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Joint Logistics Command |
DIRECTORATE of ORDNANCE SAFETYSafety and Suitability for Service |
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Safety and Suitability for Service (S3) refers to a risk based assessment, set against internationally recognised standards, of an individual item of EO to determine its ability to remain safe and suitable for service within the ADF. The assessment of a new munition is done within the concept of system safety and examines the energetics of the item and how it functions in the context of the environment that it will be exposed to throughout its life from manufacturer to target, or disposal. Given the nature of ammunition and explosives, the Australian Government Solicitor has advised that the Commonwealth's Duty of Care to its personnel is absolute. In keeping with the Minister's requirements for corporate governance, Defence requires high risk Explosive Ordnance (EO) to be independently reviewed by the EO Assurance Board (EOAB), Chaired by the Director General of Explosive Ordnance Branch. The S3 team within DOS liaises closely with the EO Procuring Authority, usually the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) to assist with the development of an EO Design Assessment supported by appropriate objective evidence. In doing so the S3 section provides support to the EOAB through the review and staffing of documentation submitted to the Board. This assistance covers requirements detailed in Defence Explosive Ordnance Publication (DEOP) 102, Technical Integrity of Explosive Ordnance, (available on request from DOS) and includes the use of the Explosive Ordnance Certification Tool. The necessary evidence comes from a multiplicity of sources including design specifications, trial results and demonstrated experience of service use in the Configuration, Role and Environment needed by the ADF. The EOAB also considers requests for waiver of Insensitive Munitions requirements and may be used to peer review requests for Qualification of energetic materials and the issue of Manned Firing Advice required at trials of EO. |
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