Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, § 5306 – Electric Blasting in Proximity to Radio, Television or Radar Transmitters.

(a) Blasting area warning signs shall be posted approximately 1,000 feet from the blasting area along all access routes. These signs shall be in accordance with all requirements of the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, September 26, 2006, published by the State Department of Transportation (CA-MUTCD), Part 6, Temporary Traffic Control, Sections 6F.38 through 6F.41, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
(b) Electric blasting operations shall not be conducted closer to any operating mobile or fixed radio, television, or radar transmitter than the distances shown in the following tables:
Table 1 Recommended Table of Distances for Commercial AM Broadcast Transmitters (0.535 to 1.605 MH_z)
Transmitter Power⁽¹⁾ (Watts)
Minimum Distance (Feet)
Up to 4,000
720
5,000
800
10,000
1,130
25,000
1,790
50,000⁽²⁾
2,500
100,000
3,600
500,000
8,000
__________
1 Power delivered to the antenna.
2 50,000 watts is the present maximum power of U.S. broadcast transmitters in this frequency range.
Table 2 Recommended Distances for Transmitters Up to 50 MHz (Excluding AM Broadcast) Calculated for a Specific Loop Pickup Configuration⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾
Transmitter Power⁽³⁾ (Watts)
Minimum Distance (Feet)
100
790
200
1,120
500
1,770
1,000
2,500
1,500
3,070
5,000
5,590
50,000
17,700
500,000⁽⁴⁾
55,900
__________
(1) Based on the configuration with the blasting machine being the component of the blasting circuit closed to the transmitter, using 20.8 MHz, which is the most sensitive frequency.
(2) This table should be applied to International Broadcast Transmitters in the 10-25 MHz range.
(3) Power delivered to the antenna.
(4) Present maximum for International Broadcast.
Table 3 Recommended Distances of Mobile Transmitters and Cellular Telephones Including Amateur and Citizens' Band MINIMUM DISTANCE (Feet)
Transmitter⁽¹⁾ Power (Watts)
MF 1.7 to 3.4 MHz Industrial
HF 28 to 29.7 MHz Amateur
VHF 35 to 36 MHz Public Use 42 to 44 MHz Public Use 50 to 54 MHz Amateur
VHF 144 to 148 MHz Amateur 150.8 to 161.6 MHz Public Use
UHF 450 to 470 MHz Public Use Cellular Telephones Above 800 MHz
1
15
47
37
12
8
5
33
105
82
27
18
10
46
148
116
38
25
50
102
331
259
85
55
100
144
468
366
120
78
180⁽²⁾
193
627
491
161
104
200
204
661
518
170
110
250
228
739
579
190
123
500⁽³⁾
322
1,045
818
268
174
600⁽⁴⁾
353
1,145
897
294
190
1,000
455
1,478
1,157
379
245
1,500⁽⁵⁾
557
1,810
1,417
464
300
10,000⁽⁶⁾
1,438
4,673
3,659
1,198
775
Citizens Band, Class D Transmitters, 26,965 MH_z (Channel 1)-27,405 MH_z (Channel 40)
Type
Recommended Minimum Distance
Hand-Held
Vehicle-Mounted
Double Sideband - 4 watts maximum transmitter power
5 ft.
65 ft.
Single Sideband - 12 watts peak envelope power
20 ft.
110 ft.
__________
⁽¹⁾ Power delivered to antenna.
⁽²⁾ Maximum power for two-way mobile units in VHF (150.8 or 161.6 MH_z range) and for two-way mobile and fixed station units in UHF (450 to 460 MH_z range).
⁽³⁾ Maximum power for major VHF two-way mobile and fixed station units in 35 to 44 MH_z range.
⁽⁴⁾ Maximum power for two-way fixed station units in VHF (150.8 to 161.5 MH_z range).
⁽⁵⁾ Maximum power for amateur radio mobile units.
⁽⁶⁾ Maximum power for some base stations in 42 to 44 MH_z band and 1.6 to 1.8 MH_z band.
Table 4 Recommended Table of Distances for VHF TV and FM Broadcasting Transmitters
Effective Radiated Power
Minimum Distance (Feet)
(Watts)
Channels 2 to 6
FM Radio
Channels 7 to 13
Up to 1,000
820
667
502
10,000
1,450
1,190
892
100,000⁽¹⁾
2,580
2,115
1,585
316,000⁽²⁾
3,450
2,820
2,130
1,000,000
4,600
3,770
2,820
10,000,000
8,190
6,690
5,020
__________
⁽¹⁾ Present maximum effective radiated power channels 2 to 6 and FM--100,000 watts.
⁽²⁾ Present maximum effective radiated power channels 7 to 13--316,000 watts.
Table 5 Recommended Table of Distances from UHF TV Transmitters
Effective Radiative Power (Watts)
Minimum Distance (Feet)
Up to 10,000
600
1,000,000
2,000
5,000,000⁽¹⁾
3,000
100,000,000
6,000
__________
(1) Present maximum power channels 14 to 69--5,000,000 watts.
Note: RECOMMENDED TABLES OF DISTANCES
These tables of distances are designed for the convenience of the licensed blaster. The selected groupings include all the obvious types of RF transmitters that will be encountered around blasting sites.
These tables were derived from analytical worse case calculations. They are based on an assumed 40-milliwatt no-fire level of commercial blasting caps. Actual field tests have shown that these tables are conservative as would be expected. Because of the uncertainties involved in field tests as to the efficiency of RF energy pickup and its delivery to the blasting cap, we strongly recommend that these tables be followed. If these tables present distances which are operationally inconvenient to use, we suggest field tests be made by expert consultants and the procedures detailed for providing minimum RF pickup be adhered to.
The data upon which these tables are based were derived by the Franklin Institute Research Laboratories for the Institute of Makers of Explosives.
(d) The specified distances in the tables may be reduced provided special precautions, acceptable to the Division are taken.

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

History

1. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 7-8-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 28).

2. Amendment of section and Note, including transfer of section 1938, App. B, Plate B-15 to section 5306, tables 1-5, filed 7-11-2003; operative 8-10-2003 (Register 2003, No. 28).

3. Amendment of section heading and subsection (a), repealer of subsection (b) and subsection relettering filed 10-26-2009; operative 11-25-2009 (Register 2009, No. 44).