Two Canadian soldiers have been charged with manslaughter in the 2010 death of a corporal during a routine training exercise on a shooting range in Afghanistan.

Cpl. Joshua Baker was killed last February at the shooting range about four kilometres from Kandahar. Four other soldiers were also injured in the incident.

"It is alleged that the proper safety procedures were not followed during the training exercise," the Defence Department said in a statement released Wednesday.

Along with manslaughter, Maj. Darryl Watts and Warrant Officer Paul Ravensdale have been charged with four counts of unlawfully causing bodily harm and one count of negligent performance of a military duty.

Baker, 24, had been serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan.

Born and raised in Scarborough, Ont., Baker served with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, 4th Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

"The allegation is that safety procedures were not followed. We would not use the word accident to refer to this. However, none of the charges imply intent," said Capt. Karina Holder, a DND spokeswoman.

Holder said that at the time of incident, the soldiers were training with a C-19, a command detonated defensive weapons system. The weapon is an explosive device, detonated manually.

Holder said the soldiers were being trained how to properly use and set the weapons.

"Clearly this situation is a tragedy for all involved, not only for the family of the deceased soldier Cpl. Joshua Baker but for his regiment and for the forces, and it's extra tragic when in some ways it is seen as having been avoidable," Holder said.

Watts is currently a reservist armoured officer with the King's Own Calgary Regiment and Ravensdale is with the Canadian Forces Joint Personnel Support Unit in Winnipeg.

The soldiers are not in custody.