Just say "NO!" to weapons that can injure humans!!! (!?!?!?)
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Natio...-after-accident/2007/09/14/1189276952654.html
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has ordered an immediate suspension of the use of the F1 hand grenade in training after a defence employee had his hand blown off.
The 48-year-old Department of Defence employee lost his hand and suffered leg injuries in an explosion at an army training facility in Graytown, north of Melbourne.
He was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and his condition was listed as serious but stable.
Defence chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston and Defence secretary Nick Warner expressed sympathy to the man and said the cause of the grenade accident was being investigated.
"Potential causes might include, but not be limited to, a malfunction of the grenade or of the testing procedures," Air Chief Marshall Houston said in a statement.
"It would not be appropriate to speculate further about the incident until investigations are complete.
"Our first priority is to ensure the safety of all ADF and Defence Department personnel."
Air Chief Marshal Houston said the decision to pause the training use of the F1 grenade would allow Defence to determine whether the right measures are in place to ensure the safety of its people and the reliability of the grenade.
"Defence will work closely with the grenades manufacturer, Thales Australia, to validate and where necessary improve all aspects relating to the safety and reliability of the product," he said.
"Defence will rapidly procure sufficient stocks of HE grenades from the United States to support necessary training for our forces in Australia."
Air Chief Marshal Houston said a small number of failures of the F1 grenades to detonate were reported in 2006 from the Middle East.
"These incidents were reported from the field and rapid steps were taken to confirm the reliability of grenades in service," he said.
"Our forces in the Middle East continue to have adequate stocks of fully effective grenades in their inventory."
He said Defence, through the Defence Materiel Organisation, had been working with Thales to address these matters.
"The incident on September 12 at the Defence Proof and Experimental Establishment is cause for concern," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.
"These matters will be very carefully investigated and reported to the Minister for Defence. All necessary steps will be taken to ensure the safety of our personnel."
ADI's website says the F1 fragmentation hand grenade, made at Benalla, has a five second fuse, contains 70 grams of explosives and more than 4,000 small steel balls, and has a lethal radius of six metres, with a safety zone of 30 metres.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Natio...-after-accident/2007/09/14/1189276952654.html
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has ordered an immediate suspension of the use of the F1 hand grenade in training after a defence employee had his hand blown off.
The 48-year-old Department of Defence employee lost his hand and suffered leg injuries in an explosion at an army training facility in Graytown, north of Melbourne.
He was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and his condition was listed as serious but stable.
Defence chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston and Defence secretary Nick Warner expressed sympathy to the man and said the cause of the grenade accident was being investigated.
"Potential causes might include, but not be limited to, a malfunction of the grenade or of the testing procedures," Air Chief Marshall Houston said in a statement.
"It would not be appropriate to speculate further about the incident until investigations are complete.
"Our first priority is to ensure the safety of all ADF and Defence Department personnel."
Air Chief Marshal Houston said the decision to pause the training use of the F1 grenade would allow Defence to determine whether the right measures are in place to ensure the safety of its people and the reliability of the grenade.
"Defence will work closely with the grenades manufacturer, Thales Australia, to validate and where necessary improve all aspects relating to the safety and reliability of the product," he said.
"Defence will rapidly procure sufficient stocks of HE grenades from the United States to support necessary training for our forces in Australia."
Air Chief Marshal Houston said a small number of failures of the F1 grenades to detonate were reported in 2006 from the Middle East.
"These incidents were reported from the field and rapid steps were taken to confirm the reliability of grenades in service," he said.
"Our forces in the Middle East continue to have adequate stocks of fully effective grenades in their inventory."
He said Defence, through the Defence Materiel Organisation, had been working with Thales to address these matters.
"The incident on September 12 at the Defence Proof and Experimental Establishment is cause for concern," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.
"These matters will be very carefully investigated and reported to the Minister for Defence. All necessary steps will be taken to ensure the safety of our personnel."
ADI's website says the F1 fragmentation hand grenade, made at Benalla, has a five second fuse, contains 70 grams of explosives and more than 4,000 small steel balls, and has a lethal radius of six metres, with a safety zone of 30 metres.
