Pearl Harbor- Navy Region Hawaii Personnel Clicking In
- Navy Region Hawaii’s Traffic Safety Council spearheaded a campaign to raise seat belt usage across the region. In addition to offering awareness training on benefits of seatbelt use and defensive driving courses targeted at personnel under age 26, security departments set up signs at various strategic base locations to remind personnel to buckle up.
Naval Medical Center San Diego Pharmacy Resolves Ergonomic Risks of Prolonged Standing
- Pharmacy Technicians used to risk developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders due to prolonged standing and awkward working postures at walk-up prescription kiosks. Through the Chief of Naval Operations' Hazard Abatement and Mishap Prevention Program ergonomic solutions such as anti-fatigue matting and sit/stand stools were found to alleviate risk factors.
Naval Medical Center San Diego Resolves Risk of Lifting Injuries in Pharmacy Compounding Station
- Pharmacy Technicians used to risk developing work-related
musculoskeletal disorders due to lifting and transferring
heavy containers of lotion compounds above shoulder height.
The Chief of Naval Operations' Hazard Abatement and Mishap
Prevention Program approved and purchased a hydraulic scissors
lift table that adjusts to suit each technician’s height and
reach.
NAVFAC Eliminates Fall Hazards In
Sewage Pumping Stations At NAS Meridian, Mississippi - NAS
Meridian’s Safety Office identified fall hazards in their
underground sewage pumping stations. Using Hazard Abatement
Program funding, NAVFAC engineered and installed fall
protection modifications to ladders, guardrails, swing gates,
gauges and meters, and anchorages for confined space
rescue systems that minimize the risk of falls from elevations
in pumping stations.
NAVFAC Industrial Hygienist Assists in the Clean Up and Restoration of Flooded NRC Baltimore
- NAVFAC sent an industrial hygienist and an environmental
contractor to assess hurricane damage to NRC Baltimore and
plan for the repair and restoration of the facility. The
industrial hygienist identified the health risks due to
flooding and supervised the clean up, thereby preventing
exposures to mold and black water pollutants
while minimizing property damage.
Worker Initiative and Best
Practices at NAS Kingsville Prevent a High Voltage Mishap
- NAS Kingsville's Occupational Safety and Health Department
initiated a shift in the perception of the responsibility for
safety to managers and employees by integrating private
industry Best Practices into the NAVOSH Program. A
work crew confirmed the success of the Initiative when they
prevented a high voltage mishap by taking the lead in
identifying and controlling an unanticipated hazard.
USS John F. Kennedy's Medical
Officer and Three Hospital Corpsmen Save a Life – During
an Extended Selected Restricted Availability (ESRA), a medical
officer and three USS Kennedy Hospital Corpsmen put their Navy
medical training to the test when they rescued a critically
injured contract worker who had fallen vertically, more than
20 feet, into an ordnance storage compartment.
Dry-dock Guardrails Protect Workers
from Falls at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Kittery, Maine -
NAVFAC SW designed and installed rigid guardrails to replace
an outdated fall protection system at the top of a PNS
Kittery dry dock. The CNO's Hazard Abatement Program
funded the guardrail replacement project to minimize
the fall hazard associated with working near dry docks. The
guardrails were installed at a substantial cost and time
savings, and considerably decrease the cost of maintaining a
fall prevention guardrail system.
Crane Fall Hazard Abatement at
Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP) Mechanicsburg, Pa -
NAVICP Mechanicsburg was approved by the CNO's Hazard
Abatement Program for funding to abate fall hazards on its
60-foot high bridge crane. Guard rails, catwalks, and
laddercages now supplement the use of fall arrest gear to
protect maintenance personnel, crane operators and inspectors
from the risk of falling from heights.
Industrial Hygiene Teams with PWC
to Expedite Railcar Restoration at NWS Earle – An industrial hygiene survey verified the
presence of asbestos in railcars scheduled to transport
ordnance to the fleet in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Asbestos removal was expedited to meet the Navy’s
requirements while protecting workers and the environment from
asbestos contamination.
RTC Great Lakes Develops Safety Boots that Prevent
Musculoskeletal Disorders and Injuries - The Medical Department at RTC Great Lakes
recognized a link between the safety boots issued to new
recruits and foot and leg injuries experienced by recruits
during basic training. Following an extensive study, the Navy
developed a much improved replacement boot that
prevents foot injuries while meeting the Navy's strict safety
footwear requirements.
Electrical Safety Program Protects USS Kitty Hawk
- America's oldest active warship has an exceptional
Electrical Safety Program to protect a crew of more than 5,500
from high, medium, and low voltage electrical hazards.
Navy's Mobile Preventive Medicine Team Protects Sailors and
Marines During Operation Iraqi Freedom - The
Navy's Preventive Medicine Mobile Medical Augmentation
Readiness Team 5 in central Iraq is the first line of
defense in protecting the health of Marines and their Navy
support staff during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Read about how this vital unit prevents communicable diseases,
occupational illnesses, and other health hazards that might
otherwise harm Sailors and Marines deployed there.
NAS Sigonella's Customs Office Reduces Risk of Injuries
& Musculoskeletal Disorders - NAS Sigonella's
Customs Office moved into an office that was cramped and
inefficiently laid out. It also had substandard
electrical outlets and was inadequately lighted and
ventilated. Sigonella's Safety Department implemented PR&MS
requirements to perform a safety survey and an
ergonomic assessment of the new facility. Based on
Safety's recommendations, Sigonella's Material, Customs, and
Transportation Office located a supplier that provided
ergonomically designed workstations and maximized the use of
available space. Read about these ergonomic improvements
and the safety enhancements made by Sigonella’s PWD at
NAS Sigonella and NSA Naples Presented Safety
Excellence Award by Italian Association of
Safety, Health and Environmental Professionals (AIAS) - Following successful integration of the US Navy's
PR&MS requirements with the requirements of Italian safety
laws, NAS Sigonella and NSA Naples were awarded for their
safety excellence by the Italian certifying body and regional
authority for all safety issues. Read about how the Navy
earned this prestigious award, the first time a safety award
was presented to the U.S. Navy by a foreign professional
safety association.
Computerized Data Accelerates Industrial Hygiene Chemical
Exposure Risk Assessments at NAS Rota - NAS Rota's
Industrial Hygiene Department cross-referenced their MSDS and
AUL databases to streamline the cataloging of hazardous
materials. Industrial hygienists use the combined
databases to assess the health risks associated
with hazardous materials. These risk assessments have
helped Industrial Hygiene reduce occupational
exposures to hazardous substances at NAS Rota, especially
to potential carcinogens and reproductive hazards.
SIMA San Diego Welders Reduce Risk of Injuries with Welding
Power-Con Carrying Fixture -
Welders in the SIMA San Diego Welding Shop manually carried
heavy welding equipment to, from and aboard
Navy ships in dry dock. The CNO's Hazard Abatement
Program funded the in-house design and development of a
fixture that allows two workers to share the load of
carrying portable welding equipment.
Renovated Paint Spray Booth Improves Worker Health &
Safety at PWC Philadelphia – renovated their paint spray booth by upgrading
local exhaust ventilation and electrical systems.
Fluorescent lighting and an air filter pressure gauge also
positively affect worker health and safety and increase
productivity.
Improved Local Exhaust Ventilation Protects Welders at
PWC,
Philadelphia - Industrial hygienists from National
Naval Medical Center played a pivotal role in PWC
Philadelphia's welding shop acquiring an improved local
exhaust ventilation system to replace its canopy hood. The new
local exhaust system substantially reduces the risks
associated with overexposures of workers to welding smoke and
fumes.
SIMA San Diego Uses Anti-Vibration Sanders to Prevent Hand
Arm Vibration Syndrome - Antenna Shop repair
technicians reported numbness and tingling in their hands and
fingers after using conventional jitterbug sanders.
Industrial hygienists from Naval Medical Center San Diego
researched and recommended anti-vibration jitterbug sanders,
which eliminated the risk of hand arm vibration syndrome.
Navy Environmental Health Center’s Web-Based Industrial
Hygiene Field Operations Manual - NEHC developed an
Industrial Hygiene Field Operations Manual (IHFOM) and has
posted the manual on its website. NEHC keeps the manual
current on the latest technical and regulatory industrial
hygiene changes to assist Navy industrial hygienists in
planning field surveys, evaluating findings, and drafting
reports.
Hazardous Waste Rake Prevents Exposures and Injuries at
Public Works Center, San Diego - Various safety
hazards were associated with the manual redistribution of
hazardous waste deposited in roll-off bins at PWC San Diego.
The problem was solved when a supervisor in PWC’s
Environmental Department came up with the idea for a Hazardous
Waste Rake that could be attached to a forklift. PWC’s
hazardous waste is now redistributed by remote access.
Navy Develops HAZWOPER Checklist to Protect Hazardous Waste
Site Workers - NEHC’s Environmental Programs
Directorate has developed and posted to the NEHC website a Site-Specific
Health and Safety Plan Review Checklist to assist in
writing and reviewing hazard and safety plans (HASPs) and to
improve HASP quality. NEHC-EP’s efforts provide an easily
accessible tool to assist with drafting HASPs that meet
regulatory agency requirements.
Pearl Harbor's Smart Center
Returns the Fleet to Readiness - Since the Branch Medical
Clinic Pearl Harbor opened its Sports Medicine and
Rehabilitation Therapy (SMART) Center it has successfully
returned 78% of its patients to duty status within 30 days.
The SMART approach emphasizes diagnosis, treatment,
reconditioning of musculoskeletal injuries, and the
expeditious return to duty.
Industrial Hygienist Resolves Paint Booth Ventilation
Problem at NAS JRB Willow Grove - Aircraft
Intermediate Maintenance Department workers noticed increased
noise and vibration in the ventilation system of the shop's
paint spray booth. A National Naval Medical Center Industrial
Hygienist determined that the booth's dirty exhaust fan and
ductwork were causing the problems as well as impeding the
flow of exhaust air out of the booth. Thorough cleaning of the
fan and surrounding ductwork solved the problem.
Fitting Chairs to Workers
Prevents Back Pain at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane
Division - Administrative employees at NSWC Crane Division
had complained of back pain due to chairs that were
incompatible with personal computer use. The Crane Division
OSH Office instituted a chair loan program that allows workers
to try out multiple models of desk chairs before committing to
order a specific model. Personal computer users are now
comfortable and free of back pain.
Pneumatic Grinder Prevents Workplace Injuries in SIMA Naval
Amphibious Base Coronado’s Small Boat Repair Department -
Repair technicians in the SIMA Amphibious Base Coronado Small
Boat Repair Shop used to experience vibration-induced hand and
arm discomfort due to use of a hand-held grinder.
Investigation into the risk of vibration exposure led SIMA's
industrial hygienist to locate a suitable ergonomic grinder.
This pneumatic grinder greatly reduces the risk of vibration
exposure.
PWC San Diego Prevents WMSDs, Increases Productivity, and
Reduces Costs With Automated Cleaning and Lubrication System
- Crane riggers in PWC San Diego's Crane and Rigging
Department were at risk for WMSDs while manually cleaning and
lubricating wire rope from floating and land crane winches.
The purchase of an automated wire rope lubrication system has
minimized the risk of WMSDs, increased productivity, and
reduced costs.
Patient Lifts Prevent Injuries and Workplace
Musculoskeletal Disorders at National Naval Medical Center,
Bethesda, MD -
In the past, half of all occupational back injuries at NNMC,
Bethesda were related to lifting and transferring patients.
Since the purchase of three portable patient lifts and a
mechanical ceiling lift no serious back injuries have been
reported on the wards where the lifts are being used.
Rollertop Hydraulic Lift Table Reduces Injuries and WMSDs
at Naval Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Bangor - Shipwrights risked WMSDs due to cutting 300-pound
keel blocks. An ergonomic assessment and input from workers
and Safety led to an ergonomic solution.
NASSIG Ergonomic Interventions Deliver Fleet Mail Center
from Work-Related Disabilities -
developed ergonomic solutions to protect mail handlers from
WMSDs. Equipment, work station design, and structural
modifications have all benefited NASSIG Mail Center employees
as they move five million pounds of mail a year between the U.
S. and locally assigned military and civilians and the Fleet.
Naval Safety Center’s Website Links Safety Surfers With
Safety Information - Safety Surfers are finding a veritable host of information
to meet their safety awareness and injury-prevention needs at
the Naval Safety Center's website. Visitors can find online
versions of periodicals, safety posters, safety checklists,
links to other safety websites, and more.
Navy’s Southwest Region Excels at Managing Workers’
Compensation Program – NRSW
has increased efficiency and effectiveness in managing its
workers’ compensation cases. NRSW was the first Navy region
to consolidate Workers’ Compensation into a central office.
MED Mall at NAS Sigonella, Italy Ergonomically Designed for
Employees and Customers -
The Mediterranean Mall, or Med Mall, office supply store at
Naval Air Sation, Sigonella, Italy has been ergonomically
redesigned.
Naval Safety Center Marks 50 Years as "One-Stop Safety
Shop" Service to Navy and Marine Corps –
50 years of enhancing naval readiness culminating in a
"one-stop safety shop" for Navy sailors and marines
around the world.
Naval Facility Engineering Command Builds in Fall
Protection –
Architects and engineers who may not previously have considered the
safety of building occupants in designing and building
structures, can now find suitable training through NAVFAC’s
"Fall Protection and Prevention Training" module.
Ergonomic Microscopes Reduce the Risk of Musculoskeletal
Disorders at Naval Health Research Center’s Respiratory Disease
Laboratory –
Technicians were at risk of WMSDs from using traditional
binocular microscopes. The lab acquired microscopes with many
ergonomically sound features, which reduce worker discomfort.
NAS Sigonella's Ergo Tips Reduce Risk of WMSDs
- NASSIG's Ergonomics Program Manager used photos taken
during ergonomic assessments to develop a unique series of
fliers called Ergo Tips. The colorful leaflets point out risk
factors for WMSDs and provide information for avoiding those
risks. The pictures help workers make the connection between
their work situations and the information in the Ergo Tips.
Lockout Prevents Electric Shock Injuries at NNOC
- Naval Network Operations
Command found a solution to their electrical Lockout/Tagout
needs. They are using a new breaker lockout device that is
used to lock any circuit breaker. Electricians and electrical
maintenance technicians now work more safely on transmitters,
receivers, and other electronic communications systems.
Industrial Hygienists Clear the Air after Pentagon
Terrorist Attack –
The September 11th terrorist attack released health-hazardous
residues in the Pentagon crash zone and trailed contamination
into adjacent areas. National Naval Medical Center’s
industrial hygienists helped to expedite the recovery and
restoration of the Pentagon and dispelled lingering concerns
of attack-related health hazards.
Expertise of Industrial Hygienists Keeps Navy Firefighters
Safe - A National Naval Medical Center North industrial hygienist discovered
leaking facepieces when examining SCBAs at Naval Surface
Warfare Command Philadelphia's fire department. His quick
action to have the SCBAs removed from service saved
firefighters from a potentially deadly situation. Additional
Industrial Hygiene assistance resulted in newer model SCBAs
for the NSWC fire department. The new SCBAs are a big
improvement for the firefighters.
Naval Air Station, Sigonella, Italy Promotes Motor Vehicle
Safety - NASSIG
promotes motor vehicle safety by requiring privately-owned
cars to pass a safety inspection before they can be driven
anywhere in Italy or parked on base. Only owners of vehicles
that pass inspection may buy gasoline on base, and cars that
fail the inspection must be repaired or junked.
Ergonomic Carts Improve Management of Hydraulics Parts at
NADEP JAX - Aircraft
Examiners and Evaluators were working in cramped, overcrowded
conditions while evaluating and directing thousands of
aircraft parts for repair. NADEP’s Ergo Team evaluated the
situation and recommended mobile, easily stored staging and
transfer carts.
Insulated Clothing and Temperature Scanner Prevent Cold
Stress at NASSIG - Workers in the walk-in cold
storage rooms and freezers in the food service galley received new clothing to protect against the risk of
cold stress injuries. Insulated gloves and coveralls keep workers warm and comfortable. A
temperature scanner allows workers to stay outside the walk-in
freezer when recording freezer temperatures.
Industrial Hygiene Expertise at NRL, Washington, D.C. Is
Only a Label Away -
Scheduling industrial hygiene services at NRL is a challenge
due to the unpredictable nature of research projects and the
numerous chemicals in stock. An IH with the National Naval
Medical Center developed preprinted, self-adhering labels to
be affixed to each chemical container. The labels remind
scientists to contact NNMC for an industrial hygiene
evaluation of workplace hazards associated with a chemical
before it is used.
Computer Ergonomics: A Little Awareness Goes a Long Way at
NADEP JAX - Ergonomic
improvements recommended by NADEP JAX's Ergonomics Team in computer work stations eliminated the risk of CTDs for all
but one employee. The Team's findings led to two
straight-forward, inexpensive solutions to the ergonomic
problem.
NAS Sigonella Safety Poster Program Saves Lives
– A safety
poster program was initiated to bring safety messages to
military personnel and their families. Over 180 posters have
been developed and are available to Navy and DoD locations via
the Internet.
Ergonomic Improvements in NAS Sigonella Galley Reduce the
Risk of Injuries and WMSDs - Ergonomics is the key for food service workers in the
NAS II galley. Cooking and serving areas, tools, and equipment
have all been designed with ergonomic comfort in mind.
PWC Coronado Laboratory Prevents Injuries and CTD’s with
Automatic Shaker for Separatory Funnels –
Technicians in the Environmental Laboratory now have an
ergonomic alternative to manual shaking of laboratory
separatory funnels.
Navy Technical Laboratory at NSWCDD, Dahlgren Pulls Plug on
Laser Hazards –
Safety experts at the laboratory recently removed two laser
systems from use that presented a risk of personal injury
during combat training. A safe laser system has been
substituted.
PWC San Diego’s Carpet Pullers Improve Productivity and
Reduce Risk of Injuries and CTDs –
Mechanical carpet pullers allow workers to maintain an
ergonomically safe, neutral position during carpet-removal.
They are being used as a direct result of an intervention by
PWC’s Employee Driven Cultural Safety Forum to identify and
find funding for this ergonomic improvement.
NADEP JAX Finds Cost-Effective Ergonomic Solution To
Eliminate Lifting Problems –
Employees in the Engines Receiving Area called on their
Ergonomics Team to review lifting procedures for unpacking
combustion liners from tightly packed containers. An
inexpensive solution eliminates risk of injuries and CTDs and
saves time and materials.
PWC San Diego Prevents Injuries and CTDs While Improving
Productivity and Reducing Costs – Workers in the recycling
plant had to use awkward postures to pull heavy protective
tarps over dump truckloads of waste until the PWC safety
coordinator and local Employee Driven Cultural Safety Forum
found an ergonomic solution in the form of an automatic system
called the sky hook.
Foldaway Platform Solves Blast Booth Ergonomic Problems at
NADEP Jacksonville – Avionics Shop workers were
forced into awkward work postures for long periods of time due
to the configuration of their blast booth cabinet. With the
help of a coworker and the NADEP Ergonomics Team, a foldaway
platform was installed that allows workers to stand or sit
comfortably while working.
SIMA, Norfolk Dive Chamber’s Perfect Hyperbaric Treatment
Record - SIMA’s Dive Team operates the Navy’s largest hyperbaric
treatment chamber. The sealed chamber is submerged in the
ocean where patients inhale oxygen at greater than atmospheric
pressure. The chamber is used to treat many illnesses.
Abated Fall Hazard at NAS Whidbey Island Fuel Pier
- Steep climbs between fuel barges and the pier during fuel transfer operations
put workers at risk of falling into the frigid waters of Puget
Sound. The CNO HA Program came to the rescue with funding for
a floating dock and hydraulic winch to minimize the risk of
falling between the barge and pier.
Ergonomic Innovation in Flapwell Repair Reduces Risk of
CTDs - Sheet metal
mechanics on the NADEP JAX P-3 aircraft maintenance line found
their own ergonomic solution to avoid awkward postures and
minimize the risk of cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs).
Fall Protection Incorporated into Automated Material
Handling - Warehousemen at NUWC Keyport risked falling when
they climbed the new automated material handling system to
service it at heights of up to six stories from the warehouse
floor. A fall protection system was installed to provide safe
access to the material handling system.
ORM Implementation at NAWCWD
–
The ORM Implementation Team at NAWCWD evaluated various safety
cultures throughout the Command to predict successful
implementation of ORM and to introduce ORM principles to
supervisors and employees.
NADEP Jacksonville Conquers Odd Shapes and Awkward Postures
in its Canopy Shop -
The NADEP JAX Canopy Shop cut its risk of injuries and CTDs
with two ergonomic improvements that eliminate the need for
awkward postures and manual lifts when working on or moving
fragile, heavy, and oddly shaped aircraft canopies.
Production Controllers Cradle Hydraulics Parts
– The NADEP JAX Ergo Team found a way to protect
shop workers from risk of upper body injuries and CTDs by
substituting clumsy transport carts with cradle carts that
adjust to fit the parts being moved.
Ergonomic Door Fixture and
Reduced Vibration Tooling Prevent Worker Injuries at NASNI
- Door Three Shop sheet metal mechanics are proud of
their part in the design of a fixture that holds and rotates
FA-18 doors. The door fixture and new reduced vibration
tooling make it possible for mechanics to repair the aircraft
doors without risk of HAVS or WMSDs The Return on
Investment due to these ergonomic, time saving improvements is
very impressive.
Wing Shop Mechanics Grounded at NADEP Jacksonville -
Sheet metal mechanics in the Wing Shop at NADEP JAX no longer
risk injury by climbing transport carts to work on wing parts.
They now have ergonomic transport dollies that don’t require
climbing or awkward postures when loading or unloading.
Winter Safety at Naval Air Station, Keflavik
– NAS has experienced a steady decline in slips,
trips, and falls during icy conditions through long sub-Arctic
winters. Read about hazard awareness programs and an
innovative solution for preventing falls on slippery surfaces.
U.S. Navy Integrates U.S. and Spanish OH Programs
– NAVACTS has integrated the Navy’s Spanish
employees into the NAVOSH Program while successfully complying
with Spanish OSH law requirements.
U.S. Naval Hospital, Rota Meets Spanish OSH Requirements
– NAVHOSP solved multinational regulatory maze in
two languages and complied with American, Spanish and European
Union laws and regulations.
Ergonomic Improvements at NADEP JAX Reduce Cumulative
Trauma Disorders – Aircraft maintenance workers asked NADEP’s Ergo Team to
find ergonomically designed tools and equipment to improve
comfort levels and reduce risk of CTDs.
Pneumatic Tables Improve Ergonomics in Model Shipbuilding
– Pneumatic tables
for ship model builders at PWC San Diego adjust to comfortable
heights for each worker.
A New Twist (or Lack of It) for Computer Users at NADEP JAX
– a computer user at NADEP JAX still experienced
neck pain with his new modular work station. NADEP’s Ergo
Training Program helped him realize where to get help.
The Navy Corporate Ergonomics Program in Spain
- Ergo-Teams were trained and empowered to
encourage workers at all levels to recognize and help resolve
ergonomic risk factors in their work areas.
Safety and Health and Environmental Training Innovations
– Innovative instructional methods are employed
worldwide by the Navy Occupational Safety and Health and
Environmental Training Center to educate Navy and Marine Corps
personnel.
MSC Drives Safety Home with Dramatic Videos
– MSC developed video training modules to ensure
operations, maintenance, and repair information is available
for the life of their ships.
Navy Noise Reduction Patent Used by Military and Private
Industry – A unique
sound-absorbing material, developed and patented at the Naval
Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, has numerous military
and commercial noise-attenuation applications. Circumaural
hearing protection made from this material protects workers up
to three hours longer than conventional materials.
Ladder Loader and Bumper Hoist Prevent Injuries
– PWC San Diego – Maintenance/repair
technicians use mechanical ladder loaders and hoists to lift
heavy equipment into and out of mobile van workshops. The
innovations contributed to PWC’s lowest lost time case rate
in five years.
Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton Standardizes Sharps
Containers - to
protect hospital staff from bloodborne pathogens and ensure
familiarity with how sharps containers afford protection and
why it’s important that the containers comply with
Bloodborne Pathogens Program requirements.
Naval Hospital, Rota Links Hearing Conservation Training
and Audiometric Testing - A
process improvement in Naval Station, Rota's Hearing
Conservation Plan saves time and conserves resources. Linking
audiometric testing and refresher HCP training at the NAVSTA
hospital has resulted in an annual cost-avoidance of
approximately $9,000.00.
Fall Protection Program at PWC Guam -
Implemented an outstanding fall protection program that has
been key to prevention of fall-related injuries. The command’s
commitment to safety is proven by the absence of fall-related
mishaps for over a decade.
Safety and Health Evaluation of P2 Equipment –
NAVFACENGCOM has developed a process to evaluate pollution
prevention equipment for potential safety and health hazards
associated with installation, operation, and maintenance of
the equipment.
Super-Saw Improves Submarine Maintenance at PHNSY & IMF
– Shipyard developed improved method for making cuts to
submarine hulls for maintenance and repairs. The Super-Saw
cutting method is cost-effective and eliminates inhalation and
fire hazards associated with traditional hull cutting methods.
Successful OSH Program at NAS Keflavik, Iceland
- NAS Keflavik has never had a serious OSHA violation or fine
imposed by OSHA or Icelandic OSH authorities. The base has not
had an occupational fatality in over 20 years and has not
incurred any workers’ compensation costs since 1986.
Non-Ionizing Radiation Safety and Health Programs
- Crucial to the Navy’s defense mission are weapons,
guidance, and communications systems that rely on lasers. The
Navy’s Laser Safety Program protects airborne, land-based,
and shipboard personnel from laser injuries.
Electronic Management System Provides Access to MSDSs
– NADEP North Island – Thanks to an electronic management
system, NADEP North Island workers have 24-hour access to
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) from any personal computer
in the depot.
Automation of Shipboard Heat Stress Monitoring -
The Navy’s latest technology for monitoring heat stress
afloat, the Automated Heat Stress System WBGT meter saves up
to 5,000 man hours on heat stress monitoring during six-month
deployments in hot climates and in hot, humid work
environments.
Noise Abatement Design in Mine Hunter Class Ships
- Hats off to Navy ship designers who successfully integrated
noise control into two new minesweepers. They've made both the
work environment and the home life better for sailors who live
and work on these ships.
Safety and Health Standards for Small Arms Firing Ranges
– NEHC/NAVFAC - have partnered to develop standards for
small arms firing ranges. The partners also conduct studies to
identify suitable alternatives to hazardous components
contained in small arms ammunition.
Identification and Abatement of Airborne Fungal Growths
Resolve Workers’ Health Complaints – NAVHOSP
Rota - Workers in the same office building who reported
similar health complaints alerted the Naval Hospital to the
potential for fungus contamination. Learn the value of drawing
on industrial hygiene expertise to identify fungus
contamination and the importance of preventive maintenance on
ventilation systems.
Aircraft Hangar
Ventilation Success Story –
NFESC - obtained an interpretation on ventilation airflow
rates in aircraft hangars. Using the interpretation for new
hangar designs will save owner initial equipment cost savings
of about $250,000.00 per hangar and $250,000.00 in life cycle
cost savings.
Pearl Harbor’s Traffic Safety Program - The
PHNSY safety department has employed creative strategies to
encourage safe driving habits. A No-Zone safety
initiative was also implemented to eliminate mishaps due to
blind spots on industrial vehicles and materials handling
equipment.
Exceptional Safety Program at NAS PAX River
– Second consecutive year this OSH program is
among the recipients of the Chief of Naval Operation’s Award
for Achievement in Occupational Safety Ashore. The PAX
River OSH staff has led an installation-wide effort to make
safety a top priority.
NAVIMFAC PACNORWEST Respiratory Protection Program
- Four hundred employees participate in the Naval Intermediate
Maintenance Facility, Pacific Northwest highly
successful respiratory protection program.
ORM Improves Planning/Reduces Costs at NAES Lakehurst
- NAES’s command ORM process improved
communications and operational planning and reduced costs
related to operational delays and/or equipment failures. Since
inception of ORM program all operations successfully completed
without personnel injuries, materials failures, or operational
delays.
New Workshop for Bowling Alley Mechanics Solves Noise
Exposure Problems - NAVAIRSTA Rota – Converted
trailer unit into bowling alley mechanics’ workshop and
built enclosed "duty room" onto rear of bowling
alley away from noise hazard of pin setter units. Bowling
alley mechanics are notified of service calls by handheld
radios enabling them to wear hearing protection when entering
pin setter area.
Abated Explosion and Noise Hazards During Jet Engine
Testing – NAES Lakehurst constructed control
tower located away from risk of explosion and exposure to
noise.
Noise Abatement DDG51 Class Laundry
– Redesigned duct system eliminates noise hazard
in laundry rooms and is being installed on all new
construction DDG-51 class ships.
MSC Lockout/Tagout Program
– MSC established highly successful lockout/tagout
program that allows workers to physically lockout machinery
and equipment before performing maintenance/repairs.
Preventing Heat Stress Afloat – NAVSEASYSCOM
– is evaluating an ice vest as means of maintaining body
temperature in hot shipboard environments. Nine-pound vest
contains flash frozen gel packs, which are changed every two
hours.
SIMA, Norfolk’s Forklift Safety Program - SIMA
Norfolk's excellent forklift safety program focuses on
achieving safety while saving money. Read about the program that
resulted in a $50,000.00 cost avoidance.
Abated Pier 172 Life Safety Hazard – NUWC
Newport – Replaced damaged/ deteriorated portions of pier.
Abated Waterfront Tower Fall Hazard – NWS
Charleston – Installed guardrails on tower platforms.
Abated Fall Hazard in Aircraft Maintenance Building
– NAS North Island – Installed horizontal
three-dimensional fall arrest systems.
Abated Aircraft Maintenance Fall Hazard – NAS
Willow Grove - Designed and constructed fall arrest system in
aircraft maintenance hangar.
Improved Wing Pin Removal at NASNI NADEP - NADEP
employee developed invention for remote control of rivet guns. Saves
about 20 hours per unit and over $29,000.00 annually.
Resources conserved on prevention of vibration-related
injuries and disorders not yet estimated.
Successful Ergonomic and Industrial Hygiene Interventions
– NAVHOSP Rota - Dental prosthetic laboratory acquired
workbenches with built in features to relieve ergonomic risk
factors and exhaust ventilation ducts in the dental piece
support pad that remove methyl methacrylate vapors from
technicians’ breathing zones.
Abated Cable Reel Handling Ergonomic Hazard –
NUWC Newport - Mechanical cable reel transporter reduces risk
of employee injuries.
Abated Ergonomic Hazards During Eyeglass Manufacturing
– NOSTRA Yorktown – Adjustable work stations and ergonomic
matting in all production areas reduced risk of cumulative
trauma disorders and repetitive motion injuries.
Navy Corporate Ergonomics Plan – CNO – Chief
of Naval Operations Office of Safety and Occupational Health’s
pilot ergonomics program demonstrated the value of redesigning
work stations and retraining workers in reducing risk of
repetitive motion injuries and cumulative trauma disorders at
Navy work sites.
Improved Ergonomic Cable Pulling Method – NNSY
- Engineered a mechanically assisted cable pulling process
that reduces potential for personnel injuries and requires
less time and effort. Tests aboard USS SAIPAN and USS NASSAU
show potential reduction in cable pulling time and costs up to
50% with no personnel injuries.
Abated Electrical Transformer Hazards – NAVSTA
Newport – Replaced aging electrical equipment.
Abated Electrical Hazards in Under Pier Vaults
– PWC Norfolk – Relocating electrical equipment to top of
pier minimized exposure to dampness and corrosion.
Abated Life Safety Hazard, Flight Suit Storage
– NAS Oceana – Flight suit storage facility with
fire-rated doors opening in direction of travel and equipped
with panic hardware and NFPA-approved exit signs.
Abated Crane Tipping Hazard
– Multiple Navy Sites - Load moment indicators (LMIs)
or load indicating devices (LIDs) installed on cranes.
Abated Spray Painting and Abrasive Blasting Exposure Hazard
– SIMA Ingleside - Provided a central facility for both
painting and blasting operations equipped with adequate
ventilation system. Provided change facilities to prevent
employee exposure to hazmat and/or contamination of
surrounding areas.
Formaldehyde Levels in Mortuaries – NAVHOSP
Rota Spain – Specialized autopsy/embalming tables and an
increase in the number of air changes per hour in autopsy room’s
ventilation system reduced formaldehyde vapor exposures.
Safety Awards Program at SIMA Mayport
- From
1997 to 1999, SIMA Mayport recorded a 47% reduction in on-duty
mishaps and a 50% decrease in lost workdays. This trend is
attributed at least in part to SIMA’s Quarterly Safety
Awards Program.
Abated Asbestos Hazard – NAS Joint Reserve
Base New Orleans – Asbestos in ceiling tiles replaced with
non-hazardous substitute.
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