SUMMARY The Navy has gone to great expense to train people like you to safely operate and maintain its ships. Without you and your shipmates, we would not have a Navy. In this chapter, you have been given information about personnel safety. Safety is not automatic; you must practice it constantly. The Navy still has injuries, but they are less frequent than in the past because crew members now practice good safety habits. One of the items stressed in this chapter is the tag-out system. Without it, there would be a great increase in injuries and deaths. It is a working system that, when correctly used, saves many lives. In this chapter you have been made aware that the Navy uses many HAZMATS especially cleaning solvents that may be toxic and highly flammable. As a petty officer, you must be familiar with all safety precautions dealing with HAZMATS and know the procedures for their handling, storage, transportation, and disposal. You must know how to inspect containers for leaks and when to reject them if they are damaged. The responsibilities are great; but as a leader and a supervisor, you must get the job done in a safe manner. The responsibilities of the duty DCPO are both numerous and important. Training your division personnel in damage control, fire fighting, egress, and CBR defense could save their lives during a crisis situation. You must ensure that the material condition of your spaces is properly set and that fire-fighting and damage control equipment are in excellent condition. These precautions will provide your division with a fighting chance in the event of a fire or CBR attack. Knowing the procedures for decontamination stations is part of CBR and for those who work around nuclear facilities. Damage control is an integral part of the safety of personnel and equipment. As a DCPO your job will be the safety of the ship during different conditions. The closure log must be maintained. The DCPO also has the responsibility to maintain fittings and equipment to ensure the material condition of readiness of the command. The WQS bill provides personnel with their battle stations, lifeboat assignments, and watch stations. The whole command is set up as a supporting organization to ensure all aspects of safety in every division and department. We are a safety-conscious Navy and will be that way as long as we have personnel like you working aboard our ships. Never let down in your effort to practice safety whether on or off ship. Because you are valuable to the Navy and your loved ones, we want you to be as safe as possible. REFERENCES Basic Military Requirements, NAVEDTRA 14277, Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center, Pensacola, FL, 1999. Navy Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) Program Manual for Forces Afloat, OPNAVINST 5100.19,  Chief  of  Naval  Operations,  Washington, DC, 2000. Naval Safety Supervisor,  NAVEDTRA  14167,  Naval Education  and  Training  Program  Management Support Activity, Pensacola , FL, 1993. Naval Ships’Technical Manual, Chapter 079, “Damage Control,  Practical  Damage  Control,”  Naval  Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, 1998. Naval  Ships’  Technical  Manual,   Chapter   631, “Preservation   of   Ships   in   Service   (Surface Preparation  and  Painting),”  Naval  Sea  Systems Command, Washington, DC, 1986. Naval  Ships’  Technical  Manual,   Chapter   670, “Stowage,  Handling,  and  Disposal  of  Hazardous General  Use  Consumables,”  Naval  Sea  Systems Command, Washington, DC, 1987. Standard Organization and Regulations of the U.S. Navy,  OPNAVINST  3l20.32C,  Chief  of  Naval Operations, Washington, DC, 1994. United States Navy CBR-Defense/United States Marine Corps  NBC  Defense  Handbook ,   OPNAV P-86-1-95, Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, DC, 1995. United  States  Navy  Chemical,  Biological,  and Radiological Defense Handbook for Training, NAVSEA   S-5080-AA-HBK-010,   Naval   Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, 1985. United States Navy Regulations,  Department  of  the Navy, Washington, DC, 1990. 6-17 Q19. DCPOs are responsible for maintaining damage control fittings and equipment. 1. True 2. False