Stability of the Performance and Safety of the Ballistic Body Protections Used in Humanitarian Demining

Abstract

This paper focused on analysing actual state-of-the-art personal protective equipment (PPE) used in humanitarian demining for the determination of potential gaps to provide improvements to increase the safety and, simultaneously, performance of PPE. The essential requirements and technical standards for PPEs used in humanitarian demining operations were analysed as a basis for gap identification. Furthermore based on the defined gap and risk analysis, the effect of accelerated ageing and simulation of the use of soft ballistic inserts designed with p-aramid woven fabrics was performed. The research provided new inputs for improvements in the standardisation of PPE with respect to performance and safety validation in a laboratory environment. Moreover the gap analysis resulted in strictly identified gap areas for PPE improvement in usability, functionality and safety.