CHAPTER 19 SAFETY AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Naval warships are inherently dangerous. Crowded living conditions, confined working spaces, and long hours, often at night, are just a few reasons why you must use caution at all times. Some evolutions, such as underway replenishment, conducting flight operations, testing weapons systems, or just a change in weather conditions, greatly increase the dangers of being at sea. All Navy ships have a comprehensive shipboard safety program. This program was developed over many years to make life at sea safe. This program is designed to follow  established  procedures  in  conducting  the day-to-day business aboard ship, and it places special emphasis on observing certain precautions. The safety program stresses constant awareness of the hazards of being at sea. The word  mishap  is often used in referring to an incident that   just  happened. Mishaps don’t just happen; they are caused. Most mishaps could have been prevented if the individuals involved  had  followed  established  procedures  and safety precautions. Most of the precautions discussed in this chapter are from a shipboard viewpoint, but many of them also apply ashore. Don’t depend on memory to remember safety precautions. Almost every task you perform has safety  precautions  that  must  be  followed.    Get  the operator’s  manual,  planned  maintenance  system (PMS) card, or technical manual and read these precautions. If you don’t understand them or can’t find them, ask your supervisor for help. The few minutes you take to read and understand these safety precautions will make your job safer. Don’t be one of the casualties reported during a mishap. It’s better to be safe than hurt or possibly worse—dead! PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY Learning Objective: When you finish this chapter, you will be able to— R e c o g n i z e    t h a t    s a f e t y    i s    a    p e r s o n a l responsibility. Your  personal  responsibilities  for  safety  are  as follows: Observe all safety precautions related to your work or duties. Report unsafe conditions. Do not walk around a ladder well with missing safety chains and forget it. Report  it!  If  you  use  a  piece  of  equipment  that  is damaged, report it! Warn  others  of  hazards.  If  you  see  someone knowingly,  or  unknowingly,  placing  themselves  or others in danger, say something. If that particular person will not listen, tell your supervisor. Protective equipment and clothing is issued to you for a purpose—use them. Wear eye and/or full-face protection. It’s hard to explain to the chief that you had to go to sick bay to get something removed from your eye when you were given a full-face shield before you started working. Report all injuries or illnesses. If you should become injured or feel sick, tell your supervisor. A little scratch could become infected or your illness could be a sign of something more serious. A little time having the corpsman check you now is better than being in the hospital later. Remain  alert.  Look  for  any  possibilities  of danger. Be safety conscious. Don’t rush into a job. Look at what you are supposed to do. Is the equipment you have suited to the job? Check the safety precautions for the equipment you were issued. Is the equipment in good condition? A  shipboard  environment  introduces  factors affecting safety that are not found ashore. Danger exists in every naval operation and aboard every naval vessel. Going  to  sea  involves  working  with  powerful machinery; high-speed equipment; high-temperature, high-pressure  steam;  volatile  fuels  and  propellants; 19-1 I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast for I intend to go in harms way. —John Paul Jones