West Virginia Code Chapter 22A. Miners' Health, Safety and Training § 22A-2-34. Misfires of explosives

(a) Where misfires occur with electric detonators, a waiting period of at least five minutes shall elapse before anyone returns to the shot. After such failure, the blasting cable shall be disconnected from the source of power and the battery ends short-circuited before electric connections are examined.

(b) Explosives shall be removed by firing a separate charge at least two feet away from and parallel to the misfired charge or by washing the stemming and the charge from the borehole with water, or by inserting and firing a new primer after the stemming has been washed out.

(c) A careful search of the working place, and, if necessary, of the coal after it reaches the tipple shall be made after blasting a misfired hole, to recover any undetonated explosive.

(d) The handling of a misfired shot shall be under the direct supervision of the mine foreman or a certified person designated by him.