1926.911: Misfires
If a misfire is found, the blaster must keep employees out of the danger zone, and only the work and workers needed to remove the hazard may remain. Never extract explosives from a misfired hole; reprime and reblast, or wash or blow out if refiring is hazardous. With cap and fuse misfires, everyone stays away at least 1 hour. No drilling, digging or picking until missed holes are detonated or the authorized representative approves.
Key takeaways
- 1926.911 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 1926.911, "Misfires", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart U). It has 5 numbered paragraphs. 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
Show the full text of 1926.911 (5 paragraphs)
(a) If a misfire is found, the blaster shall provide proper safeguards for excluding all employees from the danger zone.
(b) No other work shall be done except that necessary to remove the hazard of the misfire and only those employees necessary to do the work shall remain in the danger zone.
(c) No attempt shall be made to extract explosives from any charged or misfired hole; a new primer shall be put in and the hole reblasted. If refiring of the misfired hole presents a hazard, the explosives may be removed by washing out with water or, where the misfire is under water, blown out with air.
(d) If there are any misfires while using cap and fuse, all employees shall remain away from the charge for at least 1 hour. Misfires shall be handled under the direction of the person in charge of the blasting. All wires shall be carefully traced and a search made for unexploded charges.
(e) No drilling, digging, or picking shall be permitted until all missed holes have been detonated or the authorized representative has approved that work can proceed.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.911.
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Frequently asked questions
How long must workers stay away from a cap and fuse misfire?
At least 1 hour.
Can explosives be pulled out of a misfired hole?
No. A new primer is put in and the hole reblasted; if refiring is hazardous, explosives may be washed out with water or, under water, blown out with air.
When can drilling resume after a misfire?
Only after all missed holes have been detonated or the authorized representative approves that work can proceed.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.911 (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.