Name: - Date: - Yr§ion: - Score
Name: - Date: - Yr§ion: - Score
Name: - Date: - Yr§ion: - Score
LABORATORY ACTIVITY #5
COLLECTING EVIDENCES IN EXPLOSIVE CASES
INTRODUCTION:
Forensic analysis of explosives includes analysis of post-explosion residues, and detection
and identification of traces of explosives on suspects' hands, on clothing, and on other related
items. Preliminary field tests may be used for screening the debris on the explosion site. They
include commercially available explosive vapor detectors and chemical color tests. Like post-
explosion residues, personal items suspected to contain traces of explosives and hand-swabs, are
often heavily contaminated. It is therefore of major importance that the analytical procedures
have to include good screening, clean-up, and extraction methods. (Yinon, 2000)
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this activity, you should be able to:
1. Apply your knowledge on the proper way of collecting evidence.
2. Create a summary report of the explosive crime investigation.
MATERIALS:
PROCEDURES:
● Create your own scenario (Role Play) where the explosion is the primary cause of interest. You may
explore the different types of explosives discussed in your module for reference. You are expected to
show your skills in investigating explosion cases particularly in collecting evidence. You may ask
your family or friends to help you perform the task. Take note that you will be submitting a report
summary after the activity. The sample report summary can be found below for you. Also, make sure
to take pictures of the entire activity since you will be submitting it along with your report.
On March 6, 2013, the Powerstroke field crew was at a Nuvista Energy Ltd.’s (Nuvista) wellsite. They
finished pressure testing the well head and snubbing equipment with the glycol from Unit 7-04. While
recovering the glycol from the equipment, they used well bore pressure to push the glycol back to the tank
on Unit 7-04. In doing so, the glycol tank over pressured and caused the side of the tank to pull away from
the baffle inside the glycol tank. This created two holes in the tank and resulted in a leak. The field crew
attempted to plug the leak and notified the Powerstroke operations manager that Unit 7-04 would be
brought to the shop for repair. The field crew brought Unit 7-04 in from the field and parked it inside the
southeast bay at the Powerstroke shop in Grande Prairie. The fluid from the Unit 7-04 glycol tank was
drained into a plastic tote. The following morning, the operations manager and the welder had a discussion
about what could have happened to the glycol tank to cause the leak. They examined the fluid that came
from the tank. The operations manager decided to take a sample of it. The operations manager took an
empty coffee cup and put some of the fluid into the cup. The operations manager poured the contents onto
the deck of Unit 7-04 and tried to ignite it with a lighter. The fluid sample did not ignite. The welder
removed one of the steel straps from the glycol tank and exposed two small holes. The welder took an air
grinding tool and prepared the surface of each hole for a weld repair. The operations manager and a
snubbing supervisor said they mentioned testing for LEL’s (lower explosive limits) to the welder. The
welder repaired the hole near the top of the glycol tank with the arc wire welder. When the welder started
to repair the second hole on the glycol tank, the tank exploded. The welder received immediate fatal
injuries to the head and was knocked off the back end of Unit 7-04 and into the shop bay door.
QUESTIONS:
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2. What are the difficulties you have encountered in doing the activity?
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3. What are your significant learning experiences? And how will it help you in your future
profession?
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DOCUMENTATIONS:
Directions: Attach your documentations conducting your routine procedure. You may use templates or other
elements to properly present your documentation. Remember, all steps in the procedure and also you as the
investigator must be seen in your documentation.