your head on wire runs or ventilation ducts hanging
down where they shouldn’t be.
Fire hazards are always a problem in shipyards.
Often, there is a large amount of equipment removal or
repairs that require welding or cutting, the repainting of
spaces, or opening fuel tanks and voids. Therefore, the
need to make sure that all flammable material is
removed from the ship everyday is significantly
increased.
You won’t be able to stop all shipyard accidents;
but, by following the prescribed safety precautions, you
can make the shipyard environment a lot safer place to
work. Every ship has a shipyard safety doctrine and
conducts safety training before entering a shipyard. If
you pay attention at safety lectures and read the safety
doctrine, your ship’s stay in the dry dock will be much
safer.
AIRCRAFT STRESS AREAS
Flight decks and hangars are dangerous, and the
danger to personnel goes beyond the possibility of
crashes. Engine exhaust tailpipes, engine-starting units,
liquid oxygen (LOX) bottles, and connectors are all
capable of causing severe injury. Engine-starting
equipment (known as
h u ff e r s ) generate high
temperatures that could severely burn personnel. If not
sufficiently separate from the area where fuel tanks,
ammunition, or other hazardous materials are being
handled, they could cause fires or explosions. Jet
engines also generate very high temperatures. Before
attempting any type of repair or service work on these
engines, make sure they have had enough time to cool
down to avoid any possibility of burns.
Any area in which LOX is being used requires extra
safety precautions. LOX in liquid form flows like water,
but it also boils into gaseous oxygen at -297F and is
capable of immediately freezing any object it contacts.
When LOX expands as a gas and is confined and
allowed to warm, it exerts extremely high pressures (up
to 12,000 psi), causing it to be very dangerous. Always
keep clothing and tools free of oil and dirt. Never smoke
or have any spark or flame-producing materials near an
area where LOX is being handled. A spark or flame in
this oxygen-rich atmosphere could be extremely
dangerous with violent results. If your skin comes into
contact with LOX, get medical attention immediately.
Once again, safety procedures and precautions must be
followed when you work with aircraft and equipment.
By following these procedures and precautions, you
significantly reduce your chances of getting hurt.
REVIEW 11 QUESTIONS
Q1. List the three types of hearing protection.
a.
b.
c.
Q2. List the three major precautions that you should
follow when lifting heavy loads.
a.
b.
c.
Q3. What precaution is taken before a ship enters a
shipyard for dry dock work?
Q4. LOX is dangerous and requires that you follow
extra safety precautions. List two reasons why
you should be careful when handling LOX.
a.
b.
HEAT STRESS PROGRAM
Heat stress is a combination of air temperature,
thermal radiation, humidity, airflow, and workload that
places stress on the body. The Navy’s Heat Stress
Program evaluates and monitors heat stress conditions
19-22
Student Notes:
