How were Workers Safe Using Explosives?

Sankey, H. R. (1882). Explosives, their use for military engineering land operations and electrical measurements. Canadiana, https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.55191/1

In order for miners to dig through the Rocky Mountains, they would have to use dynamite. Digging with shovels would not work on the hard rocks, and building tracks to go up, over or around would be much more expensive than simply blowing up large passages through the mountain with explosives. This book was used by engineers, chemists, and electricians sponsored by the government/military, and give an insight as to how explosives in the 1880s were to be handled. The book covers the use of explosives, testing capabilities, precautions, laws to follow, measurements and much more to be safe and efficient with all sorts of types of explosives. This book also covers the chemistry of dynamite, explaining the explosive agent (nitro-glycerine), and other similar explosives. It explains how to treat frozen dynamite, which can be dangerous owing to premature detonations, and briefly describes the shape of dynamite and how it is most effective at blasting rocks.