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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Ddasaccident049, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident049, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The report recorded that the victim "accidentally detonated an anti-tank mine while preparing for the testing of the newly purchased Hydrema mine clearance machines". The victim was "deploying and arming" mines in a marked test ground and wore a "ballistic jacket and visor". He worked alone arming the mines at a distance of 300 metres from the nearest person (a medic). It is not recorded whether this mine was the first to be armed. He stood and looked down at the mine for 20 seconds, then knelt beside it for a second time. 25-30 seconds later the mine detonated. "It …
Ddasaccident130, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident130, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The investigators determined that the deminer was resting while his partner worked when he saw a fuse in the uncleared area at the side of the lane. He picked it up and "started playing" with it and it exploded. The Section Leader was covering for another deminer who had gone to urinate [so was not observing].
Ddasaccident142, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident142, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The investigators determined that the victims went to check the Central Disposal Site. While checking that no UXOs were left (by hand) they uncovered some phosphorous which spontaneously ignited in contact with air.
Ddasaccident144, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident144, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The investigators determined that the victim was carrying four UXOs to a Central Demolition Site when he slipped and dropped the UXOs.
Ddasaccident231, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident231, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The document stated that the team was active demining in an area with a "mixture" of AP mines including improvised MRUD directional fragmentation mines. A deminer was defusing a MRUD and working directly in front of it. A second deminer was walking towards him to help and a third was observing "from about 10 metres away, also in direct line-of-sight". "The mine detonated killing the two…closest to it and severely wounding the third."
Ddasaccident091, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident091, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The investigators determined that the victim was clearing an area containing numerous fuzes. Instead of destroying the fuze where it was, he carried the fuze to another place where he "might have" dropped it and caused the accident. The device was identified as a mortar fuze, one among many UXO spread around the area and blast damaged.
Ddasaccident098, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident098, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The investigators determined that the two victims found a "UXO" fuze while working in a bushy area.
Ddasaccident028, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident028, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The accident occurred at 12:30 in a minefield laid by the Portuguese in the early 1970s. The mines were Italian AUPS mines, with and without fragmentation jackets. The demining group had been working in the area since 1996 and 234 AUPS mines had been destroyed. "The minefield crosses the road many times as it is linked as an obstacle with the river which is running along the valley. At the accident site, the minefield following the road alignment at a distance of about six metres on a rocky slope of approximately 35 degrees." Clearance of ten metres had occurred at …
Ddasaccident111, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident111, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The demining group stated that the Section Leader was carrying a UXO fuze (BM 21 rocket fuze) for disposal when he dropped it and it went off. Three other victims were close by.
Ddasaccident176, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident176, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The two men were close to the detonation and both suffered severe hand injury so a handling accident is inferred. Light face injuries including eye "burns" imply that their safety spectacles were not worn. If the victims were handling the device, the control failure is compounded because the demining group's SOPs did not allow them to handle devices.
Ddasaccident034, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident034, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The victim lived 400 metres from the working area. While walking home from work he found an MVZ57 fuse [believed to be an MV-5 fuse]. He took it home for safekeeping. Before work the next morning he was examining it on a concrete table outside his home when he accidentally dropped it 20cm onto the table and it detonated. He contacted the platoon medic by radio and asked for assistance.
Ddasaccident035, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident035, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
On October 10th at 05:30 the victim initiated the mine in his tent within the camping area, seriously injuring his right arm, left leg and "breast". Nobody else was injured. First aid was given by the medical co-ordinator and two paramedics.
Ddasaccident184, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident184, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The victim stated that he was aware that he had breached SOPs by carrying the fuse out of the mined area after the whistle sounded for the start of the rest period. He did not know why it exploded.
Ddasaccident196, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident196, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
Victim No.1 was sitting with his legs splayed leaning forward, holding the mine with his left hand when the booster charge detonated. He lost a finger, the top of two others and part of the thumb on his left hand, and was also injured above the eye. Victim No.2 suffered superficial injuries "to his hand and head" [from which it seems likely that both deminers had a hand on or near the device when it detonated].
Ddasaccident295, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident295, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
After replacing the pin, he turned the mine over and put pressure on the base of the mine to try to force it open. The mine detonated. He lost the hand that was holding the mine and had extensive damage to his leg(s) under the table.
Ddasaccident294, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident294, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
A TCN (Third Country National) worker decided to fire an “ARMBURST” AT Rocket. It fired and hit another TCN who was watching from a few metres away. He was struck in the chest and killed.
Ddasaccident293, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident293, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
During loading, it is believed that a 120mm PEPA mortar was dropped and detonated. The resulting explosion spread to similar items already loaded and a massive explosion killed four of the loaders nearest to the truck and the ex-pat supervisor. The supervisor may have been walking away from the truck or been in its cab at the time. He was killed when a small fragment hit him in the back of the head and penetrated his brain. He died at the scene.
Ddasaccident291, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident291, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
It is believed that the victim was using artery forceps to extract a detonator when he inadvertently prodded into it. The detonators are “stab-sensitive”. The mine activated and he was killed instantly. No details of his injuries were made available.
Ddasaccident287, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident287, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
The victim was reported to have been engaged in making ashtrays with two others. One man removed the fuzes. One man removed the propellant. The victim detonated the percussion caps holding the device in a vice or between his feet. The man removing propellant went away. The man detonating percussion caps let one off with propellant still inside the cartridge. The blast removed his head. The other member of the team present was also injured but no details were made available.
Ddasaccident285, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident285, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
An ex-pat deminer was checking the edge of “iron bomb of 16 inch Naval shell crater” in a minefield when he trod on a Type 72 anti-personnel mine. The mine has a minimum metal content and he suffered a traumatic amputation of his lower leg. It is presumed that he had his detector in his hand at the time of the accident.
Ddasaccident283, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident283, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
Clearing old AFV and ammunition sites, a small group of TCNs (Third Country Nationals) were “de-bombing” a tank at the time of the accident. The ex-pat supervisor got inside the tank and de-bombed it himself, defuzing and passing the shells and fuzes out. While he was inside the tank he heard an explosion outside and came out to investigate.
Ddasaccident281, Hd-Aid
Ddasaccident281, Hd-Aid
Global CWD Repository
An experienced ex-pat deminer was working on manual clearance of PTMIBA-III AT mines. The mines were surface laid and in a regular pattern. He had disarmed several that morning and had changed with his No2. He returned after a rest break and approached the next mine in the row. He was witnessed approaching the mine, bending down and it is believed he had a tool in his hand. He reached the mine and his partner reported that he was brushing the sand from the top of the mine when it detonated.