A method of inhibiting a blast from an explosive comprising the steps of (a) providing a blast inhibiting blanket , the blast inhibiting blanket comprising first and second water porous outer layers and an absorbent core sandwiched there between, said absorbent core comprising an absorbent crystalline material which is a superabsorbent polymer and an absorbent fibrous material; (b) arranging a frame to cover the explosive but spaced apart therefrom; (c) arranging the blast inhibiting blanket to cover the explosive , the blast inhibiting blanket being arranged on the frame spaced apart from the explosive so that the blast inhibiting blanket is arranged as a dome or a box over the explosive ; (d) wetting the blast inhibiting blanket either before or after arranging the blanket to cover the explosive ; wherein the blast inhibiting blanket is arranged such that the distance between the centre of mass of the explosive and the nearest point of the blast inhibiting blanket is at least twice the width of the explosive ; wherein at the start of a blast the explosive produces a flame and a blast wave which expands out to the blast inhibiting blanket , whereupon when the blast wave reaches the blast inhibiting blanket the blast wave compresses the blast inhibiting blanket which converts the water retained within the blanket into a high pressure water vapour mist within the frame , said high pressure water vapour mist rapidly extinguishing the flame so preventing the explosion from developing; and further the blast wave is reflected off the sides of the blast inhibiting blanket back towards the explosive so that when the blast wave meets itself it partially cancels itself out, so reducing the effect of the blast wave and also reducing its ability to disperse undesirable explosion products into the surrounding atmosphere. (a) providing a blast inhibiting blanket , the blast inhibiting blanket comprising first and second water porous outer layers and an absorbent core sandwiched there between, said absorbent core comprising an absorbent crystalline material which is a superabsorbent polymer and an absorbent fibrous material; (b) arranging a frame to cover the explosive but spaced apart therefrom; (c) arranging the blast inhibiting blanket to cover the explosive , the blast inhibiting blanket being arranged on the frame spaced apart from the explosive so that the blast inhibiting blanket is arranged as a dome or a box over the explosive ; (d) wetting the blast inhibiting blanket either before or after arranging the blanket to cover the explosive ; wherein the blast inhibiting blanket is arranged such that the distance between the centre of mass of the explosive and the nearest point of the blast inhibiting blanket is at least twice the width of the explosive ; wherein at the start of a blast the explosive produces a flame and a blast wave which expands out to the blast inhibiting blanket , whereupon when the blast wave reaches the blast inhibiting blanket the blast wave compresses the blast inhibiting blanket which converts the water retained within the blanket into a high pressure water vapour mist within the frame , said high pressure water vapour mist rapidly extinguishing the flame so preventing the explosion from developing; and further the blast wave is reflected off the sides of the blast inhibiting blanket back towards the explosive so that when the blast wave meets itself it partially cancels itself out, so reducing the effect of the blast wave and also reducing its ability to disperse undesirable explosion products into the surrounding atmosphere. <EOS>