HERO-unsafe    ordnance    should    NEVER    be exposed    to    a    RF    environment.    However,    the requirement    for    assembly,    disassembly,    handling, loading,   and   unloading   exposes   ordnance   to   some degree. If exposure cannot be avoided, ordnance should be   exposed   only   in   essentially   RF-free   designated regions,   such   as   below   deck   or   in   RF-shielded buildings. The commanding officer is responsible for making sure that HERO-unsafe ordnance is not handled in RF environments.   Sometimes   operational   commitments require  HERO-unsafe  ordnance to be exposed to RF environments, such as the flight deck, hangar deck, or weather  decks.  A  degree  of  relief  from  HERO  RF restrictions  is  obtained  by  following  the  command HERO EMCON bill. The   HERO   EMCON   bill   depends   upon   two factors—(1)  the  amount  and  type  of  ordnance  that  is involved, and (2) a knowledge of the RF environment at locations where presence, handling, and loading occur. The   HERO   EMCON   bill   contains   a   list   of   all HERO-susceptible and HERO-unsafe ordnance items  on  board  and  their  allowable  RF  environmental levels. It also includes a list of all transmitter-antenna combinations    on    board    and    their    output    power. Reducing    or    securing    certain    transmitter-antenna combinations can maintain allowable RF en- vironmental levels. Normally, to ensure that proper conditions are met in a given ordnance-handling situation, two actions are taken: 1. All onboard transmitters are listed. 2. The  action  each  operator  is  to  take  when  a given HERO EMCON condition is set. For  example,  in  HERO  condition  1,  a  transmitter operator  may  switch  the  transmitter  to  STANDBY.  In HERO  condition  2,  the  same  operator  may  restrict transmission   to   100   watts,   or   perhaps   there   is   no transmission restriction at all. The AO is the most important factor in avoiding a HERO-unsafe situation. You determine if an ordnance item  is  HERO  safe,  HERO  susceptible,  or  HERO unsafe.  Before  moving  a  HERO-unsafe  item  from  a RF-free environment, you must request, through strike operations   or   ordnance   control,   the   proper   HERO condition.   You   make   sure   that   the   ordnance   item remains  in  a  RF-free  environment  until  the  word  has been passed that the proper HERO condition has been set. For detailed information concerning all aspects of electromagnetic radiation hazards, refer to Electromagnetic   Radiation   Hazards,   NAVSEA   OP 3565/NAVAIR 16-1-529, volumes I and II. REVIEW NUMBER 5 Q1. List the three HERO ordnance classifications. Q2. Ordnance  is  HERO  safe  if  it  meets  what criteria? Q3. Name   the   environment   to   which   HERO- susceptible    and    HERO-unsafe    ordnance should not be exposed. Q4. What is the HERO EMCON bill? Q5. What  information  can  you  find  in  the  local HERO EMCON bill? SAFETY PRECAUTIONS LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recognize the importance of safety precautions when working with ordnance. Preplanning,    ordnance    training,    and    carefully handling ordnance prevent accidents caused by explosives. The phrase "The life you save may be your own"   is   a   good   one,   especially   when   you   handle ordnance.  It  is  your  responsibility  to  make  sure  those safe, approved practices and procedures are used when you handle ordnance. REVIEW NUMBER 5 ANSWERS A1. The three HERO ordnance classifications are HERO  safe,  HERO  susceptible,  and  HERO unsafe. A2. HERO-safe   ordnance   must   be   percussion initiated  and  shielded  enough  so  that  EDDs are safe when used in RF environments. A3. HERO-susceptible and HERO-unsafe ordnance   should   not   be   exposed   to   RF environments. A4. The HERO EMCON Bill contains a degree of relief from HERO RF restrictions. A5. The HERO EMCON Bill contains a list of all HERO-susceptible and HERO-unsafe ordnance items on board the command. 11-26