Family  groups. Family   groups   are   explosive devices with similar characteristics. Handling. Applies to those individuals who engage in the break out, lifting, or repositioning of explosive devices in order to facilitate storage/stowage, assembly/ disassembly,  load/download,  or  transporting. Individual  signature.    Signature of person being certified.  Signing  acknowledges  certification  level  and work  task  code  for  the  explosive  device/family; therefore, a signature is required for each line entry. Load/download.   Applies  to  procedures  contained in the load/download section of the loading manual/ checklist for that particular explosive device. Magazine  inspections.  Applies  to  the  close  viewing and  critical  appraisal  of  existing  conditions  within ship/station  magazines  or  ready  service  magazines/ lockers, using standards established by NAVSEA OP 4 and OP 5. Recertification. Recertification  may  be  accom- plished using the space provided. One the individual being recertified and the board chairman signs and dates the form, certification is valid for 1 year. Storage/stowage. Applies  to  those  individuals whose   responsibilities   involve   storage/stowage   of explosive devices. (See OP 2165, volume 1.) Validation date.  Date  certification  is  effective. EXPLOSIVES  HANDLING  PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION  AND  CERTIFICATION PROGRAM The  Explosives  Handling  Personnel  Qualification and  Certification  Program  sets  guidelines  for  weapons certification.  This program is independent from all other   maintenance   programs.   The   Explosives Handling  Personnel  Qualification  and  Certification Program is applicable to  all personnel (both  military and  civilian,  including  contractors)  in  the  Naval Establishment  whose  duties  require  evolutions  or  tasks involving   explosive   devices. NOTE: All  explosives,  ammunition,  weapons, and  devices  using  conventional  explosives, pyrotechnics, or incendiary material for their operation  are  included  in  the  general  term explosive devices. All operators of power-operated handling equip- ment, such as hoists, winching cranes, or forklifts, that are  used  in  handling  explosive  devices  must  be  certified and licensed to handle the particular piece of equipment. Personnel  Who  Require  Individual Certification If  a  person’s  duties  (including  explosive  ordnance disposal [EOD] personnel involved in non-EOD duties) require  him/her  to  individually  inspect  (including  the duty of safety observer), prepare, adjust, arm, or dearm explosive  devices,  he/she  must  be  qualified  and  certified for  such  tasks.  Personnel  who  conduct  magazine inspections,  maintenance  on  aircraft  safety  and  survival equipment, or perform any other function that involves explosive devices must be included in this program. The supervisor of explosive operations and members of the command-appointed certification board (except the chairman)   must   be   individually   certified   for   the evolution that they may supervise or observe. Personnel  Who  Require  Team  Qualification and  Certification A person must be team certified and qualified or individually  qualified  to  perform  any  of  the  following duties  as  a  team  member:  packing,  unpacking, assembling/disassembling,  testing,  fuzing,  loading/ downloading,   or   arming/dearming.   When   team operations  are  involved,  the  team  leader  must  be designated and must be certified and qualified. Any change in team personnel must be kept to a minimum. Shipboard gun, missile crews, and air wing integrated arm/dearm crews are considered teams for the purpose of  qualification  and  certification.  Requalification  or recertification of a team after any personnel change is at  the  discretion  of  the  commanding  officer.  At  times, contractor  personnel  perform  functions  within  the  scope of  the  Explosives  Handling  Personnel  Qualification  and Certification   Program   at   naval   activities.   The contractor  must  provide  the  commanding  officer  or officer in charge with the documentation to prove that personnel are qualified and certified before performing any duties that come under the program. All contracts that  deal  with  explosives  and  explosive  operations  come under the purview of OPNAVINST 8023.2. Initial  Board  Member  Certification One major problem of the initial certification of personnel  is  to  ensure  that  persons  who  perform qualification  evaluations  are  themselves  qualified. Occasionally, it is necessary to initially certify personnel to  perform  a  particular  explosive-related  job  if  no certification  board  is  currently  established.  Com- manders should ensure the intent of this program when they select certification board qualifying observers. The department head (or equivalent supervisor) reviews  personnel  for  initial  certification  by  screening 11-3