Never take food or drink of any nature into
sewage-handling areas.
Never work on sewage-handling equipment if
you have open cuts or sores.
Maintain cleanliness of equipment at all times.
Wash down any spilled sewage immediately
(before it dries) with water and a good quality
nonscented disinfectant. Don’t use liquid soaps
or scented disinfectants because they may
temporarily disguise inadequate cleanup
procedures.
Always follow personal hygiene routines after
working in a sewage-handling area or after being
in contact with sewage-handling equipment.
NOTE
Notify the medical department and the damage
control assistant (DCA) on the status of any
holding or other marine sanitation device
(MSD) whenever the ship is threatened by
hostilities, fire, flooding, or conditions that
could turn the MSD into a biological hazard to
the ship’s crew. Each ship should have
developed plans to eliminate or control the
biological hazards from these occurrences.
WARNING
Do not smoke in the vicinity of the
sewage-handling equipment. Fuel leaks or
spills can occur in the incinerator area where
temperatures may exceed the flash point of the
fuels used. Methane and hydrogen sulfide may
be emitted by any tank or tank leaks. These
gases are also flammable and under some
conditions are explosive.
REVIEW 10 QUESTIONS
Q1. List the safety precautions to follow when
working with systems having pressurized
liquids.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Q2. If you’ve been exposed to acids or alkalis, what
action should you take?
Q3. Why shouldn’t you smoke near sewage-
handling equipment?
HIGH NOISE LEVELS
Continuous exposure to noise at a high level can
cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.
Electrical/electronic equipment, portable power tools,
machinery, and weapons are a prime source of loud
noise.
The Navy has different types of hearing protection
for use in subduing noise, such as earplugs (regular and
disposable), headband earplugs, and the circumaural
muff. If the noise is too loud, you may need to wear the
earplugs and the circumaural muff for double
protection.
RECREATION AND SPORTS
Participation in recreational activities is responsible
for many injuries to personnel. Practically all sports
involve some type of hazard. The principles of attack
and retreat in body-contact sports arouse emotions that
can lead to hazardous circumstances. When
participating in sports, you should be familiar with and
observe protective measures, rules, regulations,
procedures, and applicable safety precautions.
When you engage in recreational activities, observe
the following precautions:
19-19
Student Notes:
