What is the safe distance a loader should stay from a shooter during a manually fired show?

What is the safe distance a loader should stay from a shooter during a manually fired show?

• A. 5 feet
• B. 10 feet
• C. 15 feet
• D. 20 feet

Answer: (B)

Ten feet provides a practical safety buffer between the loader and the shooter during manual firing. This distance reduces the risk of injury from misfires, backblast, or debris that can be propelled if a device ignites unexpectedly. It keeps the loader close enough to handle staging and adjustments efficiently, while still staying out of the immediate path of any arc or fragments. Five feet is too close and increases injury risk from unexpected ignition or hot debris. Fifteen or twenty feet are more conservative, but they slow operations and aren’t needed for typical manual shows when standard safety practices are followed. Always apply site-specific safety plans, but ten feet is the standard balance for this scenario.

Ten feet provides a practical safety buffer between the loader and the shooter during manual firing. This distance reduces the risk of injury from misfires, backblast, or debris that can be propelled if a device ignites unexpectedly. It keeps the loader close enough to handle staging and adjustments efficiently, while still staying out of the immediate path of any arc or fragments. Five feet is too close and increases injury risk from unexpected ignition or hot debris. Fifteen or twenty feet are more conservative, but they slow operations and aren’t needed for typical manual shows when standard safety practices are followed. Always apply site-specific safety plans, but ten feet is the standard balance for this scenario.