When local practice and "the book" collide

My night began with the night-check maintenance meeting. It was a typical event: I found out how many daily and turnaround inspections (DTAs) and maintenance requirements the shop would face. I didn't know it then, but I should have thought more about personal protective equipment.

After the maintenance meeting, my shop began to work on the Prowler DTAs. We had no major problems, so we removed the LOX converters and transported them to the LOX area. Once there, one AME put on the required white coveralls, welder's gloves, face shield, and rubber apron. We then started to service the converters.

Another AME switched out the full converters for the person on the LOX servicing cart. Everything seemed fine. We were following procedures and doing the work safely. A squadron QAR suddenly walked up to me and asked, "Why is your safety observer not wearing his required PPE?"

I was puzzled at first and asked what he meant. It had become common practice to have one AME fill the LOX converters while wearing the proper PPE. During this process, the safety observer stood off to the side-without PPE-to vent excess pressure from the next converter to be serviced. This practice had been followed for a long time; it never occurred to us that we were doing anything wrong.

It didn't take long to realize that we had become lax. We all had forgotten basic precautions for handling LOX. We had allowed local practice to override the book.

After doing some research in the pubs, we found more than one reference in the aviators breathing oxygen section of the NAMP. This guidance tells us that all people who handle LOX must wear required PPE. The NAMP also states that at least two qualified people are needed to handle LOX. That clear statement tells me that both people in our story should have been dressed fully.

Our incident raised an important question: If I don't have the required PPE, how could I assist a shipmate should a LOX line rupture and blind my partner? I have read many hazreps, mishap messages, and Mech stories that describe how fast an accident can happen-usually in just a split second.

I learned that we must prepare for any unexpected incident to prevent injury or to minimize the damage. The shop also was forced to do refresher training on LOX-handling precautions, which isn't a bad step for any squadron to do.

Our local practices breed complacency and led us to take shortcuts. Every shop must stop this approach, and we must make people realize the consequences of doing a job without the book. Hands-on training is a good way for people to learn, but it can be a dangerous path to follow if you play loose with the rules.

Petty Officers Bailey and Hardy work in the AME shop at VAQ-142.

For more info ...

These references provide additional information about LOX-handling procedures and should be read by all AMEs:

A. OpNavInst 4790.2H, Volume V, Chapter 5

B. NavAir 13-1-6.4-4, Section 3-3

C. NavAir 00-80T-96, WP 007

COPYRIGHT 2003 U.S. Navy Safety Center
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group