CES Professional Standards & Best Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a blaster discovers that a misfire has occurred, the FIRST action required under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.911 is to:
- Immediately re-fire the circuit
- Wait at least 30 minutes before approaching if using a fuse (Correct answer)
- Pour water on the misfired charge
- Notify local law enforcement within 1 hour
Correct answer: Wait at least 30 minutes before approaching if using a fuse
OSHA 1926.911 requires a minimum 30-minute wait before approaching a misfired electric blast or one fired with safety fuse to allow any delayed detonation to occur.
Question 2: The IME (Institute of Makers of Explosives) Safety Library publications are primarily intended to:
- Replace federal regulatory requirements
- Serve as voluntary industry safety guidance (Correct answer)
- Mandate specific blasting procedures by law
- Certify individual blasters' competency
Correct answer: Serve as voluntary industry safety guidance
IME Safety Library publications provide voluntary best-practice guidance for the explosives industry and complement but do not replace regulatory requirements.
Question 3: A licensed blaster accepting a new job assignment should verify which of the following FIRST?
- That the site has cellular coverage for emergency calls
- That their license is valid in the state where work will be performed (Correct answer)
- That the client has purchased blasting insurance
- That the nearest hospital is within 10 miles
Correct answer: That their license is valid in the state where work will be performed
State blasting licenses are jurisdiction-specific, and a blaster must confirm their license is recognized or valid in the state where the project is located before performing any work.
Question 4: Under ATF regulations, which record must be kept for ALL explosive transactions, whether purchase, use, or transfer?
- ATF Form 5400.4 (Acquisition/Disposition Record) (Correct answer)
- OSHA Form 300 (Injury Log)
- ATF Form 7 (Federal Firearms License)
- EPA Form R (Toxic Release Inventory)
Correct answer: ATF Form 5400.4 (Acquisition/Disposition Record)
ATF Form 5400.4 serves as the Acquisition and Disposition Record that federally licensed explosives dealers and users must complete for every explosive transaction.
Question 5: In a pre-blast survey, the purpose of documenting pre-existing cracks and settlement in nearby structures is to:
- Estimate future blasting costs
- Establish baseline conditions to distinguish pre-existing from blast-caused damage (Correct answer)
- Satisfy MSHA ventilation requirements
- Determine the minimum standoff distance
Correct answer: Establish baseline conditions to distinguish pre-existing from blast-caused damage
Pre-blast surveys document existing structural conditions so that any post-blast damage claims can be fairly assessed against a known baseline.
Question 6: Which professional behavior is considered an ethical obligation for a Certified Explosives Specialist?
- Disclosing proprietary client information to competitors when asked
- Refusing assignments that exceed their training and competence (Correct answer)
- Waiving required waiting periods to meet project deadlines
- Allowing unlicensed personnel to load holes to save time
Correct answer: Refusing assignments that exceed their training and competence
Professional ethics require a CES to decline work that falls outside their demonstrated competence to protect public safety and professional integrity.
Question 7: Post-blast inspection of a blast site primarily serves to:
- Calculate the exact powder factor used
- Confirm all explosives detonated and the area is safe to re-enter (Correct answer)
- Update the site's mineral resource estimate
- Determine whether additional permits are needed
Correct answer: Confirm all explosives detonated and the area is safe to re-enter
The post-blast inspection verifies that all charges detonated, identifies misfires, and confirms it is safe for workers and equipment to re-enter the blast zone.
CES Professional Standards & Best Practices 2
When a blaster discovers that a misfire has occurred, the FIRST action required under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.911 is to: