Public Policy Commons^™

Ddasaccident127, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators determined that the deminer was "excavating" to investigate a detector reading when the accident occurred. He was using a shovel to do so. Investigators were unable to visit the accident site [due to deminer mobility and seasonal redeployment], so the report relied on interviews and written statements.

Ddasaccident128, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The victim said that the dogs checked a leash length (8m) and both dogs indicated a suspect point. The point was investigated and the fuse of a mortar was found. He was checking the second leash at a distance of 11 metres from the first when he stepped on a mine at 11:10.

Ddasaccident164, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The mined area was a road that linked Malay with National Route 5. The victim was working as a prodder man in one of the ditches that ran along both sides of the road. He was squatting at the bottom and working his way up the side. The ground had a very hard crust to a depth of 2cm and was soft underneath. The victim's partner marked a reading and then moved back to allow the victim to investigate. Because the ground was hard, the victim used a "trowel" to break up the surface, but initiated the mine.

Ddasaccident219, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators concluded that the mine had been missed during the earlier clearance tasks. Also that the training area was "extremely hostile" and easier sites could have been used. The investigators observed that the UN MAC Technical Guides "give no real guidance as to what alternative procedures should be undertaken" when detecting and prodding are inadequate in an area. In previous missed mine incidents in the area (involving two other commercial companies) the mines were also PMA-2s.

Ddasaccident007, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators determined that the victim used a "long handled shovel" while investigating a detector reading. He was digging by placing his foot on the shovel when the mine went off. The proximity to the power lines made the detectors signal continually in some places. The density of sub-surface roots made the demining group feel it was unsuitable for manual prodding.

Ddasaccident129, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

This accident involved a “P2MK2” minimum metal blast mine. [P2MK1 and P2MK2 mines are frequently given the same last number.] A letter explaining why it was not identified at the time was found on file in September 1999 - stating that the same mine occurred in two accidents at the site and that survey had not thrown up the presence of minimum metal mines.

Humanitarian Demining Technology Program Antipersonnel Mine Neutralization Device Test Report, Christopher Wanner

Global CWD Repository

The Antipersonnel Mine Neutralization Device (APMINUD) is a mechanical system for safely detonating Antipersonnel mines as part of a peace time mine clearance operation. It is intended to be used in conjunction with a shielded, all terrain vehicle with hydraulic crane. The system would be used to neutralize previously marked AP mines by detonating them one at a time.

The plunger inside the APMINUD is designed to strike the ground when released by the operator. An expendable foot on the plunger applies approximately two tons of impact force over a 10" diameter area when released. The impact force pushes the …

Ddasaccident240, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators determined that the victim was working in a "breaching lane" when he got a detector reading. He marked the point and started to prod. He found some old food tins and continued prodding. His right hand became tired so he moved his bayonet to his left hand just before the mine went off at 08:40. The victim lost his left eye, two fingers of his left hand and had minor injuries to his right hand and body.

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].

Ddasaccident125, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

This accident was listed in UN MAC records as a non-mine casualty and no accident inquiry had been instigated. [It was recognised that it was a mine accident when the MAC was asked to explain why it was not treated as such.]

Ddasaccident052, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At 12:40 the victim was kneeling behind his base stick and demining in a heavily overgrown area. While cutting grass in front of his base stick he noticed some smoke ahead of him. He stood up to run and was only a metre away when something detonated behind him.

Ddasaccident252, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators determined that the victim was clearing a lane when he found a detector reading, marked it, and started to excavate with a pick. He hit the mine with the pick at 09:35 and sustained injuries to his hands and right shoulder.

Ddasaccident131, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators determined that the victim was working on the ridge of a stony hill [photographs showed it was very steep and rocky]. He was given permission to leave the area to urinate and went into an area declared clear by a dog survey team. The investigators expressed the view that the area was unsuitable for dogs to clear because it was too steep for them to "sit" when indicating a signal.

Mozambique Mine Awareness Education Module, Cisr

Global CWD Repository

Mine Awareness Education Module - Mozambique is based on information acquired through a variety of expert sources. The document incorporates information gathered through

• a review of ecological theories,
• an extensive review of existing humanitarian demining mine awareness and prevention programs,
• a review of effective strategies of community-change efforts,
• and interviews with persons conducting mine awareness programs in Mozambique and other sub-Sahara countries.

In addition, interviews and briefings were conducted with personnel from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict, US. Army Special Operations Command, 4th Psychological Operations Group and Special Operations …

Itf Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 1998, Itf-Enhancy Human Security

Global CWD Repository

ITF Annual Report 1998

Mozambique: A Listing Of Organizations Conducting Humanitarian Demining/Mine Awareness Activities, Cisr

Global CWD Repository

The following list describes organizations that have been active in conducting humanitarian demining activities in Mozambique. The list includes NGO’s, IO’s, commercial firms, governmental and military organizations. Printouts for some organizations with websites are included in Appendix A and are coded with an asterisk in the list.

Ddasaccident132, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators determined that the victim was investigating a reading in a pile of soil deposited by the back-hoe when the mine went off. The investigators reported that the victim claimed to have been using a bayonet but that his lack of injury made them think this unlikely.

Ddasaccident134, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators determined that Victim No.1 was investigating a pile of spoil deposited by the back-hoe when he got a continuous detector reading and started excavating with a long handled shovel. He detonated a mine. The mine was identified as a PMN (by "found fragments").

Ddasaccident133, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators decided that the victim got a detector reading and investigated it but found nothing. He checked with the detector and still got a reading, so squatted to prod thinking it was a fragment. The device which exploded was assumed to be an MUV fuze because of the presence of POMZ fragments in that minefield.

Ddasaccident020, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

When the deminer came alongside the first mine, he located another, and called the victim again. The victim decided to prepare the mines for destruction, took the deminer's "spade" and sent him away. When the deminer reached the safe area the detonation occurred at 09:55.

Ddasaccident135, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators decided that the victim found a detector reading, marked it, and started to excavate with a pick – contravening a UN MAC directive to stop using a pick for excavation. The mine was identified as a PMN (from "found fragments").

Ddasaccident136, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

No investigation on behalf of the UN MAC was made available. An initial letter informing the UN MAC of the accident was found. The following summarises its content.

Ddasaccident359, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The operator had returned to Pit 1 and was in the process of checking the pit fully when the EOD specialist arrived. As he left the pit to meet him, one of the fuzes functioned. 2 fragments had entered through the side and rear of his boot.

Ddasaccident220, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators concluded that the accident was "preventable". The mine should have been found during excavation but the appropriate SOPs were not being used. Supervision was inadequate and the control of movement in cleared areas was not in accordance with SOPs.

Ddasaccident137, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The victims were in a vehicle that detonated an AT mine with a front wheel. The ground was a dirt road in grazing land. A photograph showed a flat earth area with water in puddles. "The front wheel of the truck and the cabin were destroyed". [A photograph showed the cab separated from the truck and severely damaged.]

Ddasaccident166, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The victim's partner placed a start stick about 25cm away from the marked edge of the safe lane from which they were advancing, and a second stick half a meter in front of that (so marking the working area). The victim checked his detector, then started to sweep the first 50cm in front of the start stick. This took about one minute. On finding the area clear he bent down to pick up the start stick and moved it forward, taking a step forward as he did so. He stepped on a mine that had been in front of or …

Ddasaccident009, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The victim had been a deminer for seven years. It was ten days since he had last attended a revision course, and two days since he was last on leave. The ground being cleared was described as the medium-hard bed of a dry lake. The victim's bayonet was destroyed and the visor damaged. The investigators claimed to have found fragments to confirm that the mine involved was a PMN.

Ddasaccident139, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators checked the Team's detectors and found five to be not "in proper working condition". The victim used one of these detectors. At the end of the working day the victim was taking his equipment to the store and either stepped into an uncleared area or stepped on a missed mine (due to the faulty detectors).

Ddasaccident139, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators concluded that the victim was feeling unwell and had requested leave, so he might not have been concentrating when he stepped into an uncleared area. He might also have stepped on a missed mine.

Ddasaccident054, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The team started work at 07:30 and was working in a crater on the road when the accident occurred at 10:30. The soil in the crater was "a friable sandy clay" that allowed detectors to be used. There was a UXO (specified only as "rocket") lying against the side of the crater. The team had cleared and marked two one metre wide lanes across the large crater. Shortly before the accident Victim No.1 was seen to raise and re-tune his Ebinger detector. Victim No.2 was 25 metres away but reported that he heard Victim No.1's detector bleep immediately before the …