When should primers be placed into a dynamite cartridge?

When should primers be placed into a dynamite cartridge?

• A. At the last possible moment
• B. Before loading the cartridge
• C. During transport
• D. After blasting

Answer: (A)

Primers are highly sensitive initiation devices, so the safety focus is to minimize their exposure to handling hazards. By putting the primer into a dynamite cartridge at the last possible moment, you reduce the time the primer is exposed to potential initiation sources—like friction, shock, heat, or stray electricity—during loading, transport, and storage. This narrow window of exposure helps prevent accidental detonation and keeps workers safer until the blast is ready to go. If the primer were placed earlier, it would be exposed to all the risks associated with loading and moving the charge; placing it during transport or after blasting would not provide a safe or practical sequence for initiating the charge.

Primers are highly sensitive initiation devices, so the safety focus is to minimize their exposure to handling hazards. By putting the primer into a dynamite cartridge at the last possible moment, you reduce the time the primer is exposed to potential initiation sources—like friction, shock, heat, or stray electricity—during loading, transport, and storage. This narrow window of exposure helps prevent accidental detonation and keeps workers safer until the blast is ready to go. If the primer were placed earlier, it would be exposed to all the risks associated with loading and moving the charge; placing it during transport or after blasting would not provide a safe or practical sequence for initiating the charge.