Can I stay up late?
BZ Locker
Caption call
Navy Safety Awards
Flash warning

Each year in Defence, personnel suffer injuries and illness from exposure to hazardous substances.

Most workplaces use chemicals of some form, so these problems do not just occur in industrial workshops or FIMAs.

Glue, methylated spirit, eucalyptus oil, detergent, bleach and varnish are all examples of commonly used hazardous substances.

Unless adequately managed, exposure to hazardous substances such as these can lead to illnesses such as dermatitis, asthma or, over a longer period, cancer.

A hazardous substance is defi ned as any compound, element, chemical liquid, solid or gaseous substance that is present or used in the workplace, and has the potential to cause illness or disease to exposed personnel and/or the environment (surface/groundwater, fl ora, fauna, atmosphere, soil) at or near the workplace.

Hazardous substances can affect exposed personnel in two ways:

• Acute effects - usually immediate, from a short-term exposure, and
• Chronic effects - resulting from long-term exposure over a period of time.
  
  It is possible that a disease can develop after long-term exposure that had no acute or short-term effects or discomfort. It is important to recognise that most, if not all, hazardous substances can be handled and used safely, providing that:
• The hazards are known and understood;
• Correct handling and use procedures are in place and adhered to;
• The correct equipment to handle and use hazardous substances is available, used and maintained;
• Employees are informed about hazards and trained in correct procedures; and
• Prompt action is taken to control and minimise problems that do arise.
  
  However, if hazardous substances are not properly controlled in the workplace the effect on employee’s health, and the associated costs to Defence, their families and the community, can be significant.
  
  All employees should ensure they know whether or not a substance they are using is hazardous by reading the label, Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), Hazardous Substance Register and the risk assessment. If unsure whether a substance is hazardous DO NOT use it and seek further information and guidance.
  
  Some substances such as asbestos, curing agents for resins, solvents, lacquers, fuels, paints and lead are known to cause adverse health effects. By law employees working with such substances are to be provided with a health surveillance program.
  
  Such a program must assess whether an employee’s health is actually being affected by exposure to a hazardous substance in the workplace.
  
  Further detail about Health Surveillance can be found in SAFETYMAN Vol. 1 Par 6 Annex F. The Defence OHS Branch is developing and implementing a Hazardous Substances Management Program, which will integrate with and complement Safety Management System – Navy.
  
  The program consists of a policy and tools designed to assist managers/supervisors and employees safely and effectively manage hazardous substances in the workplace.
  
  The program has introduced a training regime for the Hazardous Substances Safety Offi cer (HSSO) who should be nominated in every Unit, Ship or Establishment.
  
  The HSSO should be in a position to advise Commanders or Managers on all aspects of hazardous substances management.
  
  Specific publications and media produced in support of the program have been distributed across Navy and include:
  
  
• A pocket-sized Aide Memoire suitable for all personnel who have involvement with hazardous substances;
• A pocket-sized Supervisor’s Guide to provide tailored guidance to those with responsibility for procurement and risk management of hazardous substances (normally supervisors);
• A desk drawer sized handbook for Defence Employees that provides a general overview of the Defence Hazardous Substances Management System;
• A comprehensive A4 sized Workshop Manual designed to be hung on the wall (calendar-style) in the workshop environment for quick and easy reference; and
• A 2-part DVD titled “Managing Hazardous Substances” which is applicable to all Navy personnel and should be screened as widely as possible.
  
  The soon to be released revision of the Navy Safety Systems Manual (ABR 6303) will refl ect the Defence Hazardous Substances Management Policy and act as a useful first reference on the subject.
  
  For further information and additional copies of the above media contact Navy Safety via email or 1-800 558 555. Any Ship/Establishment/Unit that believes it has a best practice of HS Management is invited to forward details, through the chain of command, to DGNCSA, either by signal (to DGNAVCERTSAFE) or email to navy. safety@defence.gov.au.
  
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Can I stay up late?

Ever have one of those days where nothing seems to go right?

You get out of bed late, can’t fi nd your car keys, and then find it hard to concentrate on the rest of the day.

The whole day you feel tired and just want to be tucked up in bed.

It could just be fate but it sounds like Fatigue. Safety depends, among other things, on personal being fi t for duty whilst at work.

Sleepiness and fatigue can be attributed to a range of factors including lack of recovery sleep, time on task and time of day and body clock. Sleepiness and fatigue can affect physical and mental capabilities to perform at safe levels.

Fatigue may affect personnel differently depending on such things as age, fitness and general well being. Fatigue is the physical and psychological condition that accumulates when an individual’s optimal physical or mental limits are exceeded.

It manifests as degradation in both physical and mental performance.

Fatigue generally increases with time from an individual’s last sleep and with physical or mental exertion. Common indicators of fatigue include but are not restricted to involuntary napping (micro-sleeps); reduced vigilance delayed reaction times, irritability and poor hand-eye coordination. Although these are all fairly obvious signs not everyone will see them happen to themselves. So it becomes our responsibility to look after our mates.

Outside the work environment, contributing factors to fatigue can be:

• Family and Social responsibilities/ commitments
• Physical Activity
• Travelling long distances
• Emotional Stresses So, to make sure we avoid accidents though fatigue at home and at work, we need to make sure that we’re getting the sleep we need to start the day off right.
  
  Think ahead about what the extra half an hour of TV is going to do to you in the morning.

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  BZ Locker

  Recognition goes to the Base Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator (BOHSCO) at HMAS Kuttabul this month.
  
  Whilst conducting daily business, the BOHSCO noticed a sub-contractor operating an Oxy Acetylene set without adequate eye protection in that he was using spectacles in place of safety glasses.
  
  The contractor’s safety glasses were clearly visible and within arm’s reach of the Oxy set.
  
  When questioned about his practice the contractor stated that he’d done the same thing hundreds of times before.
  
  This case should bring to light two issues. Firstly, PPE is a full time requirement.
  
  The slightest misjudgment or distraction and the contractor could have lost his vision.
  
  The second point is that all personnel working at Defence sites have the requirement to follow Defence safety regulations and procedure.

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Caption call

Each edition of Seaworthy will devote space to some of the most unsafe acts caught on camera.
Please submit caption entries and suitable photos to: navy.safety@defence.gov.au.

Last months caption call: “Last fix, good fix, one hundred yards starboard of track, safe” LCDR T. Morrison

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Navy Safety Awards

DGNCSA is calling for nominations for the First Annual Navy Safety Awards.

Nominations are to be submitted in Minute format, prior to 30 September 2005 and sent to:
DGNCSA CP4-6-038 Campbell Park Offices Canberra, ACT 2600

For more information see DEFGRAM 342/2005 or the SMS-N website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/navyweb/Sites/sms_n/.

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FLASH WARNING – F88 SA1 Line Throwing Rifl e (LTR)

Ref: HMAS CAIRNS 152223Z JUN 05 OHSIR 06/05 While conducting LTR training, a trainee received ‘blowback’ from fi ring the weapon.

This resulted in cartridge residue being embedded into both hands and required medical attention to remove the particles. The training practice adhered to procedures IAW AF 52/7/7-2 (WD 231/03) Introduction Into Service Of The Line Throwing Rifl e And IMI L1A1 5.56 Grenade Cartridge, assuming that this was the extant guidance.

However, further investigation revealed a new amendment to ABR 1920 Chapter 21 stating that Line Throwing Crews are to wear ‘riggers gloves’.

A recommendation to amend ABR 1920 Chapter 21.6 to include a warning of the possible blast danger will be staffed by HMAS Cairns.

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