GAS TURBINE SYSTEMS SUPERVISOR

CHAPTER 1 PROGRAMS, REPORTS, AND RECORDS As you advance in the GS rating, you undoubtedly will find that much more of your time is spent in the training and administration of subordinates. This is as it should be, for knowledge must be passed from senior to junior. The most knowledgeable persons must be in charge. As a GS supervisor, you should not allow yourself to constantly be dragged into a maintenance position. If you do, your effectiveness as a leader will suffer. Weak leadership usually results in disharmony and, consequently, a poorly run, ineffective division or work center. This chapter addresses some of your administrative responsibilities as a First Class or Chief Gas turbine Systems Technician.

Administering and training subordinates on programs, reports, and records are never-ending responsibilities. Every day, whether you realize it or not, you administer people and programs and train junior personnel. You cannot have too much of either. (Although you can have too much paper work in your training and administration programs making them unmanageable.) Much of your training and administration is of an informal nature. A good leader uses good skills routinely and instinctively. However, formal programs in some areas of training do require more than instinct. Specific directives issued by superiors must be followed to conform to specific standards. Administration and training, whether formal or informal, are important responsibilities. They need to be taken seriously by all senior Gas turbine Systems Technicians.

TAG-OUT PROGRAM An effective tag-out program is necessary because of the complexity of modem ships. Tag-out is also necessary to avoid the cost, delay, and hazards to personnel that could result from the improper operation of equipment. The purpose of the equipment tag-out program is to provide a procedure that prevents improper operation of components, equipment, systems, or a portion of a system isolated or in an abnormal condition. This procedure also should be used when other safety devices, such as blank flanges, are installed for testing, maintenance, or casualty isolation.

The use of DANGER or CAUTION tags is not a substitute for other safety measures, such as locking valves, pulling fuses, or racking-out circuit breakers. Tags attached to valves, switches, or other components should indicate restrictions on operation of systems or equipment, or restrictions necessary to avoid damage to safety devices. Never use danger or caution tags for identification purposes!

All procedures in the program are mandatory standardized tag-out procedures used by all ships and repair activities. The program also provides a procedure for use when an instrument is unreliable or not in a normal operating condition. It is similar to the tag-out procedure except that labels instead of tags are used to indicate instrument status. The tag-out program must be enforced during normal operations as well as during construction, testing, repair, or maintenance. Strict enforcement of tag-out procedures is required by both you and any repair activity that may be working on your equipment.

REVIEW AND MONITOR PROGRAM PROCEDURES

As stated in the previous paragraphs, strict adherence to tag-out program procedures is paramount. A brief description of the tag-out program was provided in the Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Electrical) 3/ Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 3, volume 1. You should already know the program procedures as they pertain to the role of the maintenance person. Now as you move toward a more supervisory role, you will be required to have a much larger depth of knowledge. The one-sided program perception is in the past. You must now understand the program's inner workings to maintain a safe environment. A more detailed description of the required tag-out program procedures is provided in Standard Organization and Regulations of the U. S. Navy, OPNAVINST 3120.32 series.

REVIEW AND MONITOR PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS

There are a couple of ways to review and monitor the tag-out program's effectiveness. The first of which is pretty obvious. Were there any personnel injuries or damaged equipment because of violations to the tag-out program? This first method sounds good, but it is not always accurate. The second method (required) really does not take that much time if performed consistently. Use of the second method also will ensure that personnel injuries and equipment damage do not occur. What method are we referring to? It is the audit portion of the program.

As a maintenance person you probably were not concerned with the audit portion of the program. That is, unless there was a discrepancy found on an equipment tag-out that you were responsible for. But now as a GS supervisor your responsibilities have changed. You will probably be in charge of a work center, and as you continue to progress you will probably qualify as an EOOW/ EDO. Eventually you will be required to know all aspects of the program. Now take a look at how tag-out audits should be conducted.

All tag-out logs (records) must be kept in the space( s) designated by your ship's instruction. Normally, these records for the engineering department will be kept in the central control station (CCS). Supervisory watch standers (EOOWs/ EDOs) must review these records as part of the watch-relieving process.

Checks and audits of all tag-outs must be conducted every two weeks. However, these requirements may be superseded by your type commander (TYCOM) or even your own ship's instruction. Remember, just as with PMS, audit frequency can only be increased, not decreased.

1. All outstanding tags listed on the Tag-out Record Sheet must be checked as correctly installed by visual comparison of the information on the tag, the record sheet, and the item on which the tag is posted. when a valve or switch position is prescribed, a visual check that the item is in its proper position is made unless an operation such as removal of a cover, cap, or closure is required. No operation of a valve or switch is authorized as part of a routine tag-out audit. In addition, a spot check of installed tags should be conducted to ensure that tags so checked are effective (that is, covered by an active Tag-out Record Sheet). Report all discrepancies in the check of actual position at once to the EOOW/ EDO before proceeding any further with the tag audit. The date, time, discrepancies (including corrective actions), and signature of the person conducting the check is logged on each Tag-out Record Sheet under the last tag listed.

2. When the actual position of a DANGER-tagged valve is in question, the EOOW/ EDO, with the specific permission of the responsible department head, if available, may authorize two people to independently check the position of the specific valve( s). 

NOTE Checking the position of a valve is done only by attempting to turn the valve handwheel/ operator a small amount in the SHUT direction. This is an approved exception to the prohibition on operation of DANGER-tagged equipment. This valve position check must be performed using the applicable approved procedures for valve lineup checks.

3. All outstanding Tag-out Record Sheets are audited against the Index/ Audit Record section. As part of the audit, each Tag-out Record Sheet is checked as previously specified. The date, discrepancies noted, and signature of the person conducting the audit are logged by a line entry in the Index/ Audit Record section of the tag-out log.

4. Checking the installation of instrument labels and auditing the logs must be conducted in the same manner as a tag-out audit. To ensure that tag-out/ label procedures are enforced properly, the cognizant department head (engineer officer) frequently checks the tag-out log, notes errors, and brings them to the attention of those responsible. The completed Tag-out Record Sheets and Instrument Logs are removed by the department head (engineer officer) after the review.

Remember, a violation of any tag compromises the entire tag-out system and could in itself have serious consequences.

All loose tags that have been removed must be destroyed.