Essex Sailors Work to Take the Hazard Out of HAZMAT
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090306-12
Release Date: 3/6/2009 4:19:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson, USS Essex Public Affairs
Sea of Japan (NNS) -- With the use of an electronic log and old-fashioned diligence, the USS Essex (LHD 2) Hazardous Material Division ensures the safe handling of 786 different types and more than 100,000 gallons of hazardous material (HAZMAT) on board.
"HAZMAT control is very important on this ship. It's a big deal," said Ensign Win Thaw, Essex HAZMAT division officer. "Everyone needs to pay attention to what they're doing, whether it's checking out HAZMAT, using it or properly disposing of it."
With 113 different workcenters and 13 tenant commands, it's a task that requires constant attention. The division issues dozens of items daily, all of which are entered into a computerized active checkout log. Any overdue HAZMAT is automatically flagged by the program after 24 hours, making it easy to track.
"It's a pretty solid system," said Aviation Support Equipment Technician 3rd Class Nicholas Stone. "Not only does it track who has what, but it also shows where the materials are located and what chemicals are compatible. The program generates a list of workcenters with overdue material every afternoon, so nothing slips through the cracks."
Sailors of Essex' HAZMAT division closely track all HAZMAT from the time it arrives on the ship until the time it leaves. Materials are initially stored in one of the division's six storerooms. Smaller amounts of those materials are then moved from the storeroom to the ship's free-issue locker, where everyone who needs them can check them out.
"We can only store so much in our locker," said Storekeeper 1st Class (SW) Arthur Manabat, HAZMAT division leading petty officer. "Since weekly maintenance for most divisions remains virtually the same, we can forecast how much we need to keep in the locker at any given time."
According to Manabat, the free-issue locker serves two primary functions. First, it helps to lower maintenance material costs by allowing Sailors to return their excess HAZMAT after performing maintenance.
"This method saves the Navy money," he said, "because if individual workcenters had to order their own, they would probably end up wasting a lot of what is left over. The free-issue locker allows us to eliminate that waste and expend all of the material. Most of the materials we have are used for various different kinds of maintenance by many divisions throughout the ship."
Once finished with the material, Sailors are required to return any excess or empty containers, along with any contaminated items, to the locker. Remaining material is placed back in the locker for future use while empty containers and waste products are placed in the waste cage where they remain until the next opportunity to move them off the ship. The products are then isolated in separate containers and stored until the next underway replenishment or port visit.
In addition to these measures, HAZMAT Sailors also conduct random, bi-weekly sweeps to ensure no dangerous materials are stored in unauthorized locations. They also conduct post-deployment sweeps for any excess hazardous materials left aboard by embarked commands and squadrons which are immediately turned in to the Hazardous Materials Center in Sasebo, Japan, upon return to port.
"It's important to know exactly what's going on and make sure that everyone is following the procedures," said Thaw.
Manabat reiterated the importance of shipwide cooperation. He said despite all the efforts by his division, protecting the ship from HAZMAT-related casualties is everyone's responsibility.
"We have all the checks in place to control our HAZMAT," said Manabat, "but it requires the cooperation of the entire crew to be truly successful. It's important to make sure you don't leave materials sitting out or forget to return your HAZMAT on time. A lot of people take this stuff lightly and say, 'It's just paint thinner,' until something happens. Just simply following the proper procedures makes a huge difference."
Essex is commanded by Capt. Brent Canady and is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. Expeditionary Strike Group and serves as the flagship for CTF 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force commander. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with a detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
For more news from USS Essex (LHD 2), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd2/.
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