Which statement about blasting safety is true?

• A. Blasting accidents are usually minor
• B. Blasting accidents are always predictable
• C. Blasting accidents are usually serious
• D. Blasting accidents never occur

Answer: (C)

Safety in blasting focuses on the fact that using explosive energy carries high potential harm. When something goes wrong, the blast can send flyrock flying, create intense pressure waves and ground vibrations, and damage nearby structures or the environment. Because of these powerful effects, accidents that do occur tend to be serious rather than minor. They aren’t always predictable—rock conditions, timing, and setup can lead to unexpected results—so you can’t assume every blast will go exactly as planned. And accidents can happen despite safeguards, so saying they never occur isn’t accurate. The best statement reflects the reality that blasting accidents typically have serious consequences.