the
SHUTTLE
USS Enterprise (CVN 65) -Sunday June 12, 2011
Handling HAZMAT
Photo by MC3 Daniel J. Meshel
Sunday June 12, 2011
the SHUTTLE
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Enterprise News HAZMAT doesn’t have to be a Hazard By MC2 Nathan R. Carpenter USS Enterprise Public Affairs
USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise are focusing on the proper handling and stowage of hazardous material (HAZMAT) as they prepare to complete the first external maintenance inspection in years. Less than three years ago, improper stowage of HAZMAT was a contributing factor to a fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) that injured dozens of Sailors and caused millions of dollars in damage. The crew fought the fire for 12 hours before extinguishing it. The maintenance, material, management (3M) inspection assesses a ship’s ability to properly maintain its equipment, and an important part of the inspection is to assess a crew’s ability to properly store and use HAZMAT. HAZMAT must be stored and checked out by Supply department’s S-8A division a process that often involves long lines and complex paperwork. It’s well worth the wait. “Before HAZMAT division existed, each division kept their own hazardous materials in drawers or lockers, creating numerous fire hazards and other unsafe conditions,” said Senior Chief Logistics Specialist (SW/AW) Donald B. Jones, the leading chief
petty officer for HAZMAT division. “Storing everything in a controlled, centralized location adds work for the maintenance people on the ship, but the trade off is the safety and health of the entire crew.” The dangers of HAZMAT vary significantly and become even more complex when they have the possibility of interacting with each other. Corrosives must be stored well away from flammables, and materials, and HAZMAT with different flashpoints – the temperature at which they may ignite – must be carefully stored within specific temperature ranges. In addition to the safety guidelines for storage, HAZMAT must be handled with proper personal protective equipment such as gloves, goggles, aprons and face shields. The dangers are compounded when Sailors try to bend the rules and cut corners with HAZMAT. “The biggest challenge that we face is the private stashes of HAZMAT that Sailors keep in their departments to make maintenance easier,” said Jones. “During our last 3M inspection, that was the cause of numerous immediate failures.” Proper disposal of HAZMAT is equally important. All used HAZMAT must be placed inside double-layered plastic bags that is properly tied and labeled. S-8A division is also responsible for regular trash, which if improperly sorted or mixed with HAZMAT can
Photo by MC3 Daniel J.Meshel
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Timothy J. Steverding, the HAZMAT cage supervisor on USS Enterprise (CVN 65), disposes of empty paint cans by puncturing holes on the bottom. Proper disposal of hazardous materials contributes to ship safety and proper maintenance.
cause serious damage and injury. “When Sailors throw hard plastics in with regular plastic trash, our shredders can easily break and cause our equipment to shut down,” said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Joval L. Nance, the leading petty officer for HAZMAT. “Other items that find their way into plastic trash like lighters, aerosol cans, batteries and
knives are dangerous to our personnel and equipment as well.” S-8A personnel offer the means to keep everyone aboard Enterprise safe from the dangers of HAZMAT, but they can’t do it alone. Everyone must comply with the rules and procedures to ensure that all HAZMAT is safely stored, handled and disposed of.
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Rou Sunday June 12, 2011
the SHUTTLE
3 rounds of 3M Top Performer have resulted in 48 remaining maintenance personnel! These Sailors lived up to the challenge and done their best on maintenance and spot chcks performed by chief petty officers and above.
Dept
Sgt. Carl D. Fuemmeler
Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Shaun H. Parrish
Division Workcenter MP Name
Spot Checks Score
1) ENG
E
EE20/EE40
EM3 Desrosiers
23
1037
2) AIMD
IM2
IM02
ASAN Valverde
17
740
3) AIMD
IM4
IM44
AMAN Charlot
17
711
4) AIMD
IM1
IM03
ATAN Preusse
17
694
5) SAF
SAF
AS40
MM3 Walling
9
390
6) AIMD
IM3
IM43
AOAN Benitez
8
331
7) ENG
DC
ED07
DCFN Pelletier
5
259
8) AIMD
IM1
IM41
AOAA Jordan
6
258
9) ENG
E
EE20
EM3 Rivers-Williams
5
229
10) CSD
CS6
CS61
ET3 Konkle
4
167
11) SAF
SAF
AS40
DC2 Johns
4
166
12) CSD
CS6
CS61
ET3 Greene
3
108
13) ENG
DC
ED07
DCFN Hudson
2
97
14) RMD
RMD
BC40
AD3 Pruitt
2
90
15) WEPS
G4
WG04
AOAN Ponder
2
89
16) ENG
R
ER03
HT3 Frazier
2
82
17) OPS
OA
OA40
AG1 McAnallen
2
81
18) CSD
CS6
CS61
ET3 Greco
2
79
19) OPS
OS
OS02
CTT2 Buerkle
2
77
20) OPS
OS
OS40
CTT3 Martin
2
73
21) CSD
CS6
CS61
ET3 Veach
2
67
22) ENG
DC
ED40
DCFN Miranda
1
59
23) ENG
A
EA40
MMFN Hinnart
1
59
24) ENG
M
EM40
MM2 Miller
1
55