ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF A SAFETY PROGRAM

Many supervisors feel that it is only necessary to provide safeguards, and safety will take care of itself. Safeguards are a step in the right direction, but they alone will not get good results. To establish a good safety record requires the establishment of a good safety program. Navy directives require all organizations to have an active safety training program. The safety program discussed in this manual is built around EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, and ENFORCEMENT.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Environment, as it applies to safety, can be defined as the improvement or redesign of equipment, machinery, work area, or procedures. The objective of the environment is the elimination of hazards or providing adequate safeguards _{to prevent accidents.} The objectives are the responsibilities of the supervisor. Briefly, the objectives of supervision are as follows:

1. To operate with maximum efficiency and safety

2. To operate with minimum efficiency and waste

3. To operate free from interruption and difficulty

While these are the primary objectives of supervision, it is important for you to remember that your new assignment is important to you personally. It gives you an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience toward eventual promotions to AMCS and AFCM.

WORK AREAS

Supervisory personnel should be especially aware of shop cleanliness. A cluttered, dirty shop may cause personnel to become careless and inefficient. Look for spilled grease and oil. An otherwise "heads-up" man could become a "tailsup" man if spilled grease and oil is not cleaned up promptly. Notice rag storage. Oily rags should be kept in a closed metal container. Notice obstructions protruding from work benches and lying on decks, or items stowed on top of lockers. These are obvious dangers.

Less obvious hazards are poor work habits. Are the proper tools used for the tasks assigned? Are the established safety rules and regulations being followed? Is the shop lighting and ventilation adequate?

The hazardous conditions noticed by the AME during inspections should be corrected now, either by immediate action or training. General work center safety is covered more in the Aviation Maintenance Ratings Supervisor manual.

TOOLS

The inspection of tools should include type, condition, and use. As a general precaution, be sure that all tools conform to navy standards of quality and type. Remember that each tool has a place and should be in use or in that place. Each tool has a purpose and should be used only for that purpose.

If hand tools are dull, broken, bent, or dirty, corrective action is necessary. Tools that cannot be repaired should be replaced. Tools should be cleaned and kept clean. Portable tools should be inspected prior to each use to ensure they are clean and in the proper state of repair. The AME supervisor should be very critical of the tools within the work center. For more information on tools and their uses, refer to the Aviation Maintenance Ratings Supervisor manual.

EQUIPMENT

The AME supervisor will have many different kinds of equipment in his work center. The inspection of shop equipment should include checking for posted operational requirements and for safeguards such as goggles, hearing protectors, and protective clothing. Always check for leaks, frayed electrical cords, proper working conditions, and general cleanliness.

The inspection of work areas, tools, and equipment will point up hazards that must be corrected. Some corrections will be made on the spot, and some will have to be worked out through job improvements. The inspections will show the need for and the continuation of a good safety program. For more information on shop equipment, refer to the Aviation Maintenance Ratings Supervisor manual.

SAFETY INSPECTIONS

About 98 percent of all accidents can be prevented. This means that accidents can be prevented by educating personnel to the hazards or by completely eliminating the hazards. It's with this idea in mind that you will make your inspections. During the inspection, look for hazardous conditions that can be eliminated and for hazardous conditions that can be corrected through training. The two percent classified as unpreventable are caused by natural elements, such as wind, lightning, flooding, etc., and some steps can be taken to lessen these hazards.

Safety inspections should be continuous. A habit should be developed for noting everything. Everytime you walk through the shop, line area, around aircraft, or any area where your responsibility extends, think safety. When a hazardous condition is found, correct it. To put it off until later is to gamble with the safety of your men and equipment. The hard rule is that in matters of safety, "corrective action is required NOW."