Aging, unstable, and excess stockpiles of ammunition pose a dual hazard of illicit proliferation and accidental explosion, causing humanitarian disasters and destabilizing countries and regions. This GICHD Ammunition Safety Management (ASM) app can assist states at depot level to isolate and destroy unsafe and dangerous ammunition and instigate a reliable ammunition safety management regime, thus enabling control over the safety and security of ammunition stocks.
The management system within the tool allows destruction of unsafe, unusable stockpiles of ammunition, preventing explosions within stockpiles, which currently occur on average 2 times a month. These explosions not only kill and maim people but also destroy infrastructure, putting many at risk as well as causing financial and environmental damage.
The ASM app is in compliance with International Ammunition Technical Guidelines [IATG 2nd Edition, 1st Feb 2015]. Ammunition management processes and activities are broken into small and simple steps, and can be largely carried out by local workforce under expert instruction and supervision. The system can be adapted to any situation, and is relatively inexpensive to execute.
The app can be used as a training tool and as a basis for an operational plan by established organisations, both civil and military, to carry out ASM as part of Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM). There is a training matrix enabling lesson plans to be written for each central role. Users of this tool can select and implement ASM activities in various sequences, and start at any point of the instruction within, depending on the local conditions and on-the-spot risk assessments.
Using this app enables significant safety improvements to be achieved for relatively little investment. The instruction is built on the basis that the actions which are easily accomplished and facilitate clear safety improvements should be carried out first. At present, the app covers good ammunition management practices including but not limited to clearance of ERW (both UXO and AXO), siting and developing a safe temporary store, inspection and destruction of unsafe ammunition, early detection of ammunition faults, ammunition storage, and stockpile destruction. It contains a smart accounting system along with necessary E-forms and their automated processing, the description of roles for effective depot management as well as instruction for swift rehabilitation of a rundown ammunition store or storage area.
Please note that this app is designed with a view to safeguard humanitarian principles, the safety and welfare of civilians, and as such does not provide advice on, for example, ammunition functioning reliability aspects or efficient stock procurement.
Currently under development at GICHD is a guide on how to attain IATG RRPL 1. This will be included in the app soon, along with the integration of hyperlinked IATG [2nd Ed.] and the UN Saferguard tools.
This app is a comprehensive guide and as such meant to assist an Ammunition Trained Person (ATP) in planning, organising and conducting ASM work. It works best as an aid memoire, training tool and a discreet, pocket sized library of advice. There are technical details in the End Notes section, and Hints and Tips for what to examine in ammunition to verify its safety state for secure transport; these are generalised and for guidance only. The app does not make risk based decisions on behalf of an ATP.
A password is required for activating the ASM app’s intuitive accounting system and setting up a dedicated account on a secure server. To obtain the password, please contact the email address below. For queries on the app and its contents, suggestions for improvement, and any troubleshooting please address these to the author GICHD at [email protected] .