Posted At:	Friday, November 18, 2011 11:48 AM
Conversation:	R 181646Z NOV 11 COMNAVSAFECEN NORFOLK VA R 181607Z NOV 11 
COMNAVSAFECEN NORFOLK VA COMNAVSAFECEN AFLOAT SAFETY 
ADVISORY 9  UNCLAS 
Posted To:	Code 31 B

Subject:	RTD:R 181646Z NOV 11 COMNAVSAFECEN NORFOLK VA R 181607Z NOV 11 
COMNAVSAFECEN NORFOLK VA COMNAVSAFECEN AFLOAT SAFETY 
ADVISORY 9  UNCLAS 

Importance:	Low

UNCLASSIFIED//

UNCLASSIFIED//

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-----OFFICIAL INFORMATION DISPATCH FOLLOWS----- RTTUZYUW 
RULYSUU0071 3221607-UUUU--RULYSUU.
ZNR UUUUU
R 181607Z NOV 11 ZYB
FM COMNAVSAFECEN NORFOLK VA
TO AIG 6942
AIG 6943
AIG 6944
BT
UNCLAS
SECINFO/U/-//
MSGID/GENADMIN/COMNAVSAFECEN/30/NOV//

SUBJ/COMNAVSAFECEN AFLOAT SAFETY ADVISORY 9-11 - AFLOAT FALL 
/PROTECTION// 
POC/D. HOLDERMAN/CAPT/UNIT:NAVSAFECEN/NAME:NORFOLK
/TEL:DSN 564-3520 X7130/EMAIL:SAFE-AFLOAT@NAVY.MIL//
POC/JASON MOBBS/ETC/UNIT:NAVSAFECEN 312/NAME:NORFOLK /TEL:DSN 
564-3520 X7029/EMAIL:JASON.MOBBS1@NAVY.MIL//

GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  GENERALLY, SHIPBOARD PERSONNEL ONLY THINK 
OF DONNING FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT WHEN THEY ARE GOING ALOFT 
OR OVER THE SIDE.  HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN A NEED FOR FALL 
PROTECTION OUTSIDE THESE TWO ARENAS.  THIS MESSAGE SETS POLICY 
FOR MINIMUM FALL PROTECTION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS UNTIL 
OPNAVINST 5100.19E IS REVISED.

2.  ALL FORCES AFLOAT SHALL USE THE FOLLOWING AS A GUIDELINE 
FOR WHEN TO USE FALL PROTECTION.  FALL PROTECTION IS REQUIRED 
FOR ALL PERSONNEL ON NAVY SHIPS AND SUBMARINES EXPOSED TO FALL 
HAZARDS IN THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
    ON ANY ELEVATED WALKING, WORKING SURFACE WITH UNPROTECTED 
SIDES, EDGES, OR OPENINGS FROM WHICH A POSSIBILITY OF FALLING 
FIVE FEET OR MORE EXISTS; OR
    THE POTENTIAL TO FALL OVER THE SIDE EXISTS TO INCLUDE WORK 
NEAR THE DECK EDGE.

3.  OTHER EXAMPLES OF WHEN FALL PROTECTION WOULD BE REQUIRED 
INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:  ANY MAST, KINGPOST, ACCESS 
TRUNKS, ESCAPE TRUNKS, ELEVATOR TRUNKS, DUMBWAITER TRUNKS, 
MAIN BALLAST TANKS, FUEL TANKS, VERTICAL PALLET AND PACKAGE 
CONVEYOR TRUNKS, AND ANYWHERE EXTERIOR TO THE LIFELINE SYSTEM.
SOMETIMES FALL PROTECTION CAN BE SOMETHING AS SMALL AS NONSKID 
STRIPS OUTSIDE A DOOR OR A SLIP-RESISTANT COATING ON A LADDER 
RUNG.

4.  REMEMBER, GRAVITY DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE BY RATE OR RANK, OR 
BETWEEN THE SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE COMMUNITIES.  PROPER 
TRAINING IN THE USE AND WEAR OF FALL-PROTECTION EQUIPMENT IS A 
NECESSARY PART OF A SUCCESSFUL FALL-PROTECTION PROGRAM.  AT A 
MINIMUM, ALL PERSONNEL USING FALL PROTECTION SHOULD BE 
QUALIFIED VIA THE SHIP'S JQR.  TODAY'S DECK-PLATE SAILORS 
FUNCTION IN A HIGH OP-TEMPO, RESOURCE CONSTRAINED, AND 
DEMANDING ENVIRONMENT.  IT SHOULD SURPRISE NO ONE THAT THESE 
CONDITIONS WILL TEMPT SOME TO TAKE SHORTCUTS TO "GET THE JOB 
DONE."  IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS UNDERSTAND 
THIS POTENTIAL RISK, TRAIN INTRUSIVELY, AND DEMAND PROCEDURAL 
COMPLIANCE 24/7 FROM THEIR SAILORS AND SHIPMATES.  STANDARDS 
ARE ONLY EFFECTIVE IF THEY ARE CHECKED AND ENFORCED.
INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCEDURES ARE WRITTEN IN BLOOD.  ONCE THE 
STANDARDS ARE ENFORCED AND THE COMMAND'S TONE IS SET, 
PROCEDURAL COMPLIANCE WILL BECOME COMMONPLACE.  THIS METHOD 
WILL ENSURE WE PROTECT OUR MOST VITAL ASSETS, OUR SAILORS, 
FROM FALL HAZARDS.// 
BT
#0071