Question 1

Under 1926.904(a), where must explosives and related materials be stored?

Accepted Answer

Under §1926.904(a), explosives and related materials must be stored in facilities approved under the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms regulations in 27 CFR part 55. Follow the requirement in §1926.904(a)) which directs employers to use BATF‑approved storage facilities. (See also the general construction regulations at §1926 for broader construction safety requirements.)

Question 2

Under 1926.904(b), can blasting caps or detonators be stored in the same magazine with other explosives or blasting agents?

Accepted Answer

No. Under §1926.904(b), blasting caps, electric blasting caps, detonating primers, and primed cartridges must not be stored in the same magazine with other explosives or blasting agents. Keep these initiating devices separated from bulk explosives by storing them in their own approved magazines as required by §1926.904(b)). (Also review §1926 for related construction safety obligations.)

Question 3

Under 1926.904(c), how far must smoking and open flames be kept from explosives and detonator storage magazines?

Accepted Answer

Under §1926.904(c), smoking and open flames must be kept at least 50 feet away from explosives and detonator storage magazines. Do not permit smoking or open flames within 50 feet of any explosives or detonator storage magazine per §1926.904(c)). (Refer to §1926 for other safety requirements on construction sites.)

Question 4

Under 1926.904(d), may explosives be permanently stored underground before providing two modes of exit for an underground operation?

Accepted Answer

No. Under §1926.904(d), explosives or blasting agents may not be permanently stored in any underground operation until the operation has been developed to the point where at least two modes of exit have been provided. Ensure the underground work area has at least two separate exits before using it for permanent storage of explosives, as required by §1926.904(d)). (See §1926 for broader construction safety context.)

Question 5

Under 1926.904(e), how far must a permanent underground storage magazine be located from any shaft, adit, or active underground working area?

Accepted Answer

Under §1926.904(e), a permanent underground storage magazine must be at least 300 feet from any shaft, adit, or active underground working area. Site permanent underground magazines no closer than 300 feet to shafts, adits, or active working areas as required by §1926.904(e)). (For overall safety requirements, consult §1926.)

Question 6

Under 1926.904(f), what separation is required between permanent underground magazines containing detonators and magazines containing other explosives or blasting agents?

Accepted Answer

Under §1926.904(f), permanent underground magazines that contain detonators must not be located closer than 50 feet to any magazine containing other explosives or blasting agents. Maintain at least a 50‑foot separation between detonator magazines and magazines holding other explosives underground as required by §1926.904(f)). (Refer to §1926 for additional construction regulations.)

Question 7

Under 1926.904, does OSHA specify separation distances for surface magazines containing detonators and other explosives?

Accepted Answer

The §1926.904 text does not specify numeric separation distances for surface magazines; it prohibits storing detonators and similar initiating devices in the same magazine with other explosives and sets underground separation distances. §1926.904(b)) prohibits co‑storage in the same magazine, and §1926.904(e)) and §1926.904(f)) set distances for permanent underground magazines. For surface magazine siting details beyond these prohibitions, employers should follow BATF/ATF rules referenced in §1926.904(a)) and any applicable state regulations.

Question 8

Under 1926.904(b), are electric blasting caps treated the same as other blasting caps for storage purposes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under §1926.904(b), electric blasting caps are listed along with blasting caps, detonating primers, and primed cartridges and must not be stored in the same magazine with other explosives or blasting agents. Store electric blasting caps separately from bulk explosives as required by §1926.904(b)). (See §1926 for the overall construction standards.)

Question 9

Under 1926.904, does the smoking and open flame prohibition apply to areas beyond 50 feet if the magazine contains particularly sensitive explosives?

Accepted Answer

The standard text of §1926.904(c) sets the prohibition at 50 feet and does not specify larger distances for more sensitive explosives. Per §1926.904(c)), smoking and open flames are not permitted within 50 feet of explosives and detonator storage magazines. Employers with higher‑risk explosives should follow the BATF‑approved facility rules referenced in §1926.904(a)) and applicable industry guidance to determine if greater controls are needed.

Question 10

Under 1926.904, may temporary underground storage be used before two modes of exit are provided?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under §1926.904(d), the prohibition applies to permanent underground storage — it states that no explosives or blasting agents shall be permanently stored until at least two modes of exit are provided; it does not prohibit temporary storage prior to that development. The exact text in §1926.904(d)) bars permanent underground storage until two modes of exit exist. Employers using temporary underground storage before two exits are provided should still follow BATF requirements referenced in §1926.904(a)) and implement strict safety controls.

Question 11

Under 1926.904, what must employers do about storage facility approval for explosives?

Accepted Answer

Under §1926.904(a), employers must store explosives and related materials in storage facilities that are approved as required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in 27 CFR part 55. Ensure magazines and storage facilities meet the BATF/ATF approval and licensing requirements cited in §1926.904(a)). Compliance with OSHA's §1926 obligations may also require additional site‑specific safety measures.

Question 12

Under 1926.904, are there special distance rules for placing permanent underground detonator magazines near other explosives magazines?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under §1926.904(f), permanent underground magazines that contain detonators must not be located closer than 50 feet to any magazine containing other explosives or blasting agents. Maintain at least a 50‑foot separation between detonator magazines and other explosives magazines underground as required by §1926.904(f)). (Other siting requirements for permanent underground magazines are in §1926.904(e)).)

Question 13

Under 1926.904, does OSHA provide the technical specifications for approved magazines, or where must those specifications be obtained?

Accepted Answer

Under §1926.904(a), OSHA directs that explosives be stored in facilities approved under BATF regulations (27 CFR part 55), so the technical specifications and approval criteria are contained in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms rules rather than in §1926.904 itself. See §1926.904(a)) which references BATF approval requirements. Employers should consult 27 CFR part 55 (BATF/ATF rules) for magazine construction, siting, and approval details in addition to OSHA’s §1926 construction standards.

Question 14

Under 1926.904, are detonators allowed to be stored with primed cartridges in the same magazine?

Accepted Answer

No. Under §1926.904(b), detonating primers and primed cartridges are among the items specifically listed that must not be stored in the same magazine with other explosives or blasting agents. Keep detonating primers and primed cartridges separated from bulk explosives by not storing them in the same magazine as required by §1926.904(b)). (Consult §1926 for additional construction safety obligations.)

Question 15

Under 1926.904, does the 300‑foot distance in 1926.904(e) apply to non‑permanent (temporary) underground magazines?

Accepted Answer

The requirement in §1926.904(e) specifically applies to "permanent underground storage magazines," so the 300‑foot siting distance is mandated for permanent magazines and the text does not state that it applies to temporary underground magazines. The exact language in §1926.904(e)) sets the 300‑foot minimum for permanent underground magazines. Employers using temporary underground magazines should follow BATF approval rules cited in §1926.904(a)) and apply prudent safety measures.

Question 16

Under 1926.904, if an employer stores blasting caps on the surface, does 1926.904(b) allow them to place other explosives in the same magazine?

Accepted Answer

No. Under §1926.904(b), blasting caps (including electric blasting caps), detonating primers, and primed cartridges must not be stored in the same magazine with other explosives or blasting agents, whether the magazine is on the surface or underground. Do not co‑store blasting caps and other explosives in the same magazine per §1926.904(b)). (See §1926 for overall construction standards.)

Question 17

Under 1926.904, who should employers consult to ensure magazine approval and siting compliance?

Accepted Answer

Under §1926.904(a), employers should consult the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (now ATF) regulations in 27 CFR part 55 to ensure magazines are approved and sited in compliance with the referenced requirements. Follow the approval and siting rules in 27 CFR part 55 as required by §1926.904(a)). Also ensure compliance with the OSHA construction rules found at §1926 for related workplace safety obligations.

Explosives storage requirements

Questions & Answers