Questions from the fleet

Editor's Note: Following are fleet questions e-mailed to the Naval Safety Center's Afloat Directorate, with each question followed by our response. Individuals who requested the information have received responses, and Fathom is publishing the questions and responses for other fleet units who might be searching for similar information. Send afloat questions to http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/afloat/feedback.htm.

I am trying to find a message from a couple of years ago; the subject was unnecessarily performing electrical safety checks on shipboard equipment (or maybe it was just personal electrical devices) visibly stamped with UL (Underwriter's Laboratory) approval on their exterior. I've spoken with several sources about this, yet no one seems to have a copy of the message, though most seem to recall it. Please help---thanks!

Yes, there was a message but be careful when reading the words, "electrical safety check" and "inspection for approval for having the equipment aboard." The outdated message to which you are referring came out in 1998, and, although it was distributed to reduce or eliminate unnecessary electrical safety checks on personal electrical and electronic equipment, the message was not meant to allow personal portable electrical and electronic equipment to be brought aboard ship and used unchecked. The bottom lines is, an electrical safety check is no longer required, but all such personal equipment must be approved by the division officer and must be tagged to indicate that approval has been given. For information about personal electrical and electronic equipment, use OpNavInst. 5100.19D and NSTM 300, Electrical Plant General. More specifically, go to Paragraph B0702 of OpNavInst 5100.19D; in NSTM 300 go to Paragraphs 2.7.3.6.1 and 300-2.7.3.6.2.

OpNavInst. 5100.19D states, "The electrical safety check for personal electrical and electronic equipment is not required." However, if you continue to letter "F", it states, "All hands shall request permission from their division officer prior to brining personal electrical and electronic equipment aboard." How do we do that? NSTM 300-2.7.3.6.1 states, "The electrical or electronics officer, or other designated personnel, must inspect electrical equipment brought aboard ship for shipboard or personal use. The decision to accept or reject portable electrical or electronic equipment for use aboard ship--and the selection of the interval between inspections--rests with the officer in charge of the inspecting shop."

NSTM 300-2.7.3.6.2 further states, "Approved equipment shall be tagged or marked to indicate the approval. Two acceptable tags are tag NSN-0116-LF-051-0025 (which can be amended to indicate inspection intervals) and tags of color-coded tape or stickers."

Please advise me about the requirements regarding berthing rack lights that have preinstalled receptacles: are they authorized for shipboard use or is there an advisory prohibiting their use? I was un-able to find anything in NSTM 300.

Berthing lights-with-receptacles guidance is found in NSTM 330, Lighting and General Specifications for Overhaul of Surface Ships (GSO). Only aircraft carriers are prohibited from using lights with receptacles. The requirements spelled out in these two references apply to shipboard berthing.

NSTM 330-1.8.3.6 states the requirements for berthing lights with receptacles: Such lights must be connected to a single-phase, isolated receptacle circuit through an isolating transformer. Paragraph 330-1.8.3.6 also states, "Each individual berthing area is provided with an 8-watt fluorescent lighting fixture (symbols 229.1, 231.1 and 232.1), that provides sufficient illumination for reading, writing and other detail tasks. Individual control of berth lights is provided, along with a receptacle to allow for the use of small electrical appliances. Due to lower magnetic permeability required on minesweepers, 15-watt incandescent fixtures (symbols 5.1 or 8.1) should be installed in lieu of fluorescent fixtures. Berth lights used aboard aircraft carriers will not include a receptacle."

The GSO (Section 304c) addresses the minimum-size requirements for isolation transformers: It is three kilovolt-amps (3kva).

I'm looking for information on pilot boarding ladders and stations. I remember a past issue on this. I'm aboard an aircraft carrier and want to make sure our boarding ladders and stations are correct. Please direct me to information and where I can find national stock numbers (NSNs) on ladders and their associated equipment.

The drawing for pilot ladders is NavSea drawing 53711-804-5000900 (Revision C), which also guides you to where you can find more info. Another good source is your InSurv checklist, which you can get from the Board of Inspection and Survey web site (http://www.spawar.navy.mil/fleet/insurv/). Make sure your ship has the ladder that complies with the drawings--some commands open-purchase their equipment and these ladders don't comply with drawings.

I would like to know what references or web sites and publications to go to find information about shipboard ladder parts.

The best places to look for this information are General Specifications for Overhaul of Surface Ships (GSO) 612, ships' drawings for ladders, and MIPs for ladders.

Has there been any guidance issued about using crescent wrenches aboard ship? The question was raised by a chief petty officer who had been aboard tenders where using crescent wrenches was banned because of the associated slip hazards. Used in their place were box or socket wrenches.

We know of no restrictions or bans on the use of adjustable wrenches aboard ship. In fact, MRCs often list adjustable wrenches as required tools to conduct PMS. Repair-locker AELs include adjustable wrenches, and these wrenches are available through the Afloat Shopping Guide.

These wrenches are good tools when properly used. When they are not used as intended, Sailors get hurt or equipment is damaged. To avoid this, we must educate Sailors to correctly use not only adjustable wrenches, but all tools. This includes choosing the right tools for the job, using the proper-size box, socket or combination wrenches. Guidance on proper hand-tool use is available from the Navy training course, "Tools and Their Uses." You should be able to get this course through your educational services officer, or you can download it from https://www.cnet.navy.mil/. Click on the links for "professional development," then "non-resident training courses," then the course list, then click on letter "T", then click on tools and their uses. The final link is https://www.advancement.cnet.navy.mil /navigation/catalognavigation/tcourses.htm.

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