Safety Guidelines for Companies Authorized by the Mine Safety and Health Administration to Utilize Used Vehicle Engine Oil in Anfo

Safety Guidelines for Companies Authorized by the Mine Safety and Health Administration to Utilize Used Vehicle Engine Oil in Anfo

Regulations of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) prohibit the use of used oil in AN/FO in mines unless MSHA has expressly granted a variance from this requirement. For those companies who have applied for, and have been granted a variance by MSHA, IME suggests compliance with the following general safety guidelines. These guidelines are intended only for the use in ANFO mixed on-site at the blasthole.

1. Each batch of used engine oil should be analyzed to ensure that it is composed of only petroleum based products. Used engine oil containing any synthetic lubricants, esters or emulsion type hydraulic fluids should not be used. Before blending with virgin fuel oils each batch of used engine oil should be thoroughly mixed and an analysis made to determine water content and the presence of PCB's, heavy metals, semi-volatile and volatile organic compounds. MSHA generally requires that the constituents shall not exceed the levels listed below:
    
   • Arsenic - 5ppm
   • Cadmium - 2ppm
   • Chromium - 10ppm
   • Lead - 100ppm Total Halogens - 4,000ppm
   • PCB's - 2 ppm
   • Water - 2 percent
     
     Compliance with MSHA regulations, or with the terms of a MSHA variance, does not constitute compliance with the regulations of other government agencies. The practice of using used oil, for example, is subject to regulation by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and, in some areas, may be subject to regulation by state environmental authorities. These regulations may impose different, or more stringent, requirements. Companies using used oil pursuant to these guidelines, therefore, should ensure that they are aware of, and in compliance with, U. S. EPA regulations and all other pertinent regulatory requirements.
      
2. Used engine oil shall be filtered and stored in a dedicated storage tank. The contents of the storage tank should be considered a batch and no additional used engine oil should be added to the tank until the batch has been consumed. No oil/solvents from "other" sources should be added to the "batch" in the tank, even in minute quanties.
     
3. Filters employed in the system for filtering used engine oil should not be greater than 220 microns.
    
4. Used engine oil to be utilized in ANFO mixtures should not be modified in any way that could change the basic properties of the used engine oil. For example, heating and addition of additives are not acceptable.
     
5. Each batch of used engine oil must be blended with virgin diesel oil to produce a batch of blended oil. Before blended oil is drawn for analysis or use it must be agitated so as to ensure homogeneity and suspension of sediment.
    
6. The blending date, the blend mix ratio (virgin oil/used engine oil) and the volume of batch shall be recorded for each batch of blended oil.
    
7. The following tests should be run for each batch of blended oil.
   
   • Flashpoint. (Blended oils with flashpoints lower than 125º shall not be used to prepare ANFO mixtures except that blended oils with flashpoints no lower than 100º may be used at ambient temperatures below 45º.)
     
   • Viscosity. (Should not exceed 50 centipoise at 65º to75º as measured by a #2 Brookfield spindle at 100 rpm.)
      
   • Cap sensitivity. (Finished ANFO product manufactured with blended oil should not detonate with a No. 8 test detonator when tested unconfined.)
     
   • Standard prill absorption test.
     
8. A written record of analyses and tests shall be kept at the mine property for three years.
    
9. The use of used engine oil should be suspended when, due to low temperature, the blend of virgin oil and used engine oil becomes too viscous for proper absorption by the ammonium nitrate prills.
      
10. Blended oil should be transported and used in such a way as to minimize skin contact and inhalation of vapors.
     
11. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) should be prepared for the virgin oil product, the used engine oil and the blended oil. These MSDS's should be maintained at the mine site.
     
12. Records of blasts utilizing ANFO mixed with blended oil shall be made and maintained at the mine site for three years. Such blast records shall correlate the blast with the batch of blended oil used.
     
13. The blending ratio of virgin oil to used engine oil should not be less than 50/50. Initially it is recommended that a ratio of 75 percent virgin oil and 25 percent used engine oil be employed. This original blend ratio should be carefully evaluated for a trial period and changes in ratio, up to the 50/50 blend, be made based upon the evaluation of the blended oil's performance in ANFO mixtures.
     
    NOTE: Blended oil that does not meet the test criteria of Section 7 must be reblended to meet Section 7 criteria before it can be used.
     
14. Blended oils should not be used for ANFO mixtures for underground blasting operations.
     
15. The use of blended oil in ANFO mixtures is intended for ANFO mixed on-site at the blast site and loaded directly into the blasthole. ANFO mixtures made with blended oil should not be stored or used to manufacture packaged or cartridged ANFO products.
     
    Recommendation: ANFO mixtures made with blended oil shall not be combined with other materials, such as emulsions, to form blasting agent blends unless it has been determined that such combinations (blended oil ANFO/emulsions) are compatible.
     
16. A responsible mine employee or a responsible person designated by the mine should be in charge of the oil blending operation and should make sure that all analyses, tests, operating procedures, and record keeping are performed in accordance with these guidelines.

Approved by the IME Board of Governors December 5, 1995