Cardinal Rule emphasizes minimums for how many elements?

• A. Minimum people, minimum time, minimum explosives
• B. Minimum people, maximum time, maximum explosives
• C. Maximum people, minimum time, minimum explosives
• D. Minimum personnel, minimum distance, minimum speed

Answer: (A)

The Cardinal Rule is about reducing risk by keeping three things as small as possible: the number of people involved, the time the operation takes, and the amount of explosive material used. This triple-minimization directly lowers exposure and potential consequences if something goes wrong.

The best choice reflects that idea by stating minimums for all three elements—people, time, and explosives. Limiting these reduces risk: fewer personnel present, shorter operational duration, and less explosive material to manage.

Other options push for maximums or introduce factors (like distance or speed) that aren’t part of this rule, which would not align with the principle of minimizing risk through those three elements. In practice, you’d use only essential personnel, complete tasks as promptly and safely as possible, and use only the minimum quantity of explosive material needed.