Chapter 6. SAFETY

CHAPTER 6

SAFETY

Section I. Policy

OSHA standard, the issue will be referred to component

6-1. Applicability.

headquarters for resolution.

Provisions of this chapter apply to general industrial and

operational safety for storage and handling of military

supplies.

6-2. Program establishment.

A safety program will be established for storage

operations at major supply installations and separate

a. Occupational safety and health requirements set

storage activities in the continental United States and

forth in this manual are based in part on the DOD

overseas. Safety will be included in and made an

occupational safety and health standards established by

integral part of storage operations.

It is the

DOD instruction 6055.1.

responsibility of each official in charge of storage at

b. Selected Department of Labor (Occupational

these installations to institute a suitable program,

Safety and Health Act (OSHA)) standards are cited in

utilizing the technical services of the installation safety

this manual as a ready reference.

director or safety engineer in all matters dealing with

c. Specific safety requirements for storage and

accident prevention. Installation and separate storage

handling of ammunition and explosives are established

activity commanders will take steps to assure that the

by DOD standards and military service directives.

accident prevention program in storage operations is

d. In the event of a conflict between the

effectively enforced at all levels of supervision under

requirements set forth in this manual and a specific

their jurisdiction.

Section II. Accident Costs

readily available.

When material is damaged or

6-3. Man-hours.

destroyed by accident, costs are incurred to accomplish

Accidents involving personnel can have an adverse

necessary repairs and/or replacement of material.

effect on productive man-hours and planned production

Other consequences include production delays and a

schedules.

Productive man-hours lost through

possible shortage of critical material.

accidents cannot normally be recouped immediately

since replacement personnel or required skills are not

Section III. Training Personnel to Avoid Accidents

knowledge of all potential hazards concerning the

6-4. Safety knowledge and training.

commodities under their control (see TM 38-410/DLAM

Operating personnel must be given proper instruction

4145.11/NAVSUP PUB 573/AFR 69-XX/MCO 4450.XX,

and training concerning potential dangers associated

Storage and Handling of Hazardous Materials for

with their daily tasks. An awareness of apparent or

details).

potential dangers and training to avoid such hazards will

assist in reducing accidents while performing normal

6-6. Knowledge of equipment.

tasks.

a. Design. Equipment is generally designed to

6-5. Knowledge of hazardous material.

perform a specific function. For example, MHE will

Certain items such as explosives, flammable material,

safely handle a specified maximum load, travel at a

chemicals, acids, etc., obviously require more care and

maximum speed, ascend or descend a maximum grade,

attention than other items. The characteristics of the

and operate safely under specified conditions.

material being stored or handled dictate the care and

potential hazard can be created when equipment is

attention necessary to avoid risks and potential hazards.

selected for use in operations beyond the rated capacity

Personnel handling hazardous material must possess a

or for other than the purpose designated.

6-1