Story Highlight
– Former commander reports 20% hearing loss from Ajax trials.
– Soldiers experienced hearing damage and body vibrations operating Ajax.
– Trials paused for investigation after recent troop injuries.
– Concerns raised about noise and vibration safety standards.
– General Dynamics claims Ajax is one of the safest vehicles.
Full Story
The former commander of the British Army’s Armoured Trials and Delivery Unit, Rob Page, has revealed that he has experienced a significant loss of hearing, amounting to around 20%, which he suspects may be linked to the intensive trials of the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle. Page, who held the rank of lieutenant colonel before leaving the military, has now publicly shared his concerns regarding the health impacts faced by soldiers during his two-year involvement with the Ajax project from 2019 to 2021.
During the trials, Page observed that several soldiers were adversely affected by the excessive noise levels and strong vibrations produced by the 40-tonne armoured vehicle. He noted that soldiers suffered from various physical ailments, particularly complaints related to noise exposure and the intense shuddering experienced while the vehicle was in motion.
In response to these concerning issues, Page escalated his observations through military channels, ultimately recommending a halt to the trials in late 2020 and again in 2021 until the underlying problems were adequately addressed. Unfortunately, recent reports indicate that the same issues persisted, resulting in further troop injuries just last month, despite Defence Minister Luke Pollard’s earlier assurances that the Ajax vehicle was safe for operations. Subsequently, use of the vehicle has once more been suspended pending further investigations.
“My concerns are recurring,” Page commented in an interview, emphasising that “soldier safety has to come first, and foremost.” He recalled the early trials in 2019 when soldiers began to experience adverse physical effects, describing sensations of pain in various joints such as hands, wrists, knees, and feet due to the vehicle’s operation. This led to an immediate effort to investigate the potential risks to enhance safety for personnel operating the vehicle.
Compounding the urgency was the pressure on the military to deploy a fleet comprising approximately 600 variants of the Ajax. The contract with General Dynamics, the American firm responsible for producing the vehicle, is valued at £6.3 billion and has already seen delays and budget overruns. Given the pressing need for new armoured capabilities and the previous failures to procure such assets, raising safety alarms proved to be a daunting, yet essential, task.
As 2020 progressed, Page’s worry intensified as soldiers reported symptoms of tinnitus and the effects of “whole-body vibration.” To substantiate these claims, his team instituted health checks, assessing personnel before and after operating the Ajax vehicle, which yielded mounting evidence of the issues at hand.
Furthermore, Page discovered that issues were not confined to soldiers in the field; a separate team stationed at a factory in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, which assembles the Ajax variants, was also reporting sickness linked to the vehicle’s noise and vibration. “We began to compile evidence and escalate our concerns up the chain of command swiftly,” he noted.
A critical issue raised by Page involved a ‘noise and vibration calculator’ provided by General Dynamics, intended to ensure safe operational parameters. He sought clarification on the data that informed this calculator since soldiers were adhering to operational guidelines yet were still vulnerable to the adverse effects of noise and vibration.
In a dramatic gesture, Page referred to an email he had sent to his superiors as a “Chernobyl email,” drawing a parallel to the catastrophic nuclear disaster in Ukraine. “I outlined our situation: we are exposing soldiers to known hazards while using what I believed were insufficient safety controls,” he recounted. He voiced parallel concerns about the vagueness of the established safety measures, indicating a lack of precise understanding regarding the correct mitigation of these hazards.
Despite these serious concerns, Page noted that his insights were anonymised in two significant reviews conducted after the trials were halted. He maintained that the systemic issues plaguing the Ajax programme were indicative of broader challenges in defence procurement rather than deficiencies attributable to any single individual.
“It’s unproductive to engage in a blame game; what’s crucial is understanding and managing the risks involved,” he explained, emphasising the need for responsible oversight to ensure that adequate controls were in place to protect service personnel. He highlighted the necessity of identifying the root causes of noise and vibration instead of relying on temporary fixes, such as enhanced seating or hearing protection.
Once the trials were suspended in 2021, Page and his team were offered hearing assessments at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Despite initially attributing his knee and back pain to vibrations experienced in the Ajax, it was only during the hearing examination that he became aware of the extent of his hearing loss. A specialist’s feedback revealed the severity of his condition: difficulty following conversations in noisy settings and persistent tinnitus.
“I’ve lost roughly 20% of my hearing,” Page remarked. “Tinnitus has been the most frustrating part. Hearing is fundamental, and the prospect of permanent loss is truly tragic.”
In response to these ongoing concerns, General Dynamics UK has asserted that significant measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of their Ajax vehicles, claiming it to be one of the most extensively tested combat vehicles to date. In a statement, the company stressed their commitment to soldier safety and noted that changes to the vehicle and headset design have been made in light of the concerns raised over five years ago, with independent evaluations confirming compliance within acceptable legislative limits.
General Dynamics asserted, “We have full confidence in the performance and protection provided to our soldiers. The Ajax platform is considered the world’s most advanced digitised armoured fighting vehicle.” Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence reiterated their prioritisation of personnel safety, affirming that any issues reported would be addressed promptly and thoroughly investigated.
Our Thoughts
The case involving the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle underscores several critical failures in health and safety management within the UK Ministry of Defence. Key lessons emphasize the importance of adhering to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which mandates ensuring the health and safety of workers.
Firstly, effective risk assessments should have been conducted concerning the excessive noise and vibration levels prior to deployment. The significant harm reported suggests a breach of Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which requires employers to assess risks and take appropriate measures. The reliance on an unverified “noise and vibration calculator” raises questions about compliance with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, which obligate employers to ensure equipment is safe to operate.
To prevent future incidents, a culture that prioritizes soldier safety over procurement pressures must be cultivated. Established protocols for immediate investigation and intervention when health risks are identified should be adhered to. Continuous monitoring and engineering solutions aimed at eliminating hazards should be prioritized over temporary fixes like ear protection and cushioned seats.
