Don't inflate risk of injury

Volume 11, No. 56, November 16, 2006
By Maj Len Brown
and Maj Mike Tyquin

Red alert: Zodiacs surge across the water during an exercise. The diagram (above right) shows the danger zone for a typical small inflatable.y

Snappy: Soldiers should note the potential for injury when erecting or disassembling the Base-X Rapid Deploying Shelters.

ARMY uses small craft for operations, training and recreational purposes. As with any piece of kit, some of our equipment requires users to be particularly safety-conscious.

Small inflatable craft look harmless enough but there has been a disturbing incidence this year of severe injury relating to their use.

In the most serious of these, a soldier had a toe amputated and received severe cuts when his foot came into contact with the ringed propeller after he fell overboard from within the bow danger zone of a small inflatable.

In the most recent incident, another soldier received nasty injuries to his hand while engaged in “man overboard” drills.

The introduction of the ringed propeller has dramatically reduced the propeller danger area compared to that of an open-bladed propeller. However, it cannot stop personnel falling in the danger zone of a small craft.

It’s important that all small-craft users know their responsibilities when moving about or sitting in the craft. Soldiers must not sit in the bow danger zone, unless dedicated (fixed) seating is provided. Cargo can, however, be stowed in this area if the trim of the craft isn’t adversely affected.

For more information see General Instruction (Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Instructions) Army Watercraft Outboard Motors, Marine O 029-1, Issue 1, September 2006.

Mind your fingers
DMO’s acquisition of Base-X Rapid Deploying Shelters may soon revolutionise field accommodation.

However, as with other new equipment, personnel should be aware of how the shelters operate. This will help ensure their successful introduction into service.

The folding frames of the Base-X Rapid Deploying Shelters feature aviation-specification aluminium tubing, locking hubs, load-bearing ceiling points and tensioning cables that provide maximum strength in a compact, lightweight design. The attached PVC-coated polyester covers reduce set-up and take-down time.

The “scissor” frames and folding legs introduce two areas of potential injury to personnel.

• They create pinch points, and potentially serious injury can occur to fingers trapped in the mechanism when opening and closing. When operating, do not hold the frames near the centre of the scissor struts nor at the yellow labels.
  
  
• Another potential hazard is the “snap buttons” that lock the hubs and legs. Ensure fingers or thumbs are not caught by the sliding aluminium frame components when the buttons are released.
  During take-down, position a person on each leg assembly, grip the frame above the leg assembly and lift. Another person pushes the buttons located midway up the legs beneath the black hook and loop fasteners.