Warning against mechanical hazards. These
warnings are normally brief, such as calling
attention to the danger involved in standing
under a suspended weapon. Operating personnel
reading such warnings are expected to use
common sense in avoiding the hazard.
CAUTIONS. These are captions that draw
attention to situations that may be potentially
damaging to equipment. They are mentioned in notes
headed by the word “CAUTION.” A typical caution
might be written for improper lifting, pushing, or
pulling on control surfaces during the handling of
projectiles.
A related type of caption, NOTE, follows
applicable steps that direct action and amplify the
action to be performed. Notes that precede a
procedural guide (PG), operation procedure (OP), or
check list (CL) amplify the entire procedure.
In summary:
WARNING—Warns of danger to personnel.
CAUTION—Warns of danger to equipment.
NOTE—Amplifies information or instruction.
Since we will discuss various handling methods in
this chapter, we will first list several of the GENERAL
safety and maintenance rules that apply to all handling
evolutions:
1. Verify that the surrounding area is clear of
personnel and obstructions before you operate
equipment.
2. Restrict noise and conversation to the minimum
required to perform the evolution.
3. Do not stand or walk under suspended loads or
weapons.
4. Do not load handling equipment above its
maximum rated capacity (safe working load).
Before you use handling equipment, inspect it
according to the applicable Maintenance
Requirement Card (MRC) and type
commander’s directives.
5. Do not raise weapons higher or suspend them
longer than necessary.
6. Keep weapons as level as possible when you lift
them.
7. Do not allow weapons to contact any deck or
equipment during lifting.
8. Verify that hooks used to handle weapons have
operable safety latches or are moused.
9. Ensure that guide studs on weapons are aligned
with the guide slot during loading and
unloading.
10. Do not allow weapons to be unrestrained, in any
direction, unless you are directed to do so in the
procedure.
11. Use toxic cleaning agents sparingly and in
well-ventilated areas. Vapors of most cleaning
agents are toxic if inhaled in large quantities for
extended periods. Be sure that cleaning agent
containers are kept closed except when in use.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and
warm water after using these agents.
12. Use flammable cleaning agents and paints
sparingly and only in well-ventilated areas. Be
sure that no sparks, open flames, or other
sources of ignition are present when you use
these materials.
13. Do not strike or drop high-explosive
components. Be sure that no sparks, open
flames, or other sources of ignition are to be
present when you work with explosives.
14. Observe all precautions for handling explosives.
Do not remove an armed exploder from any
weapon. Only EOD personnel may remove an
armed exploder.
15. Ground yourself immediately before you touch
an electrical connector or wire connected to a
weapon by making bare skin-to-metal contact
with the weapon.
16. Inspect all electrical connectors for bent pins
and other physical damage. Always engage and
disengage electrical connectors by holding the
connector, never the wire.
17. Do not connect or disconnect energized
electrical connectors unless you are directed to
do so by authorized procedural documentation.
18. Keep the compression system free of foreign
material to prevent the spontaneous combustion
of oil or other carbonaceous material with hot,
highly compressed air.
19. Using extreme care, shut the appropriate valves
and bleed all air from lines and bodies before
you disconnect fittings.
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