What must be done before giving an all-clear signal after a blast?

• A. Conduct a post-blast inspection
• B. Notify local authorities
• C. Evacuate the site again
• D. Conduct a team debrief

Answer: (A)

The all-clear signal after a blast in a mining environment is a critical safety measure, and conducting a post-blast inspection is essential to ensure that the area is safe for personnel to re-enter. This inspection involves checking for any hazardous conditions that may have resulted from the blast, such as loose rock, gas emissions, or unanticipated settling of the ground.

Before signaling an all-clear, the post-blast inspection assesses the stability of the surrounding area and confirms that all explosives have functioned as intended. Ensuring that there are no lingering dangers protects the health and safety of workers and helps to prevent accidents that could arise from unaddressed hazards.

While notifying local authorities or conducting a team debrief may be important aspects of a broader safety protocol, they do not directly address the immediate need for a thorough safety assessment after a blast, which is why they should not precede the all-clear signal. Similarly, evacuating the site again would typically indicate that a problem has been identified, necessitating further investigation rather than the issuance of an all-clear.