UXO Glossary
Seldom has one industry had so many acronyms or impenetrable terminology - but in the world of UXO, knowing your HAZWOPER from your HERO could literally save lives.
Here’s the A – Z – we’ve gone wide for maximum entertainment and enlightenment.
AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery): Weapons designed to target and destroy enemy aircraft, often leaving behind explosive remnants when fired or bombed.
ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable): A guiding principle in safety management that aims to reduce risk to the lowest level possible, balancing cost, effort, and benefit.
Anomaly: An irregularity or disturbance detected during geophysical surveys that may indicate the presence of subsurface UXO or metallic debris.
ARP (Air Raid Precautions): Civil defence strategies and protective measures taken during aerial bombardments in wartime Britain.
ASR (Archives Search Report): A detailed investigation report on past munitions activities conducted on an installation, assembling historical data to assess potential UXO presence.
AXO (Abandoned Explosive Ordnance): Explosive weapons left behind or discarded without being used, but still capable of functioning.
BAC (Battle Area Clearance): The systematic detection and removal of unexploded ordnance and other hazards from former combat zones, excluding landmines.
BPD (Bomb Penetration Depth): The depth to which a bomb has sunk into the ground, influencing the type of detection and clearance required.
CA (Chemical Agent): A chemical substance designed to cause harm or death, often found in certain types of munitions.
CIRIA C681: UK industry guidance for managing UXO risks during land development, published by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association.
CPD (Continuing Professional Development): Ongoing training required to maintain competency in UXO detection, risk assessment, and disposal.
CWM (Chemical Warfare Material): Munitions or devices designed to release chemical agents for warfare purposes.
DC (Direct Current): An electric current flowing in one direction, relevant in certain UXO detection equipment.
DMM (Discarded Military Munitions): Military munitions that have been abandoned without proper disposal, potentially posing explosive hazards.
EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal): The profession and process of locating, identifying, and safely removing or neutralising explosive ordnance.
EMF (Electro-Motive Force): The voltage generated by a source like a battery or by electromagnetic induction, relevant in detection technologies.
ERW (Explosive Remnants of War): A collective term for UXO, AXO, and other dangerous leftovers from military conflict.
HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response): U.S. regulations requiring training for workers dealing with hazardous waste operations, including UXO sites. Irrelevant in the UK, but included because the acronym makes us laugh.
HE (High Explosive): An explosive material that detonates at a high velocity, commonly found in military munitions.
HERO (Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance): Risks associated with electromagnetic radiation causing unintended detonation of ordnance.
IED (Improvised Explosive Device): A non-conventional homemade bomb, typically associated with asymmetric warfare or terrorism.
IEDD (Improvised Explosive Device Disposal): The process of detecting, identifying, and safely disposing of IEDs.
IMAS (International Mine Action Standards): United Nations guidelines for safely carrying out mine and UXO clearance operations around the world.
Intrusive Survey: A UXO survey method involving physical penetration of the ground, such as drilling or probing, to investigate anomalies.
MC (Munitions Constituents): Chemical components of munitions, such as explosives and propellants, that may pose environmental hazards.
MEC (Munitions and Explosives of Concern): Military munitions that pose explosive safety risks, including UXO, discarded munitions, and damaged explosives.
MPPEH (Material Potentially Presenting an Explosive Hazard): Material that may contain unexploded ordnance or explosive residues, requiring careful handling.
MRA (Munitions Response Area): A geographic area that is known or suspected to contain UXO or other munitions-related hazards.
MRS (Munitions Response Site): A specific location within an MRA where munitions-related activities have occurred and UXO may be present.
Non-Intrusive Survey: A UXO detection approach that does not break the ground, using surface-level equipment like magnetometers and radar.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): Safety gear worn to protect individuals from hazards, essential in UXO operations.
QCPP (Quality Control Program Plan): A document outlining procedures to ensure quality and safety in UXO detection and clearance projects.
RC (Remote Control): Technology allowing the operation of equipment from a distance, enhancing safety in UXO disposal.
RSP (Render Safe Procedure): Techniques employed to deactivate, disarm, or make an explosive device safe prior to removal or disposal.
SUXOS (Senior UXO Supervisor): An experienced professional responsible for overseeing UXO operations and ensuring safety protocols are followed.
TEU (Technical Escort Unit): A specialised military unit trained to handle and transport chemical, biological, or nuclear materials, including UXO.
TP (Technical Paper): A detailed document outlining technical standards or procedures, such as those related to UXO operations.
UXB (Unexploded Bomb): A specific form of UXO referring to aerial bombs that failed to detonate on impact.
UXO (Unexploded Ordnance): Military munitions that failed to function as intended and pose a potential risk of detonation.
UXO Awareness: Education and outreach that helps people recognise and respond appropriately to UXO hazards.
UXO Clearance: The process of locating and removing UXO to make an area safe for use or development.
UXO Clearance Documentation: Records that track procedures, findings, and results of UXO clearance operations.
UXO Clearance Efficiency: The rate and effectiveness with which UXO can be safely removed, influenced by survey method, equipment, and team experience.
UXO Clearance Equipment: Tools and machinery used to support safe UXO removal, including magnetometers, excavators, and protective gear.
UXO Clearance Operations: Coordinated activities undertaken to detect and safely remove UXO from a defined area.
UXO Clearance Planning: The development of procedures, logistics, and resources required to conduct safe and effective UXO clearance.
UXO Clearance Standards: Agreed protocols and performance criteria that define best practice in UXO clearance projects.
UXO Contamination: The presence of UXO or related items in a given area due to past military activity or bombing.
UXO Detection: The act of identifying potential UXO using various tools and survey methods, both surface and subsurface.
UXO Detection Challenges: Technical and environmental factors – such as depth, geology, or background metal – that complicate detection.
UXO Detection Equipment: Devices such as magnetometers or ground-penetrating radar used to locate potential UXO.
UXO Detection Technologies: The range of tools and systems available to locate and identify UXO beneath the surface.
UXO Disposal: The safe neutralisation or destruction of UXO using controlled detonation or defusal methods.
UXO Disposal Methods: Techniques selected based on the type and condition of the ordnance, including in-situ detonation and removal for off-site disposal.