Patent ID: 7594471

Claim:
A method of controlling a blasting operation wherein blast control equipment is used to initiate a plurality of detonators at a blast site, the method including the steps of: providing input information that comprises at least a) the identity of a user of the blast control equipment; b) the location of the blast control equipment; c) the identity of the blast control equipment; and d) a time or date during which blasting will be allowed; providing inhibition software which is responsive to at least said input information and is connected to the blast control equipment; using the inhibition software to inhibit full use of the blast control equipment; providing validation software for conducting a validation process on the input information; supplying the input information to the inhibit software and to the validation software; using the validation software to conduct a validation process on the input information, and, if the input information is validated, causing the inhibit software to enable at least partial use of the blast control equipment.