Explosives Act 1875

17 General rules for stores. U.K.

In every gunpowder store the following general rules shall be observed; that is to say,

(1) The provisions of an Order in Council relating to stores, so far as they apply to such store, shall be duly observed:

(2) There shall not be at the same time in the store an amount of gunpowder exceeding the amount specified in the license; and

(3) The store shall be used only for the keeping of gunpowder, and receptacles for or tools or implements for work connected with the keeping of such gunpowder; and

(4) The interior of the store, and the benches, shelves, and fittings therein, shall be so constructed or so lined or covered as to prevent the exposure of any iron or steel and the detaching of any grit, iron, steel, or similar substance, in such manner as to come into contact with the gunpowder, and such interior, benches, shelves, and fittings shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, be kept free from grit, and otherwise clean; and

(5) The store shall have attached thereto a sufficient lightning conductor, unless it is made by excavation or is licensed for less than [F1 500 kilograms] of gunpowder; and

(6) Before repairs are done to or in any part of a store, the store shall, so far as practicable, be cleaned by the removal of all gunpowder and the thorough washing out of the store; and after such cleaning, these rules shall cease to apply to the store until gunpowder is again taken there; and

(7) Except after such cleaning, all tools and implements used in or in any repairs to the store shall be made only of wood, copper, or brass, or some soft metal or material, or shall be covered with some safe and suitable material; and

(8) Due provision shall be made, by the use of suitable working clothes without pockets, suitable shoes, searching, and otherwise, or by some of such means, for preventing the introduction into the store of fire, lucifer matches, or any substance or article likely to cause explosion or fire, or any iron, steel, or grit; but this rule shall not prevent the introduction of an artificial light of such construction, position, or character as not to cause any danger of fire or explosion; and

(9) No person shall smoke in any part of the store; and

[F2 (10) A person under the age of eighteen years shall not be employed in or enter the store except in the presence and under the supervision of some person of the age of twenty–one years or upwards.]

[F3 In the event of any breach (by any act or default) of the general rules in any store, the occupier shall be guilty of an offence.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by S.I. 1984/510, reg. 2, Sch. 1

F2 Rule (10) substituted by Explosives Act 1923 (c. 17), s. 2(2)

F3 Words substituted by S.I. 1974/1885, Sch. 2 para. 9