6-2
careless with safety rules in the past, but your luck will
not hold out forever. If you continually cross a street
without looking, eventually a vehicle will hit you.
Report unsafe conditions or any equipment or
materials you think might be unsafe. Do not just walk by
an open manhole or turn in a cracked tool without saying
anything. REPORT IT AND FOLLOW UP WITH
CORRECTIONS!
Warn others of hazards. If you see persons
knowingly, or unknowingly, placing themselves or others
in danger, say something. If necessary, report the
situation to your supervisor.
Report any injury or ill health to your
supervisor. A splinter in your finger or a scratch on your
leg, if treated immediately, usually will cause no further
trouble. However, if an injury is left untreated, infection
may set in. A 10-minute trip to sick bay may save you a
10-day stay there. A person who keeps working while
feeling dizzy or nauseated is risking injury or death.
Wear or use protective clothing or equipment. If
you are issued a hard hat for work, wear it. The same
rule applies to safety shoes, goggles, respirators, hearing
protectors, rubber gloves, and similar safety equipment.
Be safety conscious. Always remain alert to
possible danger. Use your senses of sight, smell, touch,
and hearing.
Always inspect equipment and associated
attachments for damage before using the equipment.
Check the safety precautions that pertain to each piece of
equipment. Be sure the equipment is suited to the job.
For example, never use a 10,000-rpm grinding wheel on
a grinder that operates at 15,000 rpm.
Master-at-arms/Safety Force
The master-at-arms (MAA)/safety force is a vital
link in the unit safety organization. You may be assigned
as a division safety petty officer or as a member of the
safety force because you are a petty officer. The
MAA/safety force acts as a roving inspector for hazards
and risks (unsafe work practices) that could result in
injury to personnel or damage to equipment. The safety
force also assists the safety officer in keeping the safety
program visible to all personnel as well as ensuring that
the program is a workable system.
A good safety program is improved through
MAA/safety force inspections and through a system of
internal reporting. These inspections focus command
attention on material deficiencies and operating practices
that may harm personnel and equipment. As a division
safety petty officer, you should make every effort to
support the members of the MAA/safety force, as they
are the key to a safe working environment.
Promoting Safety
Why do we always promote safety? The Navy wants
to keep you as safe as possible for as long as possible.
That’s where the safety program comes in. By promoting
safety on and off the job, you improve your chances of
living a long life and having a fulfilling naval career.
You can promote safety within your division in
various ways. One way is through the use of posters. A
picture is said to be worth a thousand words; but, in this
case, a picture may be worth a thousand lives. Use
posters as safety reminders. Change or rotate safety
posters regularly to different workspaces to draw
attention to them. When personnel see the same posters
in the same place for months, they start to view them as
part of the bulkhead. They then begin to ignore the
posters; write on them; and cover them with notices,
schedules, and watch bills.
Warning and caution signs are also effective in
promoting safety. For example, figure 6-1 shows signs
indicating the type of personal protective equipment a
person should use when involved in a potentially
hazardous operation. Other signs are shown in figures 6-
2 and 6-3.
Another helpful method of promoting safety within
a division is periodic safety patrols or inspections made
by the division safety petty officer.
