release toxic gases or explode. If you handle lithium
batteries, observe the following safety precautions to
prevent injuring yourself and damaging your
equipment:
Use only lithium batteries that are approved for
use in your equipment.
Store lithium batteries in cool, well-ventilated
areas away from flammable items.
Always observe polarity when you install
lithium batteries.
NEVER pierce, short-circuit, recharge, crush,
cut, burn, drop, dismantle, modify, or otherwise
carelessly handle lithium batteries.
NEVER leave lithium batteries in equipment
that will not be used for long periods of time.
NEVER throw lithium batteries in daily trash.
D i s p o s e
o f
t h e m
p r o p e r l y.
S e e
t h e
Environmental and Natural Resources Program
Manual, OPNAVINST 5090.1, for more
disposal information on lithium batteries.
Nickel-Cadmium Cell Battery
C o m m o n l y
k n o w n
a s
a
N I C A D ,
t h e
nickel-cadmium battery is used in most cordless,
rechargeable equipment, such as flashlights, cordless
drills, soldering irons, and portable stereos.
The following safety precautions for NICADs are
relatively simple:
Charge NICADs in series, never in parallel.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
charging NICADs.
NEVER expose NICADs to temperatures over
113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius).
NEVER short-circuit NICADs.
NEVER store NICADs and lead-acid batteries
in the same container or in the same area.
N E V E R d i s p o s e o f b y t h r ow i n g t h e m
overboard. Store exhausted cells temporarily in a
plastic-lined steel container until you can
dispose of them properly ashore. See the
Environmental and Natural Resources Program
M a n u a l ,
O P NAV I N S T 5 0 9 0 . 1 ( S e r i e s )
Appendix L.
VACUUM TUBES
There are two basic categories of vacuum tubes:
(1) electron tubes, and (2) cathode-ray tubes. As for
other hazardous materials, you must follow certain
safety precautions when you work with or handle
vacuum tubes.
Electron Tubes
Electron tubes are fairly rugged devices. Most of
them can handle the shocks and knocks of everyday
use. However, they are not indestructible. Most
electron tubes contain a near vacuum enclosed by
glass.
Any excessive stress, like dropping the tube, may
cause the glass to shatter, causing an implosion (burst
inward). An implosion is the opposite of an explosion.
When the glass shatters, the outside air rushes into the
tube to fill the vacuum. As the air rushes into the tube, it
carries the glass fragments with it, right on through the
center of the tube and out the other side. If you are in
the path of these flying fragments, you may be injured
seriously. So, handle all electron tubes with care.
Some electron tubes contain radioactive material
to aid ionization. These must be handled with extra
care. Unbroken, the radioactive tubes are as safe as
other electron tubes because the radioactive material in
the tube emits slow-moving particles that are
contained within the tube’s thick glass envelope.
However, breaking the tube will expose the hazardous
radioactive material.
To avoid injuring yourself or others, observe the
following safety precautions when you handle either
regular or radioactive tubes:
Handle all electron tubes, whether radioactive
or not, with extreme care.
Immediately place any electron tube that you
remove, whether radioactive or not, into a
protective container, such as its shipping
container.
Inform your supervisor immediately if you
break a radioactive electron tube.
Seal off a radioactive-contaminated area
immediately to avoid exposing other personnel
to the radioactive material.
Treat all bad or damaged radioactive electron
tubes as radioactive waste and dispose of them
accordingly.
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