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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Ddasaccident181, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident181, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
In the absence of any detail about how the accident occurred, the primary cause of this accident is listed as "Inadequate equipment" because the only identifiable failing is that the group did not provide the victim with effective eye protection (whether it was worn or not is not known).
Ddasaccident033, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident033, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The demining platoon had "cleared 5,1602 metres and eight mines at Homoine before the accident". The mines were laid in a narrow belt but not in a pattern. The mines found before were PMN, PMN-2, PMD6 and POMZ2M. The victim was in a crouching position with his arm outstretched (holding a trowel) when he initiated a PMN with his right foot. He was not using his detector (which was 12 metres away). He was taken to hospital at 09:35 and arrived at 10:05. A blood shortage meant that other deminers had to donate three litres of blood.
Ddasaccident071, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident071, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
A senior official with the demining group reported in informal discussions during December 1998 that an accident had occurred at Luchimba (spelt phonetically) Bridge in Malanje in 1995. In this accident an expatriate Technical Advisor was using a Schiebel detector in an uncleared area and detonated a Type 72 blast mine. It did not have a booster charge so he only initiated the percussion cap and escaped unhurt. He left Angola soon afterwards.
Ddasaccident036, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident036, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
At 09:25 the victim was clearing a lane using a combination of detector and excavation (with a "digging trowel"). While in a kneeling position he reached out to dig at the edge of the lane and initiated a PMN. He suffered traumatic amputation of his right arm "at the elbow" and lacerations to his face, right leg, and left arm. He walked to a safe lane where paramedics gave first aid. He was then driven to Sabie and taken by air to Maputo Central Hospital, leaving at 10:17 and arriving at 11:02.
Ddasaccident070, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident070, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
Because the demining group’s SOPs do not permit them to "handle" devices, it is inferred from the injuries that the accident occurred while prodding or excavating. The demining group approved squatting to prod and/or excavate at a later date and are assumed to have done so at this time.
Ddasaccident185, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident185, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The victim was investigating the source of a detector reading in an area where the ground had a high level of natural soil contamination. The victim was reported to have been lying down to work. He used his prodder, but because the ground was very hard he also used a trowel to break up the surface. At 11:27 he initiated a Type 72A mine. After first aid the victim was taken by ambulance to Battambang Provincial Hospital, arriving at 12:40.
Ddasaccident003, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident003, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
At approximately 11:20 the victim discovered a mine. This was his third that day and the first day that he had found any at that site. Instead of informing his Section Leader as he was required to do, he investigated it on his own. "For some reason the mine (or perhaps mines) detonated leaving him very seriously injured". [See Medical report.]The victim was casevaced by helicopter to Quelimane hospital arriving one hour after the accident occurred. He died at 16:30 that day. The death certificate gave "haemorrhage" as the cause of death. The helicopter was deemed fortuitous, and some suggestions …
Ddasaccident189, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident189, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The Section Commander was doing the prodding himself because he considered the work dangerous and wanted to be sure it was done properly. He was working in a kneeling position and not wearing safety spectacles. He did not use water to soften the ground despite the fact that it was very hard. "The explosion occurred when the Section Commander was prodding a mine 50cm outside the safe lane, his prodding tool slipped from the grassroots and landed on a Type 72 mine". He was said to have sustained temporary vision loss.
Ddasaccident190, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident190, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The mined area was laid by the District Police and Militia to protect a dyke from attack. The reconnaissance team warned of booby trapped 60mm mortars and B40 RPGs. At 13:45 on the day of the accident Victim No.1 located a device similar to one that had been found two hours before. He called his Section Commander to identify it. The Section Commander, Victim No.2, arrived and stood to his right behind him. The Section Commander removed his safety spectacles to wipe sweat from his eyes and get a better view. Victim No.1 began to probe again and Victim No.2 …
Ddasaccident041, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident041, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The Deputy Country Director was interviewed by the researcher on 18th November 1998 and later send a one page summary of the accident and two others (dated 01/11/95). He said that the victim had initiated a PMN mine at approximately 12:45 whilst prodding with his three-pronged fork. At the time an internal investigation [not made available] concluded that he had not used his detector in that area prior to the accident, which was against instructions from his supervisors. “If he had been using the detector the accident would probably have been avoided.”