I n 18 31 , a n ew meth od f or ig ni ting bl ack p ow de r w as in ven ted in Eng la nd by Will ia m Bickford t o rep la ce bl ack po w de r - filled go ose qu il l fuse s. Ca ll ed safe ty fuse , it w as a w ate rpro ofe d, po w de r - fill ed cord t ha t cou ld be inse rted in to the bla st ho le . L it w ith a match , it w o u ld b u rn a t a f a irl y slo w a n d pre di ctab le rate givi ng the mine r time to move t o a safe pla ce pri or to the bla st. Aft er safe ty fuse w as in trod uce d, min e o w ne rs an d surg eo ns rep orte d tha t the nu mbe r of kill ed an d in ju red in bla sting acci de nts in the W est Co rnw all tin min in g di strict de crea sed by 90 Ou r T r adition of Inno va tion B lac k P o w de r Saf ety Fuse Nit r og l y cerin B lasti ng C a p D ynamite A NF O W a ter ge ls NONEL ® Emulsi on s D eliv er y Sys tems