A review of safety practices and safety training for the explosives field

Various safety practices and the content of selected training programs emphasized at several major installations involved with explosives and explosive devices are reported herein. The report is divided into independent sections, each of which addresses a commonly encountered facet of explosives safety. Supplemented by a safety file consisting of regulations, references, documents, videotapes, and cassettes (all listed in an appendix) and suggestions for presentation and demonstrations (also included as an appendix), the report can be used as the basis for a modular training course. It is being used in this mode by the Ballistic Research Laboratory (BRL) in the production of a video training tape which, ultimately, will be made available to those working in the field of explosives. Although the report provides the reader with a comprehensive view of many of the safety practices currently in use at representative installations, it is not an endorsement of any of the safety practices described nor does it supersede existing safety regulations at any installation. In all cases, the safety regulations at the individual installations continue in effect until formally altered.