HAZARDOUS WASTE/MATERIAL PETTY OFFICER As a senior petty officer, you maybe assigned as the hazardous waste/material petty officer. As the hazardous waste/material petty officer, you are responsible for the proper labeling, handling, and storage procedures of hazardous material and hazardous waste. You are also responsible for training division personnel in the proper handling and use of hazardous materials and hazardous waste disposal. You must always be on the lookout for hazardous material/waste safety violations. ASBESTOS For many years, the Navy used asbestos as the primary insulation (lagging) material in high-temperature machinery, boilers, and the piping of boiler plants at shore facil- ities. Asbestos is now recognized as a major health hazard. Inhaling asbestos fibers can result in a lung disease known as asbestosis. Asbestos exposure has also been associated with cancer of the lung. Aboard ship, many pipes and boilers are still insulated with asbestos. However, the Navy has instituted a program to use less harmful materials, such as fibrous glass, for pipe and boiler insulation. Asbestos insulation cannot be removed except for an emergency as approved by the commanding officer. CONTROL MEASURES FOR ASBESTOS REMOVAL If you or your people are required to rip out asbestos insulation, take the following control measures: 1. Arrange for each person assigned to a rip-out team to receive a special physical examination. 2. Make certain each rip-out team consists of three qualified persons, including one supervisor. 3. Provide each person on the team with the following complete set of protective cloth- ing: special overalls, head covering, gloves, and booties. Make certain each person tapes gloves and booties to the sleeves and legs of the coveralls. 4. Provide each member of the team with a continuous-flow air-line respirator with full faceplate. 5. Make sure members wet the asbestos in- sulation before removing it. Provide portable vacuum cleaners designed with special filters for use during the rip out and cleanup. Make sure members put all scraps in special bags and attach caution labels to the bags. For more detailed information on protective measures, refer to Naval Ships’ Technical Manual (NSTM), chapter 635, Thermal, Fire and Acoustic Installation. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION Many repair and maintenance operations generate air contaminants that can be dan- gerous if inhaled. See that your people are properly protected from such contaminants. These contaminants may be in the form of dust, fumes, gas, or mist or fog from sprays and spray painting. The  commanding  officer  of  each  unit designates a program manager for respiratory pro- tection, usually the unit’s safety officer or gas- free engineering officer. The program manager trains safety petty officers (SPOs) or damage con- trol petty officers (DCPOs) in selecting, fit-testing, and maintaining respirators. The designated department/division SPO or DCPO does the following: 1. Provides annual training on respirator selection, use, care, and maintenance 2. Issues respirators appropriate for protec- tion against the hazardous exposure 3. Monitors the use, cleaning, and reissue of respirators and provides the program manager with a monthly program report 4. Assures continuing availability of the required respiratory protection 6-9