Wartime Mission of Explosives Safety
Abstract
The Air Force concept of explosives risk management has undergone major revision since 1983. The changes have been across the entire spectrum of safety management, from installation level analysis of the risk involved in specific explosives operations, to Secretary of the Air Force authorization of some explosives safety violations. In addition, safety factors in all combat explosives operations have been scrutinized in light of shifting from peacetime to wartime acceptable risk levels. Air Force Regulation 127-100, Explosives Safety Standards, had tables that stated required separation distances for given net explosives weights, but if these distances could not be met, the safety officer had no quantitative way of expressing the additional degree of risk incurred. No attempt was made to determine the increased risk to the unit war fighting capability. In effect, the unit commander made decisions to violate DOD acceptable risk levels with no real knowledge of the impact of a mishap or enemy attack. In order to increase field level knowledge of explosives blast and fragment effects, the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center revised AFR 127-100 under a risk management concept. This paper outlines the development of this concept, its application at the field level, and its contribution to the Air Force warfighting capability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADP005366
Entities
People
- Susan J. Kaufman
Organizations
- Air Force Office