HDIÂ Operations
OPERATIONS
HDI Mine/UXO Clearance Operation Procedures
HDI will provide all labor, equipment, and materials needed to clear various sites of mines and/or UXO. HDI has all labor, equipment, and materials in-country and can provide continuous work on multiple sites simultaneously. All activities will be conducted by the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and Afghanistan Mine Action Standards (AMAS).
HDI has available in-country and will arrange to make it available onsite required armored mechanical equipment such as armored front-end loaders, excavator, mechanized armored rolling capability with detonation trailers. Other such equipment includes mine detectors, my Lab F3, large loop detectors, Forester Detectors and Schonstedth magnetometers for subsurface detection with the capability of detection down to one-meter depth or more. HDI has also in-country trained manual de-miners, most of them have worked in the demining field during the two decades or more, mine detection dogs and handlers, qualified medics, certified EOD technicians and other ancillary support as required to complete the Task Orders in accordance with IMAS and AMAS.
HDI will select the most cost-effective means and methods of clearance to meet the standards provided by the customer. HDI assures the provision of qualified workers, supervision, quality control, and safety personnel to execute the work properly. Proof of employee qualifications will be submitted to the customer if requested prior to the commencement of clearance.
HDI is aware of the risk associated with encountering mines and UXO and takes all actions necessary to assure a safe work environment during the execution of the customer contract.
HDI will comply with all pertinent provisions of the Safety and Health Requirements. Within fifteen days after receipt of Notice to Proceedpersonnel that are knowledgeable in demining and UXO operations will prepare the Work and Safety Plan.
HDI will use the standard marking system to completely enclose the work area at the site. HDI will record the exact location of the boundary marking lines using GPS coordinates to show all changes in alignment if required. HDI will remove the markings of the site after the site clearance is completed if the customer prefers to do so.
HDI uses the AMAS system of marking to distinguish between hazardous and cleared areas during the clearance operations. The dimensions of the areas cleared and a copy of the clearance certificate from the MAC will be transmitted to the Afghan Mine Action Authority and entered into the national database at the completion of the Task Order.
Daily internal quality control checks are documented and reports will be available to the customer upon request. HDI will record the type and location of all mines and UXO found during the clearance operations if required by the customer. A detailed site map showing the clearance progress will be updated daily during the progress of work. All explosive ordnance found during the clearance operations will be stored and disposed of in accordance with IMAS and AMAS standards. All scrap metal debris found during clearance operations will be placed in one designated location on the site until the task is completed.
HDI deminers have worked in the heavily mined areas around Bagram Airfield. They are well familiar and experienced with working in high priority areas such as former military bases or installations that are considered to be heavily contaminated areas.
Site Survey Report:
HDI will perform a technical survey of the site to collect historical and topographical information, site maps, photos, technical investigation, conclusions, and proposed clearance recommendations. The report will be comprehensive and submitted as a written report. HDI’s Site Survey Report will be prepared and certified by an individual with Level II EOD qualification or equivalent.
Battle Area Clearance (BAC):
This includes the systematic and controlled clearance of hazardous areas where the threat is known not to include mines. HDI will perform 100% surface and subsurface clearance for UXO to a minimum depth of 13 centimeters or deeper if required to obtain the specified clearance certification. If during BAC operations a mine is discovered, HDI will promptly, before the condition is disturbed, stop work, and notify the customer. If a mine is found during BAC operations, it would be considered a differing site condition. When a mine is encountered at the site, the clearance operation will change from BAC to the higher Demining standard for the remaining area to be cleared, and the differing site condition will be addressed as a contract modification.
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Demining
This includes the systematic and controlled clearance of UXO and my hazards. HDI will perform 100% surface and subsurface clearance to a minimum depth of 13 centimeters or more depth if required to obtain the specified clearance certification.
Certificate of Clearance:
HDI provides the customer a letter indicating that the site is cleared of mines and UXO and is available for construction operations to proceed. Clearing will anticipate foundation depth. Approximate foundations depth will be one meter.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD):
HDI, by having experienced and professional personnel residing throughout Afghanistan, is capable to provide on-site a qualified person who at a minimum holds a current EOD level 2 certification; for areas that do not require Demining or Battle Area Clearance (BAC). If the area does not pose a sufficient threat or hazard to constitute Demining or BAC operations, then HDI provides this EOD services. For this tasking, HDI will provide an onsite consultant or spotter during the hours of any operations. HDI will also provide a site leader, a trained field medic or physician, as well as one driver with a vehicle. Any Mine/UXO that is discovered will be recorded and then destroyed in accordance with AMAS and IMAS standards. This work will be done on construction projects, surveying and mapping, and for digging.
Additional Security Teams for Remote or Hostile Areas:
If the area to be cleared is in extremely remote locations where overnight operations are required without the use of nearby towns and or cities, then additional security is required. Hence, HDI will allocate the necessary teams for this location. If an area is to be considered hostile in such a way that the hostilities exceed the normal conditions of a contingency environment, then additional teams will be added.
Additional Mechanical Equipment for BAC or Demining Task:
HDI during the course of work will add additional equipment as needed to complete the task on time. If or at any time during the task order a differing in site condition is found that requires the use of more equipment than what is on-site, then the line item will be used. The standard equipment that is currently used is one piece of equipment per clearing team. HDI will consider multiple mechanical assets to be added to the task in order to assist in the clearing successfully and on time.
HDI will provide reliable communication means to its field teams for operational purposes, and also ensures adequate means for making rapid contact with local hospitals or medical treatment facilities in the event of an emergency.
Mine Detection Dogs:
A qualified dog handler will always work from a safe lane or a last known safe area. Dogs will reduce the area until mines are found. They will be withdrawn to another part of the suspected hazardous area where they will continue to reduce the threat area. No work will be conducted without a Site Supervisor / Set Leader, at least two manual de-miners, a qualified medical orderly, and a valid MEDEVAC plan and radio communications.
Two dogs will always be used to cover a specified area in reduction operations before any person will be allowed to move over that area. Likewise, two dogs will be used for quality assurance operations.
MDD’s are not allowed to work in areas where there are visible mines. MDD’s will not work closer than 10 meters from a possible mine row, visible mines and/or mine debris.
