S.L. 499.1 Art. 126Handling of explosives.

(1) Where any explosive or any package containing explosives appears to be damaged all work in the vicinity shall cease until the Authority or the contractor, or the master, as the case may be, or, in the case of service explosives, the authorised service representative, has made arrangements for the safe disposal of such explosive or package and such disposal has been satisfactorily completed and any explosive which may have escaped from its package during handling shall likewise be safely collected and disposed of before work is allowed to proceed.

(3) Packages containing explosives shall not, whenever practicable, be dragged or rolled but shall be passed from hand to hand when the ship’s discharging gear is not available; and, when dragging or rolling cannot be avoided, the surface over which the packages are to be moved shall first be covered with suitable canvas, cloth or similar material, and packages shall be carefully lifted, deposited, or stowed, and shall not be thrown or dropped when handled.

(4) The owner, master or agent of a ship loading or unloading explosives shall ensure that all stevedoring gear used is of a pattern and in such condition as to be suitable for the safe handling and discharging of explosives.