If you cannot determine whether an item is MPPEH, what should you do?

If you cannot determine whether an item is MPPEH, what should you do?

• A. Ignore the item and continue.
• B. Treat as MPPEH and contact EOD for assessment.
• C. Mark it and leave it for someone else.
• D. Attempt to disarm it yourself.

Answer: (B)

When you’re not sure if an item is MPPEH, treat it as a potential explosive and escalate to specialists. Unknown munitions or remnants can be dangerous even if you don’t see obvious signs of danger, so the safest approach is not to touch or move it and to keep others away. Secure the area and preserve the scene: don’t disturb the item, establish a safe perimeter, and inform the proper authority so EOD can respond. Provide whatever details you can—exact location, size, shape, any smells or markings, and who found it—so they can assess accurately. The reason this is the best approach is that Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel have the training, protective equipment, and procedures to identify whether it’s live, determine the appropriate disposal method, and minimize risk to people and property. Choices that involve ignoring it, leaving it for someone else, or attempting to disarm it are unsafe and prohibited.

When you’re not sure if an item is MPPEH, treat it as a potential explosive and escalate to specialists. Unknown munitions or remnants can be dangerous even if you don’t see obvious signs of danger, so the safest approach is not to touch or move it and to keep others away.

Secure the area and preserve the scene: don’t disturb the item, establish a safe perimeter, and inform the proper authority so EOD can respond. Provide whatever details you can—exact location, size, shape, any smells or markings, and who found it—so they can assess accurately.

The reason this is the best approach is that Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel have the training, protective equipment, and procedures to identify whether it’s live, determine the appropriate disposal method, and minimize risk to people and property. Choices that involve ignoring it, leaving it for someone else, or attempting to disarm it are unsafe and prohibited.