Control system for abrasive blasting apparatus and abrasive blasting apparatus

A control system for controlling an abrasive blasting apparatus, the control system being arranged to control delivery of air and blast media to a blast nozzle of the abrasive blasting apparatus, the control system comprising a deadman's switch, the deadman's switch comprising a user operable control, the user operable control being operable from a first position to a second position, wherein:

• in the first position the control system does not cause the abrasive blasting apparatus to deliver air or blast media to the blast nozzle;
• in the second position the control system causes the abrasive blasting apparatus to deliver both air and blast media to the blast nozzle;
• and in an intermediate position of the user operable control, the control system causes the abrasive blasting apparatus to deliver air but not blast media to the blast nozzle, wherein the intermediate position is provided between the first position and second position such that the user operable control passes through the intermediate position when the user operable control is operated from the first position to the second position and when the user operable control is operated from the second position to the first position such that air but not blast media is delivered to the blast nozzle when the user operable control passes through the intermediate position.