Blasting down mat in top-slice stopes shall be done in the __________ of the shift. The stope shall be checked as soon as smoke has cleared after blasting.

• A. Beginning
• B. Middle
• C. End
• D. Last

Answer: (B)

Timing blasting to the middle of the shift ensures you have a safe window for both pre-blast setup and post-blast recovery. You want the early part of the shift to handle preparation, checks, and securing the area, and then, after the blast, you need enough remaining time for ventilation to clear the smoke and for the crew to perform the required inspection of the stope as soon as the air is clear. If blasting happens at the start, there may not be enough time left in the shift to complete a thorough post-blast check; if it happens at the end, there’s little to no time to ventilate and inspect before the shift ends. The middle-of-shift timing provides the safest, most practical window to re-enter, verify there are no hazards, and proceed with subsequent work within the same shift.