New rules would better protect bomb squads

Bomb squads would be better safeguarded from explosions under new federal rules intended to protect those who protect and serve.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering voluntary safety standards for the manufacturers of the bomb suits worn by law enforcement officers as they investigate and disarm explosive devices.

{mosads}The bomb suits would be made stronger to protect officers from the blunt force of the blast as well as the flames in the event of an explosion, the agency said.

“The standard balances the protection requirements against the bomb technician’s need for mobility, clear vision, and dexterity,” the DOJ writes in the Federal Register.

The new standards would better safeguard officers against fragmentation, impact, flame and blast overpressure. Optics and ergonomics would also be improved, the agency said.

This will protect law enforcement officers from head, neck, and other injuries in the event of a blast. However, the agency noted the bomb suits will not stand up to chemical, radiological or nuclear exposure. 

The DOJ’s National Institute of Justice issued draft recommendations Thursday as it considers issuing new voluntary standards to the bomb suits’ manufacturers.

While the manufacturers will not be forced to comply with the rules, they will serve as the gold standard for bomb suits. So law enforcement agencies will be less likely to purchase bomb suits from manufacturers that don’t comply.

The public has 45 days to comment.