| Author | Message | ||
     odashiman Member Username: odashiman Post Number: 60 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 206.39.111.20 |
Greetings, Friends. This is Petty Officer David Pope of the USS Gary (FF-51), Yokosuka, Japan. As I am a Navy Safety Technician, I have decided to start a new Safety web page on my website. You can find it here: http://www.osvet.com/safety_technician_page.htm I have kicked off this new web page with an inaugural message about holiday safety: http://www.osvet.com/Safety/2006_Dec.htm I want to publish a new safety message at least once a month, although this would be impossible if we conveniently decide to go out to sea for months at a time. And so, I want everybody to have a happy and safe holiday season! God bless you all. Very Respectfully, FC2(SW) D. S. Pope Safety Technician, USS Gary, Yokosuka, Japan | ||
| odashiman Member Username: odashiman Post Number: 61 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 206.39.111.20 |
Because Safety is Paramount The Webmaster's Holiday Safety Message December, 2006 By D. S. Pope, Webmaster, Osvet.com Safety Technician (NEC 9571), United States Navy USS Gary (FFG-51), Yokosuka, Japan Merry Christmas, my dear website visitors, and Happy Holidays. The holidays are a time a joy and celebration for celebration; a time for visiting with good friends and family members; a time for cherishing those who mean the most to us; a time to show compassion for those who are less fortunate. But for all of the wonderful qualities of the holiday season, it can also be a time of pain and sorrow if one disregards certain safety precautions inherent to this time of year. So, for my inaugural safety message, I would like to give my visitors a few tips that can help you keep yourself and your family safe this winter. These topics come from the USS Gary 2006 Holiday Safety Stand-Down briefing. FIRE SAFETY/ELECTRICAL SAFETY Decorating the Christmas Tree is a favorite holiday tradition, but unfortunately, it is also presents the single greatest danger to home safety. As the pine needles drop to the floor, the risk of causing a devastating fire become more and more severe. This can be counteracted by constantly keeping the underside of the tree clean of falling pine needles, and keeping the dried (i.e. brown) pine needles away from Christmas lights or other sources of heat. An even better idea would be to purchase an artificial tree. This is a tree that can be folded and boxed away with the other Christmas decorations, and hence may be re-usable year after year. Further, the environmentalists would be ecstatic by this purchase, as you are no longer killing the world's supply of pine trees! Also, many of these artificial trees come pre-decorated with their own lights, leaving one less chore to have to suffer through (though many families find much pleasure in decorating the tree--it becomes a delightful family affair--others simply loathe the task, and are thankful only when it is finally completed). But whichever type of tree your family chooses to decorate, basic safety still applies. To wit: one must keep the tree clear of other major household furniture, particularly lamps or other heat sources. One must ensure the tree is able to stand on its own, so that it does not easily fall over, causing damage or other safety concerns. Small children so be kept a safe distance from the Christmas Tree, and particularly from the location of the electrical outlets the lights are plugged into. In accordance with many Christmas light manufacturers' recommendations, one must be warned not to plug in more than two consecutive strings of lights into a single electrical outlet. Of similar concern, one must be ware never to overload any one electrical outlet with an overabundance of plugs (this is a good tip for any time of year). A good idea would be to purchase a power strip, especially one with its own fuse device, such as one used for computer equipment. This way, in the even of an unforeseen emergency, the power strip would cut off its own electrical power supply and save your family a lot of problems. In case of an emergency involving a fire, you must be mindful of fire safety procedures. These include knowing the emergency escape routes of every room of your house, ensuring there are fresh batteries in your smoke detectors (these should be checked at least once every month and changed at least once every three months). Every home should have at least one CO2 fire extinguisher in the home, and kept in an easily accessible location. Every family member should know how to use this fire extinguisher in case of an emergency. | ||
| odashiman Member Username: odashiman Post Number: 62 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 206.39.111.20 |
NOTE 1: The webmaster recommends the use of a portable 5-Lb CO2 fire extinguisher for both the home and the car because the CO2 extinguisher is the most versatile fire extinguisher available, and the only type that should be used for an electrical fire (Class C fire). Since it may also be used for small wood/paper and oil/grease fires (Class A and B-type fires), the CO2 extinguisher outshines every other extinguisher for its versatility and ease of use. In larger homes, use a larger extinguisher such as a 15-Lb extinguisher, or several smaller ones throughout the house. These fire extinguishers should be checked regularly by qualified technicians (such as Fire Department personnel) and must NEVER be tampered with. Regardless of the specific type of fire extinguisher your family chooses to deploy, every one utilizes a tamper seal around the charging handle--the extinguisher must ALWAYS be thoroughly inspected and/or recharged by qualified technicians if the tamper seal is ever broken or missing. If the tamper seal is not broken, the extinguisher should be re-inspected and recharged at least once every 24 months (and every time it is used), and a CO2 extinguisher should be hydrostatically tested every 36 months. NOTE 2: When choosing the appropriate size of fire extinguisher to use for your home, one must be aware that CO2 fire extinguishers, like other compressed gas cylinders, are rated according to the weight of the compressed gas, not the cylinder itself. For example, a 5-Lb CO2 cylinder holds approximately 5 pounds of compressed carbon dioxide gas, while a 15-Lb cylinder would hold 15 pounds. One must be aware that the actual cylinder itself will be much, much heavier than this: a 15-Lb fire extinguisher might actually weight more than 60 pounds! This must be brought to mind if one expects children or elderly people to use it. | ||
| odashiman Member Username: odashiman Post Number: 63 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 206.39.111.20 |
SPECIAL CONCERNS ABOUT CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS Christmas decorations present their own peculiar problems that should be duly addressed. As most Christmas decorations are fabricated from very thin glass, they are highly susceptible to breakage. Therefore, one must always handle Christmas decorations very delicately to prevent them from breaking. If a decoration appears to be cracked or broken, it should be discarded immediately. Like all types of broken glass, one should always avoid picking up broken ornaments by hand: a small broom and dustpan should be used to clean the mess. One must be cautioned to remove all broken pieces of glass, and be aware that many of the pieces will be rather small. It would also be advisable to go back over the area with a damp washcloth to remove all traces of the broken glass shards, as they may be too small to be seen. Children should never be encouraged to handle broken glass themselves--they should be warned to have an adult remove the glass for them. SPECIAL CONCERNS ABOUT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS In addition to always abiding by the manufacturer's instructions for installation and usage of Christmas lights, one must be mindful to be very careful when replacing burnt-out lights in the strands. It is always advisable to unplug the strand of lights, or otherwise remove all sources of electrical voltage, prior to replacing the lights. One should also be mindful that loose strands of lights tend to create a trip hazard if they are placed too near the floor, and a choking hazard if small children get too close to them. This is in addition to the fire safety tips as described above. | ||
| odashiman Member Username: odashiman Post Number: 64 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 206.39.111.20 |
MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY AND INSPECTIONS Motor vehicle safety is always important, but it becomes even more so during the winter months, as inclement weather can effect even the most seasoned driver. Drivers must be attuned to any adverse conditions on the road: ice patches, water puddles, fog or other visual impairments, and of course drunk drivers, as will be discussed later in the safety briefing. Drivers must thoroughly inspect their motor vehicles, and report any unusual findings to a competent mechanic. One must never attempt to alter their motor vehicle's factory-installed safety devices--further, it is not advisable to begin any mechanical or electrical work on one's motor vehicle unless one knows what one is doing. It is always advisable to bring your motor vehicle to a mechanic to perform professional mechanical and electrical work. When conducting a basic motor vehicle inspection, the webmaster advises the usage of a military-style inspection system. That is, certain work must be divided into categories depending on the frequency, such as Daily, Weekly, Monthly, et cetera. For example, a "Daily" check would be to monitor the vehicles lights (including blinkers), fuel level, or any adverse conditions such as oil spots or leaks visible after the vehicle has been parked temporarily or overnight. Considering the weather, a Daily check might also include scraping ice from the windows in the morning: this should be planned well in advance--the driver should bring a cup of warm water out to his vehicle in the morning in anticipation of a frosted windshield. He should never be caught unaware in such a situation, lest he spend all morning scraping his windshield and, thusly, be late for work and be fired. "Weekly" checks might include such things as checking the oil level, the windshield wiper fluid level, tire air pressure levels (to include tire tread wear), or other such slightly infrequent tasks that tend to go unnoticed. Various "Monthly" checks might include inspecting the emergency gear in the vehicle: the spare tire, road flares, the 5-Lb CO2 bottle I told you to purchase several paragraphs ago, and the physical condition of such clichéd items as the jug of water and the extra antifreeze bottle. One should splurge a bit (call it a Christmas present to yourself) and purchase an emergency roadside kit from your local auto-parts store (the one that employs your mechanic) that already includes such items as jumper cables and warning triangles. For my male readers, be sure to swallow your pride. I'm sure your Ford F-150 truck with the HUGE payload and the extended cab may, in fact, be more than capable of handling any adverse road conditions that Old Man Winter chooses to throw your way. Alas, that stuff only works in the commercials. In the real world, REAL MEN listen to the morning weather reports on the radio. If the guy in the radio station tells you to strap the snow chains on your HUGE truck tires, then buddy, you should just go ahead and do it. It's not only a good idea, it may in fact be the law. Beyond this, I would like to advise my readers to be considerate of others on the road. I don't just mean other drivers, but I also mean people who are stranded on the side of the road. Don't be afraid to "do your good deed for the day" and help that old lady change her flat tire. Then, check her oil for her. Pour your spare fuel can into the empty tank, and then tell that young teenager where the nearest gas station is. Let good deeds abound this Holiday Season. | ||
| odashiman Member Username: odashiman Post Number: 65 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 206.39.111.20 |
RECREATIONAL SAFETY During the Holidays, when most employees tend to get a grossly inordinate amount of time off from work to enjoy some much-needed vacation time, people sometimes get the urge to participate in certain sporting events or other recreational activities that they do not normally get the chance to do. Be it skiing, snow-boarding, four-wheeling, or tossing the around the "ole pig-skin" in the backyard, many of these activities present certain dangers to those who are not mindful of what they are doing. One must always wear all safety equipment associated with their chosen recreational activity, and such equipment must be inspected by a subject matter expert. This person's advice must be adhered to quite thoroughly--if he tells you to replace certain equipment before using it, or that certain equipment must ALWAYS be used (hint, hint, hint), then you should most certainly heed his advice, or you will most certainly face dire consequences. If a person is not familiar with the activity in question, one must certainly get the advice of a season veteran, and pay careful attention to all associated safety precautions particular to the activity. One should never participate in a hazardous activity alone, even if one follows all other safety practices. Hiking, for example, is an activity which one should never participate in alone, as one is highly susceptible to becoming injured or lost without anyone knowing where to find him. Having a competent buddy while enjoying one's favorite activity not keeps a person safe, it also makes it more enjoyable for everyone. Since injuries can suddenly occur with any sport, it is always advisable to bring along an emergency medical kit, including such items as band-aides, gauze, isopropyl alcohol, and other such items. One should bring along a cell phone or have other access to operable communications, and be able to tell the emergency workers one's own location, as well as the nature and severity of the injury. One should always do everything one can to treat the injury, but never go beyond one's medical training. Beyond emergency medical treatment by the most competent person at the scene, the person should be taken to a hospital for any further required medical treatment. Advice for treatments of basic injuries will be delineated in later safety briefings. One must always be mindful to never get over-confident when engaging in hazardous recreational activities. Even if one regularly conducts a certain activities, one can still loose sight of basic safety precautions and wind up seriously injured or killed. Have a plan for engaging in the activity, including getting plenty of sleep the night before, being properly hydrated before, during, and after the activity, and allotting enough time after the activity to return to one's place of residence in enough time to get enough rest to be productive when one returns to work. Lack of a proper plan, or failure to adhere to one's plan, only results in disaster. | ||
| odashiman Member Username: odashiman Post Number: 66 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 206.39.111.20 |
Travel Safety Many, many people will use their well-earned vacation time to do a bit of traveling, to see friends, family, or a popular vacation location well AWAY from friends and family. Hey, whatever floats yer boat there, Skipper. But with so many people hard-charging a full speed directly to the long, long, LONG line for security at the airport, this presents its own worries, and its own accompanying safety hazards. One must always remember to keep their own baggage in their possession at all times. This does NOT include setting your carry-on bags down at airport gate 22A and, after telling that man who is clearly of terrorist descent to please watch your bag for you, you vacate the premises to go get a soda. This must not be done! Keep full possession of your baggage at all times, have all forms of identifications ready available, and for Pete's sake, follow all directions of the TSA agent at the security counter! If he tells you to take off your shoes, take them off! If he tells you to place all liquid bottles into the trash can, then jettison all liquid bottles if your life depended on it! Check in early, be patient with the TSA agents, and be careful not to make a public spectacle of yourself! If you decide that it would be a dandy idea to engage in fisticuffs with the short-nerdy-skinny-white-guy-with-glasses, you are sure to soon discover that not only is he a second-degree Karate black belt, but his buddy sitting across from him in the terminal just so happens to be an Iraqi Freedom veteran itching for a fight... When visiting foreign countries (something the Webmaster knows a lot about, so listen carefully!) one must be aware that many countries have laws and customs much different from one's own. It is advisable to log onto the internet (since you're already here) and look up all available information about the country one intends to visit, to see if there is any pertinent safety or legal information that the visiting tourist needs to know before traveling. But the biggest piece of advice is this one: Stay Out of Trouble! If one knows about certain bad locations or areas in the city, then one should most certainly stay well clear of those areas. And so, have a happy and safe holiday season! Very Respectfully, D. S. Pope |
