Because of the necessity for strict observance of safety precautions, all engine-room operational training must be rigidly controlled and supervised. On-the-job training is necessary if an individual is to acquire the actual skills needed for main engine operation;however, the person must not be allowed to learn by trial and error, since errors could be too dangerous and too costly. Safety precautions should be taught from the very beginning and should be emphasized constantly throughout the training program.

Many of the NSTMs, manufacturers technical manuals, and every Planned Maintenance System (PMS) maintenance requirement card (MRC) include safety precautions. Additionally, OPNAVINST 5100.19B. Naval Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) Program Manual for Forces Afloat, and OPNAVINST 5100.23B, NAVOSH Program Manual, provide safety and occupational health information. The safety precautions are for your protection and to protect equipment.

During preventive and corrective maintenance, the procedures may call for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as goggles, gloves, hearing protection, and respirators. When specified, your use of PPE is mandatory. You must select PPE appropriate for the job since the equipment is manufactured and approved for different levels of protection. If the procedure does not specify the PPE, and you arent sure, ask your safety officer.

Most machinery, spaces, and tools requiring you to wear hearing protection are posted with hazardous noise signs or labels. Eye hazardous areas requiring you to wear goggles or safety glasses are also posted. In areas where corrosive chemicals are mixed or used, such as the morpholine tank or brominators, an emergency eye wash station must be installed.

All lubricating agents, oils, cleaning materials, refrigerants (R-12), and boiler water and feedwater chemicals used in maintenance and repair are hazardous materials. Hazardous materials require careful handling, storage, and disposal. PMS documentation provides hazard warnings or refers the maintenance person to the Hazardous Materials Users Guide (HMUG). Material safety data sheets (MSDSs) also provide safety precautions for hazardous materials. All commands are required to have an MSDS for each hazardous material they have in their inventory. You must be familiar with the dangers associated with the hazardous materials you use in your work Additional information is available from your commands hazardous material/hazardous waste coordinator.

Workers must always consider electrical safety when working around any electrical or electronic machinery or equipment. Procedures normally include special precautions and tag-out requirements for electrical safety. You should review your commands electrical safety program instruction and procedures before beginning any work on electrical or electronic equipment or before working with portable electrical tools.