Over the years, explosives have been developed of various types and with special techniques. The situation is changing everyday; better, safer products are on the market with improved procedures for use. Simple common points which are often overlooked are stressed in this paper. Both fragmentation and safety can be improved by following proper procedures in loading boreholes. Proper loading procedures such as primer location, borerehole sealing, decking, and stemming are presented. Discussion follows on the use of each procedure in surface coal mines, open-pit, and quarries.