The availability of accident records from Afghanistan became erratic after 2000 when the UN MAC ceased to be transparent about sharing accident data. This situation has recently improved and many reports from 2005-2010 have been added. Records from DDASaccident593.pdf onwards have been added in this update. Many of these are more detailed than earlier records and so are more informative.
These reports are not numbered in a date sequence.
The PMN AP blast mine is the largest that is commonly found and features in most accidents in Afghanistan. The most common activity at the time of an accident is, as usual, excavation while investigating a metal-detector reading, MDD signal or in wide-area excavation when the entire top-surface of the ground is removed. Often there appears to be a problem pinpointing a metal-detector reading. In many cases, the visor is not worn or is in a raised position when the accident occurs.
The provision of appropriate PPE has improved over the past ten years, but the continued use of inappropriate handtools (the AK bayonet. pick-axe and mattock) means that severe hand and arm injury is still common. Surprisingly, the provision of 5mm polycarbonate visors has not led to a significant reduction in the incidence of severe eye injury. This may be because they are not replaced regularly and become difficult to see through.
DDAS Accident number |