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    When Cutting Corners Becomes the Norm 0 Workplace
    USACRC Editor

    When Cutting Corners Becomes the Norm

    The true danger of normalizing deviance lies in its subtlety. Initially, deviations might seem minor and inconsequential. Examples include skipping a procedural step due to a time crunch, deferring a minor maintenance procedure because...
    Staying in the Fight 0 Military Ops & Training
    USACRC Editor

    Staying in the Fight

    Combatives training is an important part of being a prepared Soldier. It provides the skills to help you protect yourself, as well as your battle buddies, in combat. Unfortunately, this training can sometimes take Soldiers out of the fight if...
    DITY Dumb or DITY Do? 0 Automobiles
    USACRC Editor

    DITY Dumb or DITY Do?

    Just like long checkout lines at the commissary on payday, the permanent change of station (PCS) move is a certainty for service members and their families. While many would prefer to let professionals handle the heavy lifting on Uncle...
    Light Up the Night Safely 0 Home & Family
    USACRC Editor

    Light Up the Night Safely

    Unfortunately, a lot of folks don’t take the major hazards related to fireworks seriously. Some people enjoy igniting firecrackers or cherry bombs and holding them in their hand as long as possible before throwing them — sometimes at...

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    Maximizing Safety

    Maximizing Safety

    PATRICK W. FLEMING
    Savannah, Georgia

    The job of an aviation safety officer is practically identical to that of James Bond — filled with intrigue, danger and martinis (shaken, not stirred). Well, maybe not intrigue or martinis, but definitely danger, as in protecting our service members from it. At times, the challenge can be quantifying the threat and then communicating its existence effectively.

    When talking about the inherent dangers of containerized housing units (CHUs), it’s hard for some Soldiers and civilians to accept that these can be both our refuge and downfall if not designed and maintained to standard. As an expeditionary force, the use of containerized housing has increased dramatically. In efforts to identify and install proper force protection measures, it’s important to know there are two basic models. The first, which is typically used for housing, has corrugated (ridged) one-sixteenths-inch Corten steel sides, is built in accordance with International Standards Organization 1496 and 668 to bear up to 65,980 pounds, and can be stacked up to nine high. The second, used primarily for storage, has flat sides and is typically made of aluminum. Force protection measures must be postured accordingly when using various forms of these containers.

    Project management

    As we move to occupy sites in the future, it becomes imperative we look forward and anticipate growth as small camps become larger and grow into bases. The oversight of life support area layout during the initial phase of construction is of particular importance in mitigating risks to container structures. One of the main considerations is generator (and supporting petroleum, oil and lubricants storage) placement. The key consideration is to prevent obstruction to the single means of egress from these units. That obstruction can come in the form of a fire, deflagration reaction or spill. The absence of functional windows in many of these designs means there is only one way out of the steel boxes. Therefore, it is imperative the proper means of egress is preserved. Additionally, the telltale black residue on the side of CHUs near generators can be an indicator Soldiers and civilians inside are potentially being exposed to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone.

    Facility inspections

    When constructed properly, CHUs endure the harshest conditions. Yet, their indestructible appearance can lead to complacency amongst the housing occupants and those who must inspect the LSAs. It’s important to mention that buildings should be certified by a qualified master electrician. This will require opening electrical panels to ensure the bonding jumper is installed correctly and to test the grounding rods. However, not all safety officers are necessarily qualified to conduct those inspections.

    Several years ago, there were two Class A mishap in which Soldiers died in the shower because their immediate area became energized. Additionally, there was a similar Class C mishap and two others in 2009 that were the result of faulty wiring in air-conditioning units. Circuit breakers that consistently “trip,” ground fault circuit interrupter outlets that do not test correctly and extension cords that have been used as permanent wiring are all key indicators of areas that are at higher risk of having an electrical accident. Regular inspections will help remedy these and other issues that occur as intelligent, crafty people try to make workarounds for inadequate facilities.

    Occupancy levels

    As we attempt to reduce the footprint in our deployed locations and increase the Soldiers in others, it’s important to remember the Department of the Army Pamphlet 40-11 and U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine Technical Guide 314 guidance for living space is clear. Seventy-two square feet is required per Soldier in any living area. The 20-foot shipping container, which is the standard CHU configuration, provides 148 square feet of usable living space, which exceeds the requirement for two people (bunked or not). Increasing occupancy above this number will increase the probability of disease transmission as well as egress time in the event of an emergency or fire.

    Through proper project management, facility inspections and planning of occupant loads, we can use these facilities to their maximum potential safely. Let’s keep the risk to the force where it belongs — outside the wire.

    • 20 June 2021
    • Author: USACRC Editor
    • Number of views: 737
    • Comments: 0
    Categories: On-DutyWorkplace
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