WWII Ordnance – Is it still a risk?

“Is WWII Ordnance really a threat?”

is the question I get asked the most. Alternatively I often get told by many (unqualified) clients that “WWII ordnance is not a threat!

It is over 70 years old, it didn’t detonate and therefore is not a risk.” This should not be underestimated… WWII ordnance is still very much a risk.

Small numbers of WWII ordnance (Airdropped Bombs) are found every year on UK construction projects or found by the public. Much greater numbers of ordnance items such as mortars, grenades, rounds are located each month – most often allied items that were ‘lost’ or deliberately dumped after the war and during subsequent training post-war exercises.

Historically, ordnance that did not detonate as intended very much remains a risk. In Germany last week 13 suspect items were located on a construction site and the German bomb disposal teams were sent to site. After further investigation a large number were ruled out as ordnance including two large items of scrap metal. But three items were confirmed as British bombs from WWII and had to be made safe.

The risk from these items was so significant that the Bomb Disposal team instigated a major exclusion site around the construction site and evacuated over 50,000 people. What health & Safety or commercial impact would this type of find have to your construction project?

Philip Norville, Head of Business Development at Dynasafe BACTEC

Dynasafe BACTEC is the UK’s leading UXO risk mitigation specialist and can provide desk based risk assessments in accordance with CIRIA C681 to understands the residual UXO associated with your project.

Groundsure partner with Dynasafe BACTEC to deliver the Groundsure UXO report, a unique desktop search report that identifies potential risks from unexploded ordnance that could affect your client’s construction project. To find out more about this report, click here.