Occupational Injury Patterns and Safety Risks in Humanitarian Demining: A Systematic Review

The morbidity and mortality associated with landmines and explosive remnants of war remain a significant problem worldwide. Deminers exposed to these hazards repeatedly in their line of duty have not had their injury patterns adequately synthesized in over two decades and mine contamination continues to expand in modern conflicts.A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Inclusion criteria were studies that documented injury patterns, injury mechanisms, personal protective equipment (PPE), and outcomes in deminers.Eight studies published between 1990 and 2025 met the inclusion criteria. Demining activities were associated with high injury and fatality rates across all studies. Most injuries involved handling anti-personnel mines; upper limb trauma (62%) and amputations, which were commonly reported, distinguished deminers from other civilian and military populations exposed to explosive devices. Despite improvements in personal protective equipment, facial and ocular injuries remain prevalent. Deminers had better survival rates than civilians, often due to rapid evacuation and on-site medical support; however, only 20% returned to clearance work post-injury. Contributing risk factors included procedural lapses, inadequate training, and poor supervision.Although advancements have improved safety, current evidence remains limited and outdated. Systematic injury reporting and updated analysis of injury data are urgently needed.