polycarbonate (they add metal powders to the resin). These "shields" or "boxes" were connected to a grounding rod that was in the earth just like a lightning rod. We cut the polycarbonate with either a bandsaw or tablesaw. (BTW - polycarbonate does handle hydrocarbon solvents to well - they attack it.)
In the powder pressing room, the incomplete parts were stored in ovens to keep them dry (temp was just under the pain threshold). At times they would mop the floors to increase the humidity. (BTY - This will not work with all explosvies because some will abosorb too much of the moisture.)
The press tooling consisted of pneumatic (air) rams that were remotely operated with air valves. It was common for the rams to get blown to hell - they were made of hardened tool steel and so were the anvils that held the parts.
Completed parts had the leads shorted together and the design if the parts was such that the case was ground and the two wires went to a bridgewire. The gap between the case and the leads was such that a spark would jump from the lead to the case without going through the bridge wire. Pretty slick idea. Bridgewires were made from various heater-wire alloys.
Several electrical test were run on the parts and they were even X-rayed for mechanical corectness and some other kind of "ray" (N-ray I think) to search for organic contaminates.
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