Working method and regulations

Belgium

Contrary to  what many nationals think, the Belgian miltary EOD section (DOVO) is not deployable to search for war ammunition in soils inside the country borders. Bom-Be is one of the few companies on the Belgian market that has the necessary certificates, expertise and insurance policies in order to accomplish this task. We mainly carry out three types of commercial EOD projects:

1. Detection: When there are grounds for suspicion of UXO presence in a project area – e.g. after an historical UXO survey – we can perform a surface or depth detection. The detection report will show if suspect objects are present, and if so: which type, at what depth, and which will be the best risk mitigation measures in the in the follow-up procedure.

2. Approaching: when a previous detection indicates that suspect objects are present in the soil, our experts will approach them. Approaching is the continuous and repeated carrying out of (analogue) detection, localising and layered excavation. Excavation is done with secured excavators and/or manually, usually a combination of both. Upon unearthing and identifying ammunition, we will contact the police. When there is a real risk involved, they will contact DOVO, who will determine how to render the UXO harmless and/or take it away.

3. Assistance: sometimes, excavations are carried out in suspect areas where no preliminary detection was carried out, e.g. when the top soil is contaminated with metals, like furnace slag, or during an archaeological sample trenching survey (because the trenches will be excavated entirely anyway). In such cases, a surface detection is not possible or desirable, and our experts will assist the excavation works from up close. In such cases, we will detect and excavate layer by layer. Discovered war ammunition will be rendered safe by DOVO.

The Netherlands

EOD projects in The Netherlands are executed in the same way as in Belgium, though the Dutch civil UXO detection sector is more extensively regulated. Companies and personnel involved in the search for UXO in Dutch (water) soils have to be certified according to the WSCS-OCE, an annex to the Labour Law.  This means that companies have to comply with an extensive set of requirements to guarantee the safety of personnel and surroundings during detection and approaching activities. Company management, personnel, materials, preliminary studies and the UXO detection process are all streamlined according to this bill.

Bom-Be is, as a Belgian company, is also certified according to the Dutch regulation, and our personnel has the required certificates to work there.

Moreover, Bom-Be is certified as an Examination Centre by TÜV Nederland, the controlling body for the Dutch UXO sector. This means that personnel from other companies can take exams at Bom-Be in order to obtain their expertise certificates.