Underground magazines shall not be located within how many meters from a raise or winze used for personnel accessway?

Underground magazines shall not be located within how many meters from a raise or winze used for personnel accessway?

• A. 5
• B. 10
• C. 15
• D. 20

Answer: (B)

Keeping underground magazines far enough from vertical access routes used by personnel creates a safety buffer between stored explosives and the pathways people must use. A raise or winze can act as a conduit for blast effects, heat, and smoke, so if a magazine is too close, those hazards could propagate up the shaft and put workers at risk. The rule fixes a minimum separation to ensure that, in the event of an incident, the energy and hazards do not readily reach the accessway where people travel. This separation helps protect personnel, supports safer ventilation conditions, and reduces the chance of igniting nearby materials along the shaft. Distances that are too small wouldn’t provide adequate protection, while larger distances, though safer, aren’t required by the standard and could complicate mine design without adding additional safety beyond the mandated buffer.

Keeping underground magazines far enough from vertical access routes used by personnel creates a safety buffer between stored explosives and the pathways people must use. A raise or winze can act as a conduit for blast effects, heat, and smoke, so if a magazine is too close, those hazards could propagate up the shaft and put workers at risk. The rule fixes a minimum separation to ensure that, in the event of an incident, the energy and hazards do not readily reach the accessway where people travel. This separation helps protect personnel, supports safer ventilation conditions, and reduces the chance of igniting nearby materials along the shaft. Distances that are too small wouldn’t provide adequate protection, while larger distances, though safer, aren’t required by the standard and could complicate mine design without adding additional safety beyond the mandated buffer.