Generic Preventive Measures - Checklist
To assist States with the implementation of Article 9 and Part 3 of the Technical Annex, in 2009 the then Coordinator on Generic Preventive Measures, Colonel Jean-Christophe Le Roux of France, developed a questionnaire which serves as a checklist for States to consider when they are developing procedures, guidelines or regulations on the implementation of generic preventive measures. The checklist has been reproduced in full below. It can also be found in Protocol V document CCW/P.V/CONF/2010/6/Add.1, 11 November 2010. Essentially the checklist is a tool to facilitate the implementation of generic preventive measures. While it does not have any legal status, it is hoped that the checklist will clarify various issues, establish best practises and serve to monitor and improve the implementation of generic preventive measures at the national level.
1. Specification
2. Concept
3. Development
Reducing UXO sensitivity
(a) Does the fusing system design include features to prevent initiation of the explosive train (e.g. through depletion of electrical energy) after the operating time of the fusing system has expired? How long does it take for the fusing system of the UXO to become inoperable e.g. for the firing electric energy to be depleted to a level below the minimum current required to initiate the detonator (i.e. non fire current level)?
(b) Does the fusing system incorporate fail-safe design (safe state of the fusing system in case of failure) or sterilisation (e.g. : initiate the primary explosive element in its safe position or deplete energy of the ignition capacitor in order to prevent detonation of the main charge, avoid inadvertent charging of ignition capacitor)?
(c) Have the least sensitive/ most stable explosive components been used in the explosive train (fusing system, main charge…)?
Reducing potential civilian casualties from ERW
Qualification work
4. Production
5. Utilisation - 5.1 Storage
5.2 Transportation and handling
5.3 Training
5.4 Using
6. Support - 6.1 maintenance of weapon system, munitions and packaging
6.2 In service surveillance
6.3 Documentation
7. Disposal Identification
Procedures
Information to other parties
8. COTS and MOTS
9. Others questions for storage related to safety
List of abbreviations
ALARP: As Low As is Reasonably Practicable
AXO: Abandoned explosive Ordnance
BIT: Built In Test
CCW: Certain Conventional Weapons
COTS: Commercial Off The Shelf
EOD: Explosive Ordnance Disposal
ERW: Explosive Remnants of War (see definition in convention on CCW)
HCP: High Contracting Party
MOTS: Modified Off The Shelf
RFID: Radio Frequency Identification Device
UXO: Unexploded Ordnance (see definition in convention on CCW)