11 Oct 2008

Bomb squad involved in airbag disposal

3:48 pm on 11 October 2008

The Army bomb squad is to help car wreckers dispose of airbags.

Airbags contain a small explosive charge and the law says they have to be disposed of in a particular way, by a qualified person.

Major Nick Bowden of the explosive ordnance disposal squadron says that when a newer car goes to the wreckers, it has usually been in a crash and the airbags have already inflated.

But he says cars with intact airbags are starting to turn up in wrecking yards and the phenomenon is now being noticed in the United States.

The bomb squad will conduct trials over the next two months to try and find a bulk disposal mechanism.