STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP's)

TM 9-1300-277

(1) Action to be taken in the event of

action of the guards. After giving the alarm, guards will

exert every effort to hold the fire under control until the

electrical storms, utility or mechanical failures, etc.,

occurring during the handling or processing of

firefighting forces arrive, except that should a fire occur

in a closed magazine, they will not attempt to enter the

hazardous materials will be set forth in SOP's prepared

specifically for such purposes.

magazine.

(2) When non-English speaking personnel

(3) Guards will be instructed to make a

are employed in operations involving explosives, the

prompt report of the following:

SOP will be in English and in the language the

(a) Any unusual occurrence in or near a

employee understands.

magazine area.

b. The SOP will be approved by the commander or

(b) Grass or forest fires in areas

by a qualified member of his staff whom he has

adjacent to the magazine area.

delegated to review and approve procedures. The SOP

will also be approved by persons designated as being

working in magazines or areas in which there are

responsible for performance of an operation.

explosives, such as smoking.

change to an SOP will be permitted unless approved in

(d) Unauthorized use of fire equipment

writing by the approving authority.

and tampering with ammunition or electrical equipment.

c. All personnel having operational duties of

(e) Unlocked magazine doors or

supervision thereof will enforce the SOP requirements

shutters, defective telephone and electric wires, or

for their particular operation and have ready access to

openings in fences surrounding the magazines.

the SOP for reference purposes.

(f) The

presence

suspicious

d. Applicable portions of the approved SOP shall

personnel.

be conspicuously posted convenient to all stations

(4) Generally, shotguns are recommended for

involved in the operation for the guidance of all

guard purposes. Many explosives are not initiated by

personnel.

low velocity projectiles, but any bullet striking explosives

2-10. PROCEDURE IN EVENT OF ELECTRICAL

may cause a serious fire and/or explosion. Guards

STORMS

protecting explosives or ammunition will be instructed

a. Whenever an electrical storm approaches the

regarding the dangers of firing in the direction of a

establishment, personnel shall be evacuated from

magazine or ammunition in the open.

locations at which there is a hazard from explosives

2-9. STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP's)

which could be initiated by lightning. Such locations

a. A written SOP will be prepared and approved

include the following:

prior to conducting operations involving ammunition and

(1) Operating buildings or facilities without

explosives. The SOP will include safety requirements,

approved lightning protection systems, which contain

personnel and explosive limits, quality control and

explosives or explosive-loaded ammunition, and

quality assurance procedures, description of work to be

locations within intraline distance of such facilities.

accomplished, designation of equipment to be used,

(2) Buildings containing explosives dust or

location, and sequence of operations (See TM 91300-

vapors whether or not equipped with approved lightning

250, and DARCOM-R 385-1.)

protection systems, and locations within intraline

distance of such buildings.

2-8