QUALITY ASSURANCE
Process monitoring
Site visits during the work: detector checks, lane discipline, search depth, marking, records and handling of finds.
QUALITY CONTROL
Independent quality control of UXO survey and clearance
Client-side checks that the contractor's survey and clearance meet the agreed standard, so that the area handed over is the area that was promised.
WHY IT MATTERS
A cleared area is only as reliable as the evidence behind it.
The most dangerous item is sometimes the one left in an area declared as checked. Quality control exists to find that gap before the site is handed over for construction.
We base our controls on the quality management principles of the International Mine Action Standards: quality assurance monitors the process while the work is under way, and quality control inspects the result. Our senior technical advisor has carried out such controls since 2005, using IMAS-based procedures at a time when Polish law did not yet set control rules. Since 2024 a Polish regulation has required a control check of at least 10% of cleared land.
WHAT WE DO
Scope of quality control
QUALITY CONTROL
Sampling inspections
Independent re-search of randomly selected sample areas after clearance, against acceptance criteria agreed in advance.
PROCEDURES
Control procedures
Preparation of quality procedures that turn the legal minimum and the contract into clear rules for sampling, acceptance and non-conformities.
EQUIPMENT
Equipment and detection checks
Function tests and test items confirming that detectors reach the specified depth for the expected threat.
RECORDS
Documentation audit
Daily reports, target lists, find logs and handover records checked against the work actually done.
ACCEPTANCE
Acceptance recommendation
A clear recommendation to accept, re-work or reject an area, with the evidence that supports it.
HOW WE WORK
Quality control in four stages
Before work starts
Agree the standards, acceptance criteria, sampling rules and reporting with the client and the contractor.
During the work
Unannounced monitoring visits and checks of equipment, methods and records.
After clearance
Sampling inspection of completed areas and comparison with the contractor's records.
Handover
A report with findings, non-conformities and an acceptance recommendation for each area.
WHAT WE OFTEN FIND
Typical quality problems in clearance
Detection depth not proven
Equipment used without test items or tests at the required depth.
Lanes and overlaps
Gaps between search lanes or missed edges around obstacles.
Records that cannot be traced
Target lists and maps that do not match the area actually searched.
Schedule pressure
Search speed raised to keep the programme, at the cost of quality.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between QA and QC?
Quality assurance checks that the process is right while the work is under way. Quality control inspects the finished result, typically by re-searching sample areas. A reliable programme uses both.
Is quality control required by law?
In Poland, yes. The Council of Ministers regulation of 26 September 2023 on clearance of land from explosive and dangerous materials (Journal of Laws 2023, item 2286) requires acceptance of cleared land after completion and a control check of at least 10% of the cleared area by qualified persons. The regulation sets a minimum, not a method, so the sampling approach, acceptance criteria and handling of non-conformities should be written into the contract before work begins. Requirements in other countries differ.
Can you control work at sea?
Yes. At sea the controls focus on survey data quality, target investigation records, positioning and the evidence behind each target closure.
RELATED SERVICES
See also
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Learn more →ENQUIRY
Plan quality control before the contractor mobilises
Tell us about the site, the scope of clearance and the contract stage. We will propose a control plan proportionate to the risk.