SAFETY SUMMARY

20. Exercise extreme care to prevent sharp bends or twists in air charging lines. 21. Do not tighten pipe connections or other parts while they are charged with high-pressure air. 22. Do not remove safety straps or chains from charging lines until the charging valve has been shut and the bleeder valve has been opened. SAFETY SUMMARY Most procedural guides (PGs), operation procedures (OPs), and checklists (CLs) have a SAFETY SUMMARY located in their front pages. The safety summary lists (one time each) all WARNINGS, CAUTIONS, and NOTES associated with the operation (weapons handling, loading, shipping, employment, emergencies, etc.) and the procedures by which the associated hazards may be reduced or eliminated. The safety summary is divided into several parts, each consisting of the safety precautions that pertain to the various evolutions for the given weapon. All personnel must be familiar with and adhere to the applicable safety standards. Specific safety precautions are contained in the PG, OP, and CL as appropriate. The following safety standards apply to all phases of an operation involving weapons systems: 1. Ensure that a launched weapon, either warshot or exercise, is precluded from striking the firing ship. 2. Prevent an inadvertent launching, arming, or motor start. 3. Ensure that the stowage, handling, maintenance, and testing operations of the weapon and weapon system minimize the risk of injury to personnel. 4. Strive to minimize the probability that a weapon involved in an accident or incident, or being jettisoned will explode. Now let’s begin, by discussing why you should be qualified and certified to handle conventional explosive devices. Q1. What is the purpose of a ”WARNING”? Q2. What is the purpose of a “CAUTION”? EXPLOSIVES HANDLING PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM The purpose of the Explosives Handling Personnel Qualification and Certification Program is to ensure that each person is qualified and certified before performing any task involving explosives. An explosives handler must be certified by the command or organizational unit to which he or she is assigned. To be certified, the handler must demonstrate the ability to perform safely all required functions, tasks, or evolutions associated with specified explosives. Security and aircrew personnel, ammunition working parties, and personnel on watch (who may not handle the explosives directly) may be exempt from personal or team qualification. However, each person must be carefully instructed in the safety precautions and regulations governing the function, task, or evolution to be performed. CERTIFICATION BOARDS The commanding officer or officer in charge of each unit or naval activity involved with handling, shipping, and stowing explosives or explosive devices must appoint a certification board for his or her organization. The board must include, as a minimum: � The cognizant department head (or comparable supervisory representative if the organization does not have defined departments), and � Not less than one PO1 or senior (or equivalent civilian supervisor) who is certified to perform the specified function, task, or evolution. In large units or activities, such as aircraft carriers or weapons stations or ammunition depots, the cognizant department head may delegate the responsibility for certification to an appropriate officer or supervisor, with the concurrence of the commanding officer. A commanding officer or officer in charge may augment the certification board with additional personnel from within or outside the command. In small units or activities where a certified PO1 (or senior) is not assigned to the command, and where board augmentation from outside the command is not feasible, the type commander may authorize a waiver of the PO1 requirement. Initial certification of personnel to perform particular explosive-related jobs may be necessary in instances where no certification board is currently 5-4