SubscribeHook & Line (HAL®) rigging equipment packages provide bomb technicians with an extra safety net in a high-risk environment.
The use of HAL rigging equipment to gain entry to buildings or vehicles and to manoeuvre potential IEDs has been proven to minimize the risk to the bomb technician.
The British Army’s bomb disposal personnel began working with PW Allen to develop Hook & Line (HAL®) equipment in the 1970s. At this time of heavy conflict in Northern Ireland, many bomb technicians lost their lives and it was essential that a process was implemented to minimize the risk to life as far as possible.
It was realized that all potential bomb scenarios should be dealt with in remote, semi-remote and manual stages, always followed in that order to ensure that a potential bomb was only physically approached when it was deemed safe. The HAL equipment system was evolved to maximize access to potential IEDs from a safe distance and it became an indispensable part of the semi-remote phase, now being used by EOD experts in 120 countries.
This guide focuses on one common bomb situation (the car bomb) and outlines suggested procedures for proactively dealing with the threat whilst minimizing risk. Effective use of HAL equipment is covered in detail as part of the whole process, as no segment of EOD practice can be considered in isolation.
It is assumed in the guide that a bomb technician will be working in tandem with a support bomb technician, or No. 2, throughout the operation. Best practice dictates that a potential IED should only ever be approached by one person, but by working in partnership, the bomb technician can discuss ideas and obtain a second opinion before implementing a strategy.
Situation: potential car bomb
The suspect vehicle has been in terrorist hands and although there has been no specific warning as yet, it has been abandoned close to a wall on a busy street with cars parked at either end. Police checks have not been able to trace an owner.
Once the bomb technician and the No. 2 arrive at the scene and the high-risk area has been evacuated, the pre-ordained three-stage procedure should kick in immediately. The pair should be based in an incident control point (ICP) - a ‘safe zone’ from which they can clearly see the suspect area whilst being sheltered from any blast or fragmentation should the device function.
Stage one - remote phase
A remote operated vehicle (ROV) with an in-built camera is directed to the suspect vehicle so that the bomb technician can get a visual inspection. However, due to the position of the car and surrounding vehicles, many of the areas in and around the car are inaccessible to the ROV.
The bomb technician quickly realizes that remote access is not going to be successful and it is necessary to proceed to the second phase. However, good practice means it is necessary to adhere to pre-established safety procedures before making any manual approach.
Stage two - semi-remote phase
The bomb technician needs to devise a plan to access the suspect areas of the vehicle via doors, trunk and engine compartment without causing undue risk to himself or surrounding property. With effective, well-planned use of HAL equipment, this stage should be the most productive of the EOD process, whilst still comparatively safe. Actions that could potentially trigger the device can be carried out dexterously but from a safe distance.
Best practice dictates that in the second stage the bomb technician plans an approach with his second in command. Having two people consider possible methods is advantageous as they can develop ideas and discuss different ways to set up the equipment. It is however advisable not to involve too many people in this discussion as a debate can arise with differences of opinion that could slow the task.
The initial aim needs to be accessing the main areas of the vehicle. It’s important to have an intimate knowledge of the vehicle to work out the details of the semi-remote approach. Information on potential hiding places, and door/glove box opening mechanisms is invaluable. Both bomb technician and No. 2 need to feel confident and fully conversant with the vehicle layout to determine the process.
The next level is to devise a detailed plan of action, including which hooks, lines, grips, pulleys and tripods are most suitable for the job and the most effective way to rig the equipment from the control point to the vehicle. For example, something as simple as operating the door handle requires highly strategic positioning of grips, hooks, pulleys and specialist vehicle access tools.
Once a detailed plan is in place, the ideal scenario would involve a practice set-up of the equipment to disclose any flaws in the plan or equipment shortfalls. It may be tempting to skip the trial run in favour of accessing the bomb more quickly. However, the exact rigging will change with each job and it is crucial that both technician and the No. 2 are adept with the process and that the kit set-up functions adequately.
Once the bomb technician and No. 2 are happy that the plan is workable, they need to ensure that the tools and equipment are correctly placed for the approach to run to plan. After putting on his bomb suit and briefing any agencies present in generic terms, best practice is for the bomb technician to set up the equipment starting from the ICP, working towards the suspect vehicle. This means that the IED can’t be triggered accidentally if any of the lines should snag during set-up whilst the bomb technician is in the danger zone. It is advisable to open only one area of the vehicle at a time. This procedure minimises risk and ensures that each area is given thorough consideration. If several lines are rigged to open all doors at once, the margin for complications increases, which heightens the risk.
It is imperative at this stage of the process that the No. 2 remains in the safe zone at all times. In the unlikely event that the IED is triggered, risk to life will be kept at a minimum and he will be able to elaborate on the planned approach to investigating authorities.
Once the equipment is rigged and has been checked, the bomb technician should carefully return to the ICP to manoeuvre the lines. If the door is opened and the IED does not detonate, the bomb technician should allow time before planning a second painstaking approach, ensuring that all the rigging from the previous approach is removed first.
This process should continue until all areas of the vehicle, and potential triggers, have been accessed.
If this stage is reached and the potential IED has been located the bomb technician will take appropriate actions to either place an EOD weapon or use the HAL equipment to manoeuvre the device itself following the same procedures. The use of a weapon is preferable to using HAL to move a confirmed IED, but this is not always appropriate.
Stage three - manual phase
Once the bomb technician is satisfied that the potential IED is now low risk through the use of an EOD weapon, or manoeuvred using HAL, he can approach it manually wearing his full bomb suit after he has re-planned his next phase and followed the correct safety protocol.
Conclusion
Whilst the standard of the HAL kit is undoubtedly important, its implementation is mission-critical to successful EOD work with minimal risk. Before using HAL equipment in the field, it’s essential that bomb technicians undertake a high level of professional training so that they are well practiced and up to date with roles they are expected to perform.
Regular practice at rigging the lines and using the variety of pulleys, hooks, grips and special accessories, is crucial for effective bomb disposal work. Equipment without training is potentially dangerous. The full range of the HAL ‘BombTec’ system offers the operator a safe, efficient and reliable way to gain access to and move suspect objects without putting himself or others at risk.
