MOD halts AJAX tank trials for a second time amid further safety concerns
Soldiers have been hospitalised once again for noise and vibration injuries during the AJAX tank trials which have already caused serious injuries to service personnel.
A total of 31 soldiers from the Household Cavalry and the Royal Lancers were taken ill after spending 10 to 15 hours in the vehicles during the Titan Storm exercise. The exercise took place just weeks after Defence Minister Luke Pollard showcased the vehicles and declared them safe for operations.
Bolt Burdon Kemp represents a number of service personnel who suffered hearing loss, tinnitus and vibration injuries as a consequence of the unsafe operations of the AJAX tank trials in 2021.
A project to build 589 AJAX vehicles was halted in July 2021 due to safety concerns regarding high levels of noise exposure and vibrations from vehicles that caused injuries to soldiers during the testing stage.
These concerns were publicly acknowledged by the MOD in December 2021, as we covered in our blog here. Extensive internal investigations were carried out and promises were made that those operating the tanks in the future would be provided with improved hearing protection as well as padded seats.
It was discovered as part of the investigation that soldiers who were operating the vehicles for up to eight hours a day, five days a week were not provided with adequate hearing protection, and there were issues with the alarm testing system which further contributed to injury.
It is deeply concerning that soldiers have once again been hospitalised following the AJAX tank trials becoming operational again earlier this year, despite the new safeguarding measures.
The latest news indicates that soldiers required medical treatment for noise and vibration complaints whilst testing three variants of the 40-tonne AJAX vehicle.
The MOD has a fundamental duty to ensure the safety of service personnel. Reports of hearing damage, motion sickness and more raise a serious question about whether proper risk assessments were carried out and whether the earlier warnings were fully addressed before trials were resumed.
If the MOD has provided suitable hearing protection and padded seats, why are soldiers being hospitalised or continuing to complain of issues?
At Bolt Burdon Kemp we act for servicemen and women who have been injured in the course of their service, including those who were injured during the initial AJAX tank trial. If you have suffered an injury as a result of your service and are considering pursuing a claim for compensation, Bolt Burdon Kemp can help. Please contact our team here for free and confidential advice.
