Dept. Disputes Report

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30965, 22 January 1966, Page 3

Dept. Disputes Report

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 21. A Mines Department official has disputed an opinion attributed to the department regarding the safety of detonating fuses.

Mr Lloyd Jones. Chief Inspector of Quarries, today issued a statement in which he called incorrect a report that “the Mines Department previously believed that this type of cord, which is used

extensively in quarries, could be exploded only by using a detonator.”

The report dealt with an incident yesterday at Pakiri, near Wellsford, in which a 20-year-old workman, Lyndon Brown, lost most of his left hand. Mr Brown was said to have hit a piece of detonating fuse with a hammer on an anvil.

“The department has always advised that, whereas detonating fuse is one of the safest explosives and under normal conditions can be exploded only by a detonator, it is still an explosive and should be treated as such and not sub-

jected to abuse,” said Mr Jones.

He quoted the makers of detonating fuse as stating:— “It is one of the safest explosives products to handle and unless it is crushed in some way and the spilled P.E.T.N. core accidentally initiated by a second blow, detonation by impact is unlikely.” Mr Jones said the reported circumstances af this accident would suggest that the fuse was not being used for its proper purpose or treated in a normal way. “It is not a plaything and should not be left lying around for inexperienced persons to handle,” he said.