* *
* * *
*
* Home > Energy & Environment  > Environmental Management & Assessment > Waste Management > Explosives and the Environment *
*
* * *
*

Explosives and the Environment

Under the Project Oriented Environmental Management System (POEMS) the MOD requires an assessment of the environmental impact of weapons.
*
explosives and the environment We use our expertise to manage the risks associated with all types of initiators, explosives, pyrotechnics and propellants. This encompasses safety issues related to their operation, maximising safe working life and end of life disposal. This expertise is now being applied to the assessment of the environmental impacts of both new and legacy weapon systems.
*

A robust assessment of the environmental impact of a weapon system is required to ensure compliance with MoD policy and the law. Much of the information generated for environmental assessment is also directly relevant to the assessment for human health, for instance from the fumes generated from gun firings. Under the Major Accident Control Regulations (MACR) an assessment of hazards arising from accidents is also required. Identifying environmentally damaging materials enables us to focus on identifying cleaner alternatives.
*

Currently we use a variety of data sources and techniques to measure or predict likely emissions from weapon systems. We are seeking to improve this data set by increased real time measurements as part of weapon performance trials thus improving accuracy.

By more efficient use of data it is possible to address cost effectively both environmental health and human health issues. Our intimate knowledge of new explosives technology will aid the development of greener energetic materials and weapon systems - delivering safer, less environmentally damaging weapon systems to the customer. This permits improved environmental management of ranges including environmental benchmarking and accounting (including carbon accounting).
*

Legacy munitions
With some 2000 or so legacy items in the inventory, environmental assessment becomes prohibitively expensive if it relies solely on practical assessment. For legacy munitions a judgement based approach supported by reliable and robust experimental data is required.

We use a data set, derived from the use of actual weapon systems, to predict the worst case scenario and make an informed judgement as to the potential for environmental damage when a weapon or group of weapons is used as intended or involved in an accident. In conjunction with the Defence Ordnance Safety Group (DOSG) the methodology has been applied to a number of weapon systems ranging from large bombs, missile systems and small arms ammunition. The output data enables improved range management.
*
Back to top Back to top
*
* * *
* *
*   *