Under what condition can spark-generating tools be used near explosives?

Under what condition can spark-generating tools be used near explosives?

• A. They can be used freely near explosives.
• B. They must be used only if the area is clean and dry.
• C. They can be used to generate sparks only if approved.
• D. They are never allowed near explosives.

Answer: (C)

Sparks can ignite explosives, so tools that generate sparks must be kept under strict control near energetic materials. They can be used to generate sparks only if explicit approval has been granted by the responsible safety authority and the proper safety controls are in place. This ensures that a risk assessment is done, appropriate alternatives or non-sparking tools are considered, and measures like area restrictions and supervision are applied. The other options ignore the need for formal authorization or rely on conditions that don’t reliably prevent ignition, so they aren’t acceptable in this context.