SHUTTLEtheUSS Enterprise (CVN 65) -Sunday June 12, 2011

Photo by MC3 Daniel J. Meshel

Handling HAZMAT

the Page 3Sunday June 12, 2011

Enterprise NewsSHUTTLE

By MC2 Nathan R. CarpenterUSS 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

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

HAZMAT doesn’t have to be a Hazard

Photo by MC3 Daniel J.Meshel

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.

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.

Division

E

IM2

IM4

IM1

SAF

IM3

DC

MP Name

EM3 Desrosiers

ASAN Valverde

AMAN Charlot

ATAN Preusse

MM3 Walling

AOAN Benitez

DCFN Pelletier

Dept

ENG

AIMD

AIMD

AIMD

SAF

AIMD

ENG

Score

1037

740

711

694

390

331

259

Spot Checks

23

17

17

17

9

8

5

Workcenter

EE20/EE40

IM02

IM44

IM03

AS40

IM43

ED07

IM1

E

CS6

SAF

CS6

DC

RMD

AOAA Jordan

EM3 Rivers-Williams

ET3 Konkle

DC2 Johns

ET3 Greene

DCFN Hudson

AD3 Pruitt

AIMD

ENG

CSD

SAF

CSD

ENG

RMD

258

229

167

166

108

97

90

6

5

4

4

3

2

2

IM41

EE20

CS61

AS40

CS61

ED07

BC40

G4

R

OA

CS6

OS

OS

CS6

AOAN Ponder

HT3 Frazier

AG1 McAnallen

ET3 Greco

CTT2 Buerkle

CTT3 Martin

ET3 Veach

WEPS

ENG

OPS

CSD

OPS

OPS

CSD

89

82

81

79

77

73

67

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

WG04

ER03

OA40

CS61

OS02

OS40

CS61

DC

A

M

DCFN Miranda

MMFN Hinnart

MM2 Miller

ENG

ENG

ENG

59

59

55

1

1

1

ED40

EA40

EM40

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

8)

9)

10)

11)

12)

13)

14)

15)

16)

17)

18)

19)

20)

21)

22)

23)

24)

the Sunday June 12, 2011Page 4 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.

Round

Sgt. Carl D. Fuemmeler

Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Shaun H. Parrish