The   PMS   helps   leadership   and   management reduce frustrating breakdowns and irregular hours of  work,  and  thus  improves  morale.  It  enhances the  effectiveness  of  all  hands. LIMITATIONS  OF  PMS The   PMS   is   not   self-starting;   it   does   not automatically   produce   good   results.   It   requires considerable   professional   guidance   and   con- tinuous   direction   at   each   level   of   the   system’s operation.  One  individual  must  have  both  the authority  and  the  responsibility  at  each  level  of the   system’s   operation. Training  in  the  maintenance  steps  as  well  as in   the   system   is   necessary.   No   system   is   a substitute  for  the  actual  technical  ability  required of  the  petty  officers  who  direct  and  perform  the upkeep   of   the   equipment.   Because   of   rapid changes  in  the  Ships’  3-M  Systems,  always  refer to  a  current  copy  of  the  3-M  Manual. EQUIPMENT   TAG-OUT   PROGRAM An   effective   tag-out   program   is   necessary because of the complexity of modern ships as well as  the  cost,  delay,  and  hazard  to  personnel  that could   result   from   the   improper   operation   of equipment.  The  equipment  tag-out  program  is  a procedure  to  prevent  improper  operation  of  a component,   equipment,   system,   or   part   of   a system   that   is   isolated   or   in   an   abnormal condition. This procedure is also used when safety devices,  such  as  blank  flanges  on  piping,  are installed  for  testing,  maintenance,  or  casualty isolation. The  use  of  DANGER  or CAUTION  tags  is not  a  substitute  for  other  safety  measures,  such as  locking  valves  or  pulling  fuses.  Tags  applied to  valves,  switches,  or  other  components  should indicate  restrictions  on  their  operation.  Never  use tags   for   identification   purposes. The procedures in this program are mandatory to standardize tag-out procedures used by all ships and  repair  activities.  The  program  also  provides a   procedure   for   use   when   an   instrument   is unreliable or is not in normal operating condition. It  is  similar  to  the  tag-out  procedure.  However, labels   instead   of   tags   are   used   to   indicate instrument  status.  The  tag-out  program  must  be enforced  during  normal  operations  as  well  as during   construction,   testing,   repair,   or   mainte- nance.  Strict  enforcement  of  tag-out  procedures is  required  by  both  you  and  any  repair  activity that  may  be  working  on  your  equipment. RESPONSIBILITY The commanding officer is responsible for the safety  of  the  entire  command.  It  is  the  duty  of the   commanding   officer   to   ensure   that   all personnel  know  all  applicable  safety  precautions and procedures and to ensure compliance with the program.   The   engineer   officer   is   responsible to   the   commanding   officer   for   ensuring   that personnel  assigned  to  the  engineering  department understand   and   comply   with   this   program. When   repairs   are   done   by   a   repair   activity (other than ships’ personnel), a dual responsibility exists  for  the  safety  of  the  personnel  making repairs. The   ship   tended   is   responsible   for controlling  the  tag-out  program  and  ensuring  that the systems that require work are properly tagged- out.   The   repair   activity   is   responsible   for ensuring  that  this  is  done  properly.  They  verify this   by   signing   the   appropriate   space   on   the tag-out  sheet  and  the  tag. PROCEDURES After  identifying  the  need  to  tag-out  an  item or  a  system,  you  must  get  permission  from  an authorizing   officer.   The   authorizing   officer   for the   engineering   department   is   the   engineering officer  of  the  watch  (EOOW)  while  under  way  or the  engineering  duty  officer  (EDO)  while  in  port. If   the   item   or   system   tagged   is   placed   out   of commission,   the   authorizing   officer   must   get permission   from   the   engineer   officer   and   the commanding  officer.  When  permission  has  been received,   the   authorizing   officer   then   directs you   to   prepare   the   tag-out   record   sheet   and tags. Normally,  the  petty  officer  in  charge  of  the work   fills   out   and   signs   the   record   sheet   and prepares  the  tags.  The  record  sheet  is  filled  out for a stated purpose. All tags for that purpose are normally  listed  on  one  record  sheet.  Each  sheet is assigned a log serial number. All tags associated with  it  are  given  the  same  log  serial  number  and a sequential number is entered on the record sheet. For  example,  tag  E107-4  is  the  fourth  tag  issued on the record sheet with the log serial number 107 for   engineering. 1-10