Edition 2.1 - March 2020 DOWNLOAD
Introduction
The provision of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during HMA work in areas that are, or may be, contaminated with EO hazards is a basic health and safety requirement that shall always be complied with by IAs operating in Lebanon. However, the nature of EO hazards is such that no PPE can guarantee protection against injury in the event of a detonation close by. The best protection is the avoidance of any unintended detonations and this is achieved procedurally by ensuring that staff are appropriately trained, equipped and supervised to conduct demining procedures that are designed to avoid any unintended detonations. After everything reasonable has been done to avoid an accident/incident, PPE is added as the last measure of protection for staff. Available and practical PPE cannot provide guaranteed protection against a high explosive event occurring close by. However, it can provide some protection and so avoid some injuries and reduce the severity of injuries of many others. The use of PPE is a risk mitigation strategy. The only way to eliminate the risk of explosive injury is to avoid the explosive event entirely. Accordingly, managing procedures to avoid risk events occurring is the most effective way to protect staff from explosive injury. Appropriate PPE shall be provided to reduce the risk of severe injury in the event of an unintended detonation occurring after everything reasonable has been done to avoid the event. Appropriate PPE should not be so heavy or uncomfortable in use that it is impractical to conduct demining while wearing it. Appropriate PPE should impose minimal constraints on the wearers, all of whom should be provided with training about its safe use, its maintenance and its limitations. This NMAS provides specifications and guidance to IAs on the minimum requirements for PPE for use in all HMA field operations in Lebanon, including survey, demining, BAC and EOD activities.