Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

Ddasaccident531, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

[The Victim], deminer, at the time of the accident his role was to act as vegetation remover. At approximately 10:20 hrs after completing vegetation removal drill, he called his peer to conduct detection drill, then he told his peer that he would go to the toilet. The toilet in the cleared minefield was constructed at the north of the cleared area, but he went outside the minefield boundary into the uncleared area instead of going to the toilet. Then he stepped on a mine just one step from the minefield boundary, buried in the walking track that villagers frequently use …

Ddasaccident458, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

[The Victim] was going away from the lane. At about 10 m distance from [Name removed], who approached the base line, he slipped with his left foot below the tape into a non-examined part of the minefield and activated a PMA-3. The working path was narrower there because of a larger rock. After the explosion, [the Victim] fell into the working path, but with his legs lying in the non-examined part. Deminer [Name removed] pulled him out into the cleared part. The tip of the left shoe was damaged. It was taken off.

Ddasaccident530, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Details of this accident have been withheld by the demining NGO that employed the Victim. A spreadsheet including the Victim’s name and very brief details of the accident was made available in 2007. Some detail can be inferred from the information made available. For example, the fact that six people were injured during excavation of a small AP blast mine implies that safety distances were being ignored and field discipline was low. The main Victim also suffered head injuries that indicate that his head protection and visor were not being worn.

Ddasaccident544, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

During the BAC operations while they were collecting the fragments and scraps [Victim No.1] found a flare that was not smoking and sound and were half buried in the ground. When he picked up the flare by his right hand it took fire and burnt his face and forearms. As the fire was strong it burnt face of [Victim No.2] too.

Ddasaccident411, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The deminer was working in his clearance lane using a heavy rake to excavate the ground. The ground was very hard and use of the light rake was limited. At approximately 0710hrs an explosion occurred under the rake. The deminer was not wearing his visor correctly and as a result incurred facial injuries as outlined below.

Ddasaccident410, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At 16:30 Section Commander [the Victim] was moving to the rest area for a 10 minute break. On the way back he saw an unidentified object lying in the sand in the base lane. The object was a cylinder, approximately 12mm in length and 5mm in diameter. [The Victim] picked up the object and carried it back to the rest area. [The Victim] sat down in the rest area and took out a pin to remove some of the sand and dried mud that covered the object. He inserted the pin into one end of the cylinder in an attempt …

Ddasaccident519, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Details of this accident have been withheld by the demining NGO that employed the Victim. A spreadsheet including the Victim’s name and very brief details of the accident was made available in 2007. Some details can be inferred from the information released. For example, the fact that there were three Victims implies that safety distances were not being enforced.

Ddasaccident464, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Details of this accident have been withheld by the demining NGO that employed the Victim. A spreadsheet including the Victim’s name and very brief details of the accident was made available in 2007. Some details can be inferred from the information released. For example, the limited injury implies that the victim’s PPE was being worn in the correct manner.

Ddasaccident385, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Then the MCC made its first that pass on the East side of the T55 (and as its cultivator attachment began to pass alongside the T55 turret) there was a detonation.

Ddasaccident439, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Narrative: The deminer [Name excised] was carrying out one man one lane manual demining drills in accordance with [Demining group] Sri Lanka manual demining SOPs for 100% excavation. He was using the axe hammer tool to excavate the face of his lane down to a depth of 15cm, when the detonation occurred. The mine detonated on the left hand side of his lane as he was using the axe hammer.

Ddasaccident518, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Details of this accident have been withheld by the demining NGO that employed the Victim. A spreadsheet including the Victim’s name and very brief details of the accident was made available in 2007. Some details can be inferred from the information released. For example, the limited injury implies that the victim’s PPE was being worn in the correct manner.

Ddasaccident418, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

A bulldozer and crew contracted by the GA and managed by the AGA was working in Malvil on the day of the incident. [Victim No.1], Bulldozer driver, [Victim No.2], Driver’s Assistant and [Victim No.3], AGA appointed foreman were tasked with levelling the SLA bunds and clearing excess vegetation around the village. Immediately prior to the incident the bulldozer was on the dirt road running through the village and attempting to turn around. As the bulldozer moved off the road in its attempt to turn, an explosion occurred under the right hand track, tipping the bulldozer over and throwing the three …

Ddasaccident441, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Narrative: During the removal of rubble, sand and rubbish in a holding area inside a building (area has been cleared with metal detector and excavation drills in April 2003 by [the same demining group]), the deminer was walking backwards and reaching the rear wall to fill his shovel again, as an uncontrolled detonation occurred. The detonation caused the traumatic amputation of his left foot.

Ddasaccident543, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

A BM-12 smoke shell was reported near the Safe UXO Store of [Demining group] teams working in Logar province. The acting TL briefed the SL to take the UXO away and demolish it. Mr. Paya-I-Din was climbing a hill while taking the UXO to the demolition pit, slipped and the accident happened. It is worth-mentioning that the UXO he was carrying did not explode and apparently a BD RPG7 fuse caused the injuries.

Ddasaccident421, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident happened 21 September 2003. The truck was carrying deminers to work along the cleared section of the road. At 09:00 in the morning, the truck crossed into the uncleared area by a short distance and its left side front wheel detonated a TM-57 AT mine.

Ddasaccident386, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On the 16th of September 2003 at 12:04 hours the Armoured Grader, assisting in route clearance operations on the road from Chiede to Malungo wa Shikongo, set off an anti-tank mine.

Ddasaccident517, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as a “Field control inadequacy” because it seems that the Victim was disarming a mine designated “no-touch” by the demining group, and may have been doing so without wearing appropriate PPE. The secondary cause is listed as a “Management control inadequacy” because the management of the demining group declined to make the accident details available. Although this is sometimes done to protect the Victims, in this case the Victim’s name was among the limited detail made available. It is possible that the managers have chosen to avoid transparency because they are afraid …

Ddasaccident516, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as a “Field control inadequacy” because the accident occurred in the “post-clearance” phase so the mine had either been missed during clearance, or was outside (but close to) the cleared area, so implying inadequate survey. The fact that four deminers were injured implies that the Field controllers believed they were in a safe area, or that safety distances were being ignored. The spread of injuries indicates that protective visors were not being used.

Ddasaccident398, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

As he excavated closer to the position of the signal he stopped and swept again with the detector. After again, pinpointing the signal he continued the excavation drill where upon a short time later there was a detonation at 0707 hrs.

Ddasaccident515, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as a “Field control inadequacy” because it seems that the Victim was burning off an area that needed to be cleared and did not maintain an appropriate safety distance when the fire might have initiated a mine/device. The secondary cause is listed as a “Management control inadequacy” because the management of the demining group declined to make the accident details available. Although this is sometimes done to protect the Victims, in this case the Victim’s name was among the limited detail made available. It is possible that the managers have chosen to …

Ddasaccident390, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The Deminer [the Victim] begins work at 05:15 hrs and he continued work for 45 minutes in this lane 1 metre wide. At that time, he was cutting vegetations as per SOPs. At approximately 06:00 hrs, an uncontrolled detonation occurred in the clearance lane where Deminer MEHIC was working.

Ddasaccident426, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The propellant was determined to be the most immediate problem. In order to safely access the rest of the ordnance in the bunker. [The victim] was tasked with the removal and destruction the propellant. And [Name excised 2] would continue to supervise the operations inside the bunker. A burn area was located 600m east of the bunker task site at Lat 30, 26’, 40” Long 47, 43’, 47” a dirt berm with three enclosed sides. [The victim] had burned twice before during the morning. An hour and half after the last burn [The victim] set up for the final burn …

Ddasaccident429, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The UN Mine Action Service assigned the task to [the Demining group] by the UN Mine Action Service. [The Demining group] has been on the site now since 1 Jul. And were in the final phases of the clearance task. [The Victim] was in the process of clearing the last of the propellant that was on site. Once collected he had a small pile less than a meter in diameter. He then prepared a propellant trail leading into the main body of the propellant. [The Victim] used a combination of projectile propellant and black powder from a charge bag in …

Ddasaccident427, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

According to the deminer statement He has cleared the line about 1 m to 1,5 meter and made search for signal in one location he got more signals and have made a deep hole to try to located the signals when he was satisfy with the investigation of the hole he has moved his base stick and got up from his knee position to take the gardening shear in order to cut side vegetation at that time his left leg twisted skid towards in the previous excavation hole . Immediately he heard some noise and sand and dust all over …

Ddasaccident514, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

This incident is classed as a “Missed-mine accident” because it seems that the device that detonated was inside the area cleared. If it was not, then this would become yet another “Survey accident” (the demining group had several in Iraq at this time). The primary cause of this accident is listed as a “Field control inadequacy” because the victims went to place markers in an area that was believed to be safe but which was not. Those responsible for the work should have kept an accurate record of the safe area. It seems that the field controllers may also have …

Ddasaccident388, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 10th June 2003, [demining group] EOD Team Echo 3 were conducting a clearance operation on a building used by the Iraqi Forces to store ammunition of mixed natures. At approximately 10:35hrs, a fierce fire was detected outside the building immediately after the demolition by detonation of 2 Sagger missiles. The fire spread rapidly to inside the building and several loud explosions where seen and heard to take place.

Ddasaccident466, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Details of this accident have been withheld by the demining NGO that employed the Victim. A spreadsheet including the Victim’s name and very brief details of the accident was made available in 2007. Some details can be inferred from the information released. For example, the limited injury implies that the victim’s PPE was being worn.

Ddasaccident397, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At approximately 1520 hrs QA MDD Officer [the Victim] was leaving the [Demining group] Office proceeding along the corridor; he reached into his pocket for his cigarettes as he intended to have a smoke. When he placed his hand in his pocket he “felt the other component i.e. the detonator”, he then proceeded to take out the detonator and because he had been told that it was safe “proceeded to fit it back together, then there was a loud explosion noise”.

Ddas: Imas And Ppe Requirements, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

This paper explains the personal protective equipment (PPE) that a demining group must use in order to comply with the United Nations’International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).

My views in this paper are based on extensive field experience, the detailed investigations in the Database of Demining Accidents (DDAS) and on the many follow-up interviews of accident victims that I have undertaken.

Ddasaccident465, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Details of this accident have been withheld by the demining NGO that employed the Victim. A spreadsheet including the Victim’s name and very brief details of the accident was made available in 2007. Some details can be inferred from the information released. For example, the limited spread of injury implies that the victims may have been wearing PPE.