Safety
Safety is the first major consideration anytime ammunition or explosives are used or handled. During ED
operations, safety precautions will be observed always regardless of the urgency of the situation. Anyone
observing a safety violation will halt operations until a correction is made. Safety factors to consider are as
follows:
Follow only published ED procedures.
Use only trained personnel for ED operations.
Use the correct demolition procedures.
Keep the number of personnel involved in handling explosives to a minimum (but no fewer than two).
Establish a danger zone radius based on the type and weight of the ammunition or explosives to be
destroyed. This radius may not be less than 1,000 meters for personnel under cover.
Notify adjacent units of pending ED.
Always consider prevailing wind direction when destroying explosives or chemicals. Their destruction may
produce toxic smoke and residue.
Use extreme caution when using gasoline and other highly volatile petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL).
Always stand by for a high-order detonation when burning ammunition and explosives.
Destruction Procedures for Types of Ammunition
Under normal circumstances, ammunition containing high explosives will be destroyed by detonation while most
other items will be burned. Items to be destroyed by detonation include the following:
Bombs to include general purpose (GP), low drag (LD), demolition, incendiary, smoke, and clustered bomb
units (CBUs). Use of chemical bombs will require special NBC precautions.
High-explosive (HE), high-explosive antitank (HEAT), high-explosive plastic (HEP), and improved
conventional munition (ICM) projectiles (artillery and mortar).
All rockets.
Grenades.
Guided missiles.
Bulk HEs.
The burning method of ED is effective for destroying the following items:
Small-arms ammunition.
Rocket motors. When burning rocket motors, always point them toward the enemy. They may ignite and be
propelled into the air.
Propelling charges.
Black powder.
Open containers or loose materials.
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