Explosive ordnance disposal
Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) is the set of tools and procedures for the detection, identification, on-site evaluation, rendering safe, recovery, and final disposal of unexploded explosive ordnance, explosive ordnance which has become hazardous by damage or deterioration, or improvised explosive devices (IED). Every incident is different; it may be possible to render a device safe in place, or the EOD specialist may conclude that the only feasible means of disposal is a controlled burning or explosion, after the area has been cleared and all possible barriers put in place.
Obviously, military forces have EOD specialists of various types. They may be ordnance specialists that routinely work with ammunition, or combat engineers. Technical intelligence resources may have relevant data, which can be accessed remotely. Police and other civilian organizations also may have the training and equipment to deal with potential or real explosives.
The discipline has obvious hazards, and only in the last resort will a technician handle the device. Remote viewing devices, either with distance viewing or carried by a unmanned ground vehicle, are increasingly common. Some evaluation is done from a heavily protected manned vehicle, with cameras, manipulators, and other equipment at the end of a long boom.
explosive ordnance disposal procedures
The EOD process consists of distinct phases, which may take different skills or equipment. At any point, qualified personnel may determine that further investigation and manipulation is too hazardous, and the only rational action is destruction in place, limiting damage as much as possible.
Especially with IEDs, but also with professionally placed explosives, there may be hidden mechanisms intended to trigger the device while it is being examined. Both the tamper resistance techniques, and methods of overcoming them, tend to be classified information.
It is standard practice for the technicians working on the device to communicate each intended action before doing it, so if the action turns out to be terribly wrong, others will learn from it.
Access procedures=
There is a seet of procedures, sometimes called explosive ordnance reconnaissance, used to locate the device and gain access to its mechanisms.
Diagnostic procedures
Various actions can be taken to identify and evaluate unexploded explosive ordnance. When the item is a standard piece of ordnance of one's own side, or an enemy standard weapon on which there is reliable intelligence, it may be possible to determine if the device is armed, or even in a delayed-action mode that cannot be stopped and will produce an explosion.
Render safe procedures
The portion of the explosive ordnance disposal procedures involving the application of special explosive ordnance disposal methods and tools to provide for the interruption of functions or separation of essential components of unexploded explosive ordnance to prevent an unacceptable detonation.
Recovery procedures
Those actions taken to recover unexploded explosive ordnance, especially for technical intelligence exploitation.
Final disposal procedures
The final disposal of explosive ordnance which may include demolition or burning in place, removal to a disposal area, or other appropriate means.