R 041100Z JAN 13 
FM COMNAVSAFECEN NORFOLK VA
TO ALSAFE
BT
UNCLAS
ALSAFE 002/13
SECINFO/U/-//
MSGID/GENADMIN/COMNAVSAFECEN/00/JAN//
SUBJ/SUMMARY OF MISHAPS//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. WELCOME TO THE LATEST EDITION OF THE SUMMARY
OF MISHAPS, HOT OFF THE PRESS FOR 2013, A YEAR IN WHICH WE ONCE
AGAIN HOPE THAT WE RUN OUT OF MATERIAL BUT WE AREN'T GOING TO
BET ON IT.
A. IN WASHINGTON STATE, A CIVILIAN EDUCATION TECH WAS DOING A
PRE-TRIP INSPECTION ON A SCHOOL BUS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING,
SINCE IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO CHECK FOR LEAKY TIRES, LOOSE OR
DAMAGED EQUIPMENT, AND ANY OTHER WHATNOT THAT WOULD INTERFERE
WITH SAFELY PICKING UP AND DROPPING OFF YOUNG SCHOLARS.
   HOWEVER, THE SAFETY FOCUS OF THIS INSPECTION IS UNDERCUT
WHEN THE INSPECTOR STEPS AROUND THE BUS'S "STOP" PADDLE, TRIPS
ON THE CURB AND SPRAINS HER ANKLE.
B. HERE'S A LITTLE STORY ABOUT WHY YOU SHOULDN'T JUST WEAR A
LIFE PRESERVER WHEN YOU THINK YOU MIGHT NEED IT. OUR
INSTRUCTOR IS AN E-3 MASTER-AT-ARMS WHO IS ONE OF THREE
PASSENGERS IN A VESSEL MOTORING NORTH THROUGH A NARROW, WELL-
MARKED CHANNEL OFF THE TIP OF FLORIDA. IT IS 0100. THE DARK
AND PRESUMABLY PEACEFUL NIGHT IS SUDDENLY LIVENED UP BY THE
SUDDEN APPEARANCE, JUST 50 YARDS AWAY, OF ANOTHER BOAT'S
NAVIGATION LIGHTS. APPARENTLY, WHOEVER IS AT THE CONTROLS OF
THAT BOAT DIDN'T HAVE THEM ON, PERHAPS NOT EXPECTING TO MEET
ANOTHER BOAT AFTER MIDNIGHT IN THAT PARTICULAR CHANNEL.
   THE CAPTAIN ON THE E-3'S BOAT EASES OFF THE THROTTLE, BUT
BETWEEN THE BOAT'S FORWARD MOMENTUM AND THE STIFF CURRENTS IN
THE CHANNEL, HE COLLIDES WITH ONE OF THE CHANNEL MARKERS. THE
SUDDEN STOP CATAPULTS THE E-3 INTO THE DARK SEA, WHERE HE
RECEIVES A 3-INCH GASH ON HIS LEG FROM AN UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT.
   THE CAPTAIN FISHES HIM OUT, MOTORS TO THE DOCK AND DRIVES
THE SAILOR TO A MEDICAL CENTER, WHERE DOCS CLOSE THE WOUND
WITH SIX STAPLES.
   THE REPORT DOESN'T SAY WHETHER THE E-3 WAS WEARING A LIFE
PRESERVER OR NOT. LET'S ASSUME HE WAS. I THINK WE CAN ALSO
ASSUME THAT HE DIDN'T FORESEE THAT THE BOAT WOULD HIT A MARKER
AND PITCH HIM OVERBOARD.
   JUST GO AHEAD AND PUT ON YOUR LIFE PRESERVER. AND
FURTHERMORE, TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS AFTER DARK.
C. AN ELECTRICIAN'S MATE SECOND CLASS HAD TO CLEAN AND INSPECT
A MOTOR CONTROLLER ON A LUBE-OIL PURIFIER. DURING THE TAG OUT
PROCESS, HE CONSULTED A DRAWING IN THE TECH MANUAL. THIS IS A
GOOD THING. HOWEVER, HE ASSUMED THAT THE DRAWING WAS WHAT THE
REPORT CALLED "GENERAL," WHICH SOMEHOW MEANT THAT HE COULD
SAFELY IGNORE A LABEL PLATE THAT READ, "THIS EQUIPMENT IS
ENERGIZED FROM MULTIPLE POWER SOURCES." THIS ASSUMPTION WAS
NOT A GOOD THING, DRAMATIZED BY THE "BRRRZZZAAAPPP!" THAT IS
LURKING IN HIS VERY NEAR FUTURE.
   THE TAG OUT WAS APPROVED THROUGH THE ENGINEERING OFFICER OF
THE WATCH. THE EM2 THEN LINED UP ANOTHER HOLE IN THE SWISS
CHEESE WHILE USING A FLUKE METER TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE
CIRCUITS WERE DE-ENERGIZED. HE DIDN'T CHECK ALL OF THE WIRES,
BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE AUXILIARY CONTACTS WERE
LOADS AND NOT POWER SUPPLIES.
   "THE NSTM 300 REQUIREMENTS WERE NOT VIOLATED," THE REPORT
SAID, WHICH I'M SURE MADE HIM FEEL MUCH BETTER AFTER HE TOOK
OFF HIS PPE AND GOT SHOCKED.
D. ABOARD A SUBMARINE, AN E-3 CULINARY SPECIALIST WAS TRYING
TO OPEN A #10 CAN, USING A TECHNIQUE THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO
ALL OF OUR SAFETY-CENTRIC HEARTS, NAMELY THE GOOD OLD
"APPROVED MEANS." I THINK WE CAN ASSUME THIS MEANT AN ELECTRIC
CAN OPENER. FOR SOME UNSPECIFIED REASON, THIS TIME-HONORED
METHOD FAILED. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING TECHNIQUES DID HE THEN
TRY?
   FIND ANOTHER CAN OPENER? NOPE.
   GET A PAIR OF PLIERS AND A PAIR OF WORK GLOVES? NAH.
   GRAB THE RAZOR-SHARP, JAGGED, SEMI-DETACHED LID WITH HIS
BARE HAND? BINGO.
   DIRECTLY THE CONTENTS OF THE CAN BECAME SOMETHING LIKE
"PEAS IN BLOOD SAUCE," SO HE HAD TO HUSTLE OVER TO MEDICAL FOR
SEVEN STITCHES. NINE DAYS OF LIGHT DUTY ENSUED.
   A WORD TO THE WISE: IF YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING USING THE
APPROVED MEANS, DON'T ASSUME YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT WITH
UNAPPROVED MEANS, EITHER.
2. THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. SEE YOU ON
THE FLIP SIDE.//
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