1926.905(k): OSHA rule
Key takeaways
- 1926.905(k) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart U).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.905(k) is one requirement inside 1926.905 Loading of explosives or blasting agents, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart U). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(k) Holes shall be checked prior to loading to determine depth and conditions. Where a hole has been loaded with explosives but the explosives have failed to detonate, there shall be no drilling within 50 feet of the hole.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.905.
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.905(k), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Restrictions on drilling within 50 feet of a hole loaded with explosives. (2010-03-05)
- Clarification on OSHA standards for blasting and use of explosives. (1985-04-12)
- Blasting and Use of Explosives Relative. (1981-08-26)
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About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.905 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.
