Fatal accident due to anti-personnel ARGES EM01 rifle grenade explosion

Abstract

During the process of unsealing an old ammunition box in order to destroy it, a 42-year-old ammunition technician was fatally injured due to an anti-personnel ARGES EM01-type rifle grenade detonation. The explosion took place in the victim's hands, in point-blank range. This report aimed to show the anatomical position, the severity and the dispersion extent of the multiple injuries in the human body due to the detonation, and draw firm conclusions regarding the position of the human body and the circumstances prevailing at the moment of the explosion.

Grenade Explosion Leading to Penetrative Brain Trauma and Demise of Three Children during High Altitude Counter Insurgency Operations

“…The throwing distance, shrapnel travel and lethal range is 40, 200 and 15 meters, respectively (4). Grenade explosion generates a supersonic over-pressurizing blastwave of compressed and high-velocity expanding gases, producing a hurricane-force wind at approximately 200 km/h, which carry highly damaging shrapnels (4,5). Blastwaves are most damaging in immediate proximity of direct wave or places of constructive interference through entire objects, humans and shrapnels being set in projectile motion.…”

“…Geotechnical/geophysical magnetometer probes are used to detect unexploded ordnance in heavily contaminated areas. Explosion injuries and fatalities due to manipulation of aged/expired/unexploded ammunition have been reported amongst civilians as well as military forces (4,9). The severity of blast-related traumatic brain injury is dependent on the magnitude of blast energy, distance from blast epicenter and open/confined space explosions (2).…”