(i) Don’t carry detonators and explosives in the same package. Detonators are extremely sensitive to heat, friction, or blows of any kind.
(j) Don’t handle detonators or explosives near an open flame.
(k) Don’t expose detonators or explosives to direct sunlight for any length of time. Such exposure may increase the danger in their use.
(l) Don’t open a package of explosives until ready to use the explosive, then use it promptly.
(m) Don’t handle explosives carelessly. They are all sensitive to blows, friction, and fire.
(n) Don’t crimp a detonator (blasting cap) around a fuse with the teeth. Use a cap crimper, which is supplied for this purpose.
(o) Don’t economize by using a short length of fuse.
(p) Don’t return to a charge for at least one-half hour after a miss fire. Hang fires are likely to happen.
(q) Don’t attempt to draw nor to dig out the charge in case of a miss fire.
Some of the positive rules in connection with the handling of explosives are: build the magazine on an earth foundation remote from any other structures, protect it with earth embankments that will direct the force of the explosion upwards, and build it of materials that will supply as few missiles as possible. Hollow tile brick, double-walled galvanized iron filled with sand, and similar constructions are satisfactory. The magazine may be heated by steam or hot-water pipes so located that explosives cannot come in contact with them, or by a cluster of incandescent bulbs, but if the explosives become frozen they must not be thawed out by turning on the steam or hot water. If powder or nitro-glycerine is dropped on the floor the magazine should be emptied, washed out with a hose and spots of nitro-glycerine scrubbed with a brush and a mixture of ½ gallon of wood alcohol, ½ gallon of water and 2 pounds of sodium sulphide. Frozen explosives may be thawed by spreading out on special shelves in a warm thaw house—not in the magazine proper, by burying in a manure pile so that the explosive may not become moistened, or more commonly by heating slowly in a water bath. This is a dry kettle in which the explosives are placed and covered. The kettle is then put in another containing water which is heated gently to about 120 degrees F. It should not be boiled.