Safety is a state of mind, engendered from the top echelons of command down to the lowest working level through positive action and good leadership. Most accidents result from not applying proper safety principles. These accidents can be prevented, but only with the full cooperation of every person concerned. This means that safety is a function of all hands, not just the safety observers. Where explosive munitions are concerned, safety is a way of life and the means of survival for everyone in the general area. To help emphasize the critical nature of safety, we will expand the basic elements of safety in the following paragraphs.

Only by the continuous and vigorous application of these basic elements of safety can the level of ordnance accidents/incidents be reduced and, hopefully, eliminated.

Throughout the remainder of this chapter, keep the following factors in mind:

Your knowledge of safety principles should be sound and based on thorough training.

Your application of safety principles should be under close and constant, qualified supervision. SUPERVISORY DUTIES

Anyone who supervises the inspection, care, preparation, handling, use, or routine disposal (excluding EOD operations) of ammunition or explosives must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Be qualified and certified as required by OPNAVINST 8023.2, U.S. Navy Explosives Safety Policies, Requirements, and Procedures (Department of the Navy Explosives Safety Policy Manual) and supplemental regulations.

2. Remain vigilant throughout the operation, and ensure that all regulations and instructions are observed.

3. Carefully instruct and frequently warn those under them of the need for care and constant vigilance.

4. Before beginning an operation, ensure that all subordinates are familiar with:

a. the characteristics of the explosive materials involved,

b. the equipment used, safety regulations to be observed, and

c. the hazards of fire, explosion, and other catastrophes that the safety regulations are intended to prevent.

5. Be alert to detect any hazardous procedures or practices, or symptoms of a deteriorating mental attitude of certified personnel, and take immediate corrective action when necessary.

6. Limit the number of personnel working with explosives or ammunition to the minimum required to perform the operation properly. Unauthorized personnel must not be permitted in magazines or in the immediate vicinity of handling or loading operations involving explosives or ammunition. Authorized visitors must be properly escorted.

7. Be alert for any hazardous procedures or practices arising from carelessness or attempts

to expedite ammunition or explosives handling operations.

8. Consult pertinent ordnance publications (OPs) to ensure that all personnel comply with specific safety precautions concerning the handling, stowage, and transportation of the ammunition involved.

9. Report accidents. When a supervisor is aware of an accident in his or her area of responsibility, he or she must immediately stop the ammunition operations. In addition to performing required on-scene duties, the supervisor must determine the circumstances and personnel involved in the accident in order to prepare an accident report.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Safety precautions state clearly, concisely, and in the simplest language what may or may not be done. They should be easy to understand and not subject to misinterpretation. They should be explicit and allow no recourse, but should be general enough that they can be applied to similar situations that may arise in the future.

Safety precautions are a serious matter. They are designed to protect the well being of everyone on board and, in some cases, the ship itself. Safety precautions that use terms such as "shall," "will," and "must," have the force of an order and must be obeyed. Safety precautions using the terms "should" or "may" are to be followed as a matter of policy. Deviation from safety precautions is permitted only where it is fully justified by the urgency of the situation.

Certain safety precautions are presented as visual signs or written captions embedded in the text of technical manuals to notify you of a possible danger to personnel or damage to equipment. In such cases, each precaution is mentioned as a WARNING or CAUTION immediately before the procedural directions to which it pertains.

WARNINGS. Hazards that can cause personnel injury are indicated in notes headed by the word "WARNING." These warnings generally fall into three categories.

Warning against poisonous fumes or harmful fluids.

Warning against explosive or flammable components.

Warning against mechanical hazards. These warnings are normally brief, such as calling attention to the danger involved in standing under a suspended weapon. Operating personnel reading such warnings are expected to use common sense in avoiding the hazard.

CAUTIONS. These are captions that draw attention to situations that may be potentially damaging to equipment. They are mentioned in notes headed by the word "CAUTION." A typical caution might be written for improper lifting, pushing, or pulling on control surfaces during the handling of projectiles.

A related type of caption, NOTE, follows applicable steps that direct action and amplify the action to be performed. Notes that precede a procedural guide (PG), operation procedure (OP), or check list (CL) amplify the entire procedure.

In summary:

WARNING-Warns of danger to personnel. CAUTION-Warns of danger to equipment. NOTE-Amplifies information or instruction.

Since we will discuss various handling methods in this chapter, we will first list several of the GENERAL safety and maintenance rules that apply to all handling evolutions:

1. Verify that the surrounding area is clear of personnel and obstructions before you operate equipment.

2. Restrict noise and conversation to the minimum required to perform the evolution.

3. Do not stand or walk under suspended loads or weapons.

4. Do not load handling equipment above its maximum rated capacity (safe working load). Before you use handling equipment, inspect it according to the applicable Maintenance Requirement Card (MRC) and type commander's directives.

5. Do not raise weapons higher or suspend them longer than necessary.

6. Keep weapons as level as possible when you lift them.

7. Do not allow weapons to contact any deck or equipment during lifting.

8. Verify that hooks used to handle weapons have operable safety latches or are moused.

9. Ensure that guide studs on weapons are aligned with the guide slot during loading and unloading.

10. Do not allow weapons to be unrestrained, in any direction, unless you are directed to do so in the procedure.

11. Use toxic cleaning agents sparingly and in well-ventilated areas. Vapors of most cleaning agents are toxic if inhaled in large quantities for extended periods. Be sure that cleaning agent containers are kept closed except when in use. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using these agents.

12. Use flammable cleaning agents and paints sparingly and only in well-ventilated areas. Be sure that no sparks, open flames, or other sources of ignition are present when you use these materials.

13. Do not strike or drop high-explosive components. Be sure that no sparks, open flames, or other sources of ignition are to be present when you work with explosives.

14. Observe all precautions for handling explosives. Do not remove an armed exploder from any weapon. Only EOD personnel may remove an armed exploder.

15. Ground yourself immediately before you touch an electrical connector or wire connected to a weapon by making bare skin-to-metal contact with the weapon.

16. Inspect all electrical connectors for bent pins and other physical damage. Always engage and disengage electrical connectors by holding the connector, never the wire.

17. Do not connect or disconnect energized electrical connectors unless you are directed to do so by authorized procedural documentation.

18. Keep the compression system free of foreign material to prevent the spontaneous combustion of oil or other carbonaceous material with hot, highly compressed air.

19.      Using extreme care, shut the appropriate valves and bleed all air from lines and bodies before you disconnect fittings.

20. Exercise extreme care to prevent sharp bends or twists in air charging lines.

21. Do not tighten pipe connections or other parts while they are charged with high-pressure air. 22. Do not remove safety straps or chains from charging lines until the charging valve has been shut and the bleeder valve has been opened. SAFETY SUMMARY

Most procedural guides (PGs), operation procedures (OPs), and checklists (CLs) have a SAFETY SUMMARY located in their front pages. The safety summary lists (one time each) all WARNINGS, CAUTIONS, and NOTES associated with the operation (weapons handling, loading, shipping, employment, emergencies, etc.) and the procedures by which the associated hazards may be reduced or eliminated.

The safety summary is divided into several parts, each consisting of the safety precautions that pertain to the various evolutions for the given weapon. All personnel must be familiar with and adhere to the applicable safety standards. Specific safety precautions are contained in the PG, OP, and CL as appropriate.

The following safety standards apply to all phases of an operation involving weapons systems:

1. Ensure that a launched weapon, either warshot or exercise, is precluded from striking the firing ship. 2. Prevent an inadvertent launching, arming, or motor start.

3. Ensure that the stowage, handling, maintenance, and testing operations of the weapon and weapon system minimize the risk of injury to personnel.

4. Strive to minimize the probability that a weapon involved in an accident or incident, or being jettisoned will explode.

Now let's begin, by discussing why you should be qualified and certified to handle conventional explosive devices.

Q1.      What is the purpose of a "WARNING"?

Q2.     What is the purpose of a "CAUTION"?