20. Exercise extreme care to prevent sharp bends or
twists in air charging lines.
21. Do not tighten pipe connections or other parts
while they are charged with high-pressure air.
22. Do not remove safety straps or chains from
charging lines until the charging valve has been
shut and the bleeder valve has been opened.
SAFETY SUMMARY
Most procedural guides (PGs), operation
procedures (OPs), and checklists (CLs) have a
SAFETY SUMMARY located in their front pages.
The safety summary lists (one time each) all
WARNINGS, CAUTIONS, and NOTES associated
with the operation (weapons handling, loading,
shipping, employment, emergencies, etc.) and the
procedures by which the associated hazards may be
reduced or eliminated.
The safety summary is divided into several parts,
each consisting of the safety precautions that pertain to
the various evolutions for the given weapon. All
personnel must be familiar with and adhere to the
applicable safety standards. Specific safety
precautions are contained in the PG, OP, and CL as
appropriate.
The following safety standards apply to all phases
of an operation involving weapons systems:
1. Ensure that a launched weapon, either warshot
or exercise, is precluded from striking the firing ship.
2. Prevent an inadvertent launching, arming, or
motor start.
3. Ensure that the stowage, handling, maintenance,
and testing operations of the weapon and weapon
system minimize the risk of injury to personnel.
4. Strive to minimize the probability that a weapon
involved in an accident or incident, or being jettisoned
will explode.
Now let’s begin, by discussing why you should be
qualified and certified to handle conventional
explosive devices.
Q1. What is the purpose of a ”WARNING”?
Q2. What is the purpose of a “CAUTION”?
EXPLOSIVES HANDLING PERSONNEL
QUALIFICATION AND
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
The purpose of the Explosives Handling Personnel
Qualification and Certification Program is to ensure
that each person is qualified and certified before
performing any task involving explosives. An
explosives handler must be certified by the command
or organizational unit to which he or she is assigned. To
be certified, the handler must demonstrate the ability to
perform safely all required functions, tasks, or
evolutions associated with specified explosives.
Security and aircrew personnel, ammunition
working parties, and personnel on watch (who may not
handle the explosives directly) may be exempt from
personal or team qualification. However, each person
must be carefully instructed in the safety precautions
and regulations governing the function, task, or
evolution to be performed.
CERTIFICATION BOARDS
The commanding officer or officer in charge of
each unit or naval activity involved with handling,
shipping, and stowing explosives or explosive devices
must appoint a certification board for his or her
organization. The board must include, as a minimum:
The cognizant department head (or comparable
supervisory representative if the organization
does not have defined departments), and
Not less than one PO1 or senior (or equivalent
civilian supervisor) who is certified to perform
the specified function, task, or evolution.
In large units or activities, such as aircraft carriers
or weapons stations or ammunition depots, the
cognizant department head may delegate the
responsibility for certification to an appropriate officer
or supervisor, with the concurrence of the
commanding officer. A commanding officer or officer
in charge may augment the certification board with
additional personnel from within or outside the
command. In small units or activities where a certified
PO1 (or senior) is not assigned to the command, and
where board augmentation from outside the command
is not feasible, the type commander may authorize a
waiver of the PO1 requirement.
Initial certification of personnel to perform
particular explosive-related jobs may be necessary in
instances where no certification board is currently
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