928                              Laws of Maryland                       Ch. 405

brought into any finishing and assembling, pressing, mixing, or stor-
age building.

(d)    No employee or other person shall enter or attempt to enter
any fireworks plant with liquor or narcotics in his possession, or
while under the influence of liquor or narcotics, or partake of in-
toxicants or narcotics while in a fireworks plant.

(e)    All persons working at or supervising the operations in a
fireworks mixing and pressing buildings shall be provided with and
wear cotton working uniforms and conductive shoes. Facilities for
changing into these uniforms and safekeeping for the employees
street clothes shall be provided. The uniforms shall be frequently
washed, to prevent accumulation of explosive compounds, and shall
not be worn outside the fireworks plant. Washing and shower facil-
ities for employees shall be provided, as designated by the State
Department of Health. All persons working in or supervising the
operations in a production building shall wear eye protection as
designated by the State Department of Health. All persons working
in or supervising mixing areas shall wear respirators of a type
designated by the State Department of Health.

(f)    Each fireworks plant shall have an employee designated as
safety officer. All employees of a fireworks plant upon commencing
employment and at least annually thereafter shall be given formal
instruction by this safety officer in the provisions of this subtitle,
regulations issued by the State Fire Prevention Commission, proper
methods and procedures in fireworks plants, safety requirements and
procedures for handling explosives and fireworks, and other subjects
the State Fire Prevention Commission requires. After each time of
instruction each employee shall sign a statement to the effect that
he has been instructed in these subjects and understands the require-
ments for safe practices. The statements shall be filed in the person-
nel records and be subject to inspection by the State Fire Marshal.

(g)    In areas where there is a danger of ignition of materials
caused by sparks, properly maintained and nonferrous safety hand
tools shall be used.

Nothing in this subtitle applies to the sale to, possession of, or use
of fireworks by the federal or State governments or to political sub-
divisions of the State governments; or to the sale to, possession of,
or use of combustibles or explosive preparations required by indus-
trial or commercial concerns for use as signals or otherwise in the
normal course of their business; or to the possession or use of fusees,
railroad torpedoes, rockets, Very signal cartridges, or other signal
devices as essential to promote safety in the operation of any motor
vehicle, boat, railroad, or aircraft, if in fact kept and used for this
purpose; or to the use of flares, signal pistols and other equipment
when they are to be used as signals in athletic contests or for similar
purposes; or to the sale to,, possession of, or use by farmers of explo-
sive devices or preparations known as firecrackers, salutes or cherry
bombs, for use with a slow-burning fuse rope, in the control of
destructive birds and animals, under and subject to the terms and
conditions of a permit issued by the State Fire Marshal; and the
State Fire Marshal may grant nontransferable special permits for