Features
Op STAYSAFE 31 – 2007 NAVY SAFETY AWARDS


Edition 5008, 17 May, 2007
‘Safety Award Winners – This could be you’

Last year saw two Navy Safety Award winners make it through the Defence Safety Awards and into the finals of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission’s (SRCC) 2006 Safety Awards. HMAS ANZAC and FSU PERTH competed with nominations from other Commonwealth agencies such as Medicare, Australian Taxation Office and Centrelink. FSU PERTH was highly commended in the Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System Category while HMAS ANZAC won the Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue.

HMAS ANZAC a winner
In early 2004, when reviewing the task assignments for HMAS ANZAC for the next two years, a number of whole ship risk areas were identified. Two of these identified risks were the use of the ANZAC class accommodation ladder (see photo) without a stable base platform and the regular use of the jumping ladders by staff not familiar with their use. The accommodation ladder is a set of stairs and a handrail that is attached to the ship. The ‘jumping ladder’ is essentially a rope ladder that lies flush against the side of the ship. Accommodation ladders are easy for personnel to use but have been damaged by contact with larger boats and in turn have damaged boats which have hit up against the side of the ladder. As a result, the majority of personnel transfers make use of the vertical rope ‘jumping’ ladder which is inherently more dangerous and physically demanding to use, especially for those who are unfamiliar with ships, for example, visitors.

After consultation, a solution was identified. This was the use of a pontoon which could be placed under the accommodation ladder, reducing the risks and hazards associated with its use. The pontoon was manufactured by an engineering consultant, then trialled in operational use. Modifications were made to enhance the pontoon: grooves to allow for movement of the accommodation ladder on the pontoon and guardrails were added to increase user confidence.

The pontoon allows for safe embarkation and disembarkation of personnel from an ANZAC class vessel at anchor or at a buoy and requires no external support such as tugs. The use of the accommodation ladder in the ANZAC Class has been increased by the ability to lower it onto the portable pontoon. There is a cost saving in terms of equipment damage (no damage to the accommodation ladder or to the boats). The pontoon is safer as it provides safe footing to use the accommodation ladder, a more stable platform to exit the boat and an easier way to embark older/less mobile personnel, particularly civilian personnel. The pontoon has provided good service in sheltered anchorages and moorings since its introduction. It was used while moored to buoys at Christmas Island as well as at anchor during the ship’s Northern Trident World Deployment 2005.

The success of Navy’s entrants last year just shows what can be achieved when we ‘Keep Navy Safe’.

RADHAZ

There has been a lot of talk lately regarding the high amount of RADHAZ related incidents that have occurred throughout the fleet. Recent research from the Directorate of Navy Safety has found that 88 percent of incidents over the last three years were due to a failure to adhere to SOPs. This is an alarmingly high incident rate and there is little wonder why Comcare are taking a closer interest in the RAN’s management of RADHAZ.

So what is RADHAZ? Radiation Hazard (RADHAZ) is the hazard posed to personnel (Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel (HERP)) due to the absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the body or the hazard to fuels and explosive ordnance that may result from exposure to excessive levels of non-ionising radiation.

What is the RAN currently doing to mitigate these high incident rates? The RAN has a number of strategies in place to reduce the hazard to personnel and material to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).

These include:
a. Ongoing RADHAZ education of personnel,
b. Use of RADHAZ markings (red lines) painted on the deck to warn of danger areas,
c. Use of RADHAZ warning signs (yellow and black) to advise that RADHAZ does or can exist in the area, and
d. Strict control of RADHAZ keys by use of ship class specific SOPs and custom ship RADHAZ keyboards. Each RADHAZ keyboard is required to have an associated RADHAZ/Man-aloft Log used to keep track of personnel working within potential RADHAZ areas.
e. Restrictions on the use of radio transmitting equipment during evolutions such as ammunitioning and refuelling, and restrictions on the use of some portable transmitting equipment in certain parts of the ship.

Adherence to RADHAZ procedures is everyone’s responsibility. Responsibility for the management of RADHAZ lies with the OOD / OOW. The OOD / OOW must ensure that:
a. No personnel are to proceed into RADHAZ areas without seeking permission and without OOD / OOW first checking the RADHAZ keyboard of their own ship and if necessary, adjacent ships,
b. RADHAZ keys are not issued which will introduce RADHAZ to personnel approved to be Man Aloft onboard or on adjacent ships, structures or buildings, and
c. all personnel proceeding into a RADHAZ area are briefed on where they are approved to go and where they are not authorized to proceed.

Australian Fleet Combat System Group, (AUSFLTCSG) Staff have commenced a review of RADHAZ management and procedures that will include a physical audit of all Fleet Units. All personnel are reminded to be aware of the dangers of exposure to this hazard. Radiofrequency energy is odourless, invisible and silent yet it exists in abundance in our Ships. Treat it with respect.
BZ Locker

A civilian contractor working on board HMAS SYDNEY raised the alarm to Ship’s staff after detecting a foul smell coming from AMR 3. Ship’s staff promptly responded with an Emergency Clear Lower Deck piped for all Ship’s company and contractors. Team 1 and Team 2 entered the gas boundary within fleet standard times followed shortly after by Team 4 to investigate the cause of the suspected toxic hazard. No toxic gas was detected on 2 deck or in AMR 3 and the cause remained a mystery until Ship’s staff inspected an oily waste removal truck parked near the ships ventilation intakes. Further checks were carried out using a gas detector and raised levels of Hydrogen Sulphide were observed around the waste removal truck (60 PPM). The waste removal truck contractor was then directed by Ship’s staff to depart FBE and flush the truck. The quick response by the contractor to alert Ship’s staff of the potential toxic hazard and subsequent reaction by Ship’s staff to quickly follow SOP’s ensured the safety of all personnel on board.

BZ
Call for Nominations - Navy Safety Awards 2007

The Navy Safety Award scheme was introduced in 2004 as a means of recognising and rewarding personnel and organisations that make a conspicuous and positive contribution to “Keep Navy Safe”. Last year’s awards ceremony was a hugely successful event. It attracted wide coverage and over 200 people attended.

We know there is a lot of great work being done to promote safety so look around your workplace and get some recognition and reward for your efforts by entering the Navy Safety Awards. The strongest Navy Safety Awards entries are entered into the Defence Safety Awards and if they do well they are nominated to the SRCC Safety Awards.

The Navy Safety Awards consist of the following 4 categories:

Category 1 - Leadership Award for Injury Prevention and Management;
Category 2 - Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System;
Category 3 - Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue; and

The Commander Dave Allen Award for Safety Excellence – For individuals making an outstanding contribution to any aspect of safety in Navy. This award winner will receive a trophy, framed certificate and $1000 prize money.

Nominations will close on 14 Sep 07, prior to judging in October and the award ceremony is planned to take place in November. The date and venue will be advised separately.

Further information can be obtained from DEFGRAM 178/2007 or the SMS-N intranet website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/navyweb/sites/sms(underscore)n/ or contact the Directorate of Navy Safety Systems (DNAVSAFE) on Tel. 1800 558 555 or email navy.safety@defence.gov.au.
Flu Vaccination

You may have noticed that the weather is getting colder and the 2007 Influenza vaccination posters are appearing in your workplace. Along with winter generally comes periods of sniffles, sneezes, coughs, soreness and misery as people suffer from the Flu. To reduce the chance contracting this infectious virus, Navy is offering all its personnel the Flu vaccination.

For the vaccination to be most effective, it is recommended that personnel see their medical staff as soon as possible during the autumn months to be vaccinated. This allows the body to develop immunity to the virus (takes about two weeks) before the colder winter months set in.

By getting vaccinated, not only are you less likely to suffer the Flu, but so are your shipmates.
Shock or Electrocution

There has been unintentional but incorrect usage of the term electrocution and electric shock in a few OHSIRs recently. Electrocution should only be used when a fatality occurs caused solely by electricity, otherwise the term electric shock should be used.

It is also important to note that Comcare must be notified of all incidents of electric shock. This is a mandatory requirement due to the potential of electrocution and thus fulfils the definition of a ‘Dangerous Occurrence’.