Explosives

EXPLOSIVES. The production of explosives is one of the most hazardous to health and dangerous to life branches of the chemical industry. This production received particular development after the invention of nitrocellulose (Schönbein, 1846); the number of explosives has gradually increased and now they number in the hundreds. The most important, from the point of view of technology and occupational hygiene, are the following groups of explosives: 1) black powder and other similar compositions; 2) the nitrocellulose group, pyroxylin, etc.; 3) the nitroglycerin group; 4) smokeless powder; 5) celluloid; 6) nitro-derivatives of the aromatic series (picric acid, trinitrotoluene, tetranitromethylaniline, etc.); 7) explosives with ammonium nitrate; 8) mercury fulminate, detonator caps, percussion caps, etc.; 9) ignition means and cartridges; 10) fireworks products.

Workers in the production of explosives are exposed to the main hazards of chemical production, namely: contact with poisons (mercury fulminate, etc.) and the inhalation of released poisonous vapors and gases. Furthermore, the production of explosives is distinguished by the exceptional danger of explosions both during the production process itself and during storage, transport, and other operations with semi-finished products and gaseous products. This danger is not the same for all substances, and in this regard, there exists a known classification of their stability, i.e., the ability of these substances to withstand mechanical or thermal influences without the danger of explosion. Depending on this, various strict safety rules are imposed on individual explosive production facilities regarding the location of factories, the layout and construction of factory buildings, their isolation, the design of equipment, the course of the production process, the storage of finished products, etc. More detailed data on occupational hazards in individual production processes are given in the corresponding articles (see Nitroglycerin, Pyroxylin, Picric Acid, etc.). Regarding prevention in the production of explosives, as in other chemical industries, there is a requirement, whenever possible, for full mechanization of production, sealing of equipment, and the removal of dust, vapors, and gases directly at the place of their formation; furthermore, proper selection of workers, periodic medical monitoring of their health status, sanitary education, and detailed instruction on the hazards and dangers of the work (especially important!), and the provision of appropriate protective clothing, masks, respirators, etc. N. Rozenbaum.