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"Steel Hammer" Stays Safe During SRA

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061020-10
Release Date: 10/20/2006 1:05:00 PM

From USS Curtis Wilbur Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Nine members of the Naval Safety Center were welcomed aboard USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) Sept. 19 for an Afloat Safety Survey.

The professionals from Norfolk, Va., arrived as Curtis Wilbur began its sixth week of a 10-week selected restricted availability (SRA) at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. The Safety Survey Team evaluated “Steel Hammer’s” safety administration and deckplate compliance during the one-day assessment, and also provided an opportunity for the entire crew to receive extensive training on a variety of safety topics focused on reducing shipboard and recreational mishaps.

The crew was ready for the assessment, since safety had been the Aegis destroyer’s primary focus throughout the availability.

“It’s a ship-wide effort,” said Chief Damage Controlman (SW) Christopher Berry, the ship’s assistant safety officer and Repair Division leading chief petty officer. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our shipmates and the employees of Ship Repair Facility, Yokosuka – especially during SRA, where the potential for a mishap is increased exponentially over any other in-port day.”

The Safety Center surveyors were extremely impressed by Curtis Wilbur’s dedication to mishap reduction during the availability. As sparks flew from welding rods and paint chips spattered off bulkheads, Steel Hammer Sailors were equipped with the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety observers were posted at every job site.

“The key to success in the shipyard is constant vigilance,” said Lt. Patrick Murphy, the ship’s chief engineer and safety officer. “We held several pre-SRA briefings for the crew on shipyard safety concerns and stress the necessity for leadership presence throughout the ship on a daily basis. It’s easy during an SRA to try and do too many things at once. We’ve made it real clear that our mission readiness relies primarily on our Sailors – and we won’t be ready to fight if any of us get hurt on the job.”

Eagerly anticipating their return to sea as an operational asset of the forward-deployed naval forces, Curtis Wilbur Sailors understand the importance of deckplate safety. The safety surveyors reviewed respirator usage and administration, operational risk management compliance, traffic safety precautions with tips for international road travel, deck seamanship training and best practices. Training was also held on tag-out procedures, electrical safety and energized equipment precautions, installed and portable damage control equipment usage, propulsion plant safety settings, relief valve operation, gage and system calibration standards, and alarm set point reviews.

To the Sailors of Steel Hammer, the safety center team’s visit served to enhance safety awareness and reinforced the fact that authorized procedures, processes, and PPE are designed to ensure that the equipment functions properly and that personnel stay safe.