Equipment defects affecting safety shall be corrected before the equipment is used.

The drilling area shall be inspected for hazards before starting the drilling operations.

Persons shall not be on a mast while the drill-bit is in operation unless they are provided with a safe platform from which to work and they are required to use safety belts to avoid falling.

Drill crews and others shall stay clear of augers or drill stems that are in motion. Persons shall not pass under or step over a moving stem or auger.

When a drill is being moved from one drilling area to another, drill steel, tools, and other equipment shall be secured and the mast placed in a safe position.

If a drill helper assists the drill operator during movement of a drill to a new location, the helper shall be in sight of, or in communication with, the operator at all times.

In the event of power failure, drill controls shall be placed in the neutral position until power is restored.

The drill stem shall be resting on the bottom of the hole or on the platform with the stem secured to the mast before attempts are made to straighten a crossed cable on a reel.

While in operation, drills shall be attended at all times.

Drill holes large enough to constitute a hazard shall be covered or guarded.

Persons shall not hold the drill steel while collaring holes, or rest their hands on the chuck or centralizer while drilling.

Receptacles or racks shall be provided for drill steel and tools stored or carried on drills.

To prevent injury to personnel, tools and other objects shall not be left loose on the mast or drill platform.

Persons shall not drill from—

(a) Positions which hinder their access to the control levers;

(b) Insecure footing or insecure staging; or

(c) Atop equipment not suitable for drilling.

Before hand-held drills are moved from one working area to another, air shall be turned off and bled from the hose.

Holes shall not be drilled where there is a danger of intersecting a misfired hole or a hole containing explosives blasting agents, or detonators.

Holes shall not be collared in bootlegs.

Jet piercing drills shall be provided with—

(a) A system to pressurize the equipment operator's cab, when a cab is provided; and

(b) A protective cover over the oxygen flow indicator.

Safety chains or other suitable locking devices shall be provided across connections to and between high pressure oxygen hose lines of 1-inch inside diameter or larger.

A suitable means of protection shall be provided for the employee when lighting the burner.

When rotary jet piercing equipment requires refueling at locations other than fueling stations, a system for fueling without spillage shall be provided.

Persons shall not smoke and open flames shall not be used in the vicinity of the oxygen storage and supply lines. Signs warning against smoking and open flames shall be posted in these areas.

The oxygen intake coupling on jet-piercing drills shall be constructed so that only the oxygen hose can be coupled to it.

The combustion chamber of a jet drill stem which has been sitting unoperated in a drill hole shall be flushed with a suitable solvent after the stem is pulled up.