As a petty officer or chief petty officer, your role in
You will find further information on hearing
the command's Heat Stress Program involves adhering
conservation in OPNAVINST 5100.23C, Navy
to the command's program and reporting heat stress
Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) Program
conditions as they occur.
M a n u a l , a n d OPNAVINST 5100.19B, Navy
Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) Program
Primary causes that increase heat stress conditions
Manual for Forces Afloat.
are as follows:
MONITORING HEARING TESTS
Excessive steam and water leaks
All naval personnel receive an initial or reference
Boiler air casing leaks
audiogram shortly after entering the service. Thereafter,
a hearing test will be conducted at least annually while
Missing or deteriorated lagging on steam
you are assigned to a noise hazardous environment.
piping, valves, and machinery
Hearing tests will also be conducted when there are
individual complaints of difficulties in understanding
Clogged ventilation systems or an inoperative
conversational speech or a sensation of ringing in the
fan motor
ears. The annual audiograms will be compared to the
reference (baseline) to determine if a hearing threshold
Operating in hot or humid climates
shift has occurred.
To determine heat stress conditions, permanently
mounted dry-bulb thermometers are installed at key
HEARING PROTECTIVE DEVICES
watch and work stations. Their readings should be
recorded at least once a watch period. When a reading
Hearing protective devices should be worn by all
exceeds 100F (38C), a heat stress survey must be
personnel when they must enter or work in an area
ordered to determine the safe stay time for personnel.
where noise levels are greater than 84 dB(A). A
combination of insert earplugs and circumaural muffs,
A heat stress survey is taken with a wet-bulb globe
which provides double protection, should be worn in all
temperature (WBGT) meter. You should compare these
areas where noise levels exceed 104 db(A). Personnel
readings to the physiological heat exposure limits
hearing protective devices should be issued to suit each
(PHEL) chart. After comparing the readings with the
situation.
PHEL chart, you will be able to determine the safe stay
time for personnel.
HEAT STRESS
As a petty officer or chief petty officer, you should
CONTROL PROGRAM
have a working knowledge of all aspects of the Heat
Stress Program so you can recognize heat stress
Heat stress may occur in many work spaces
conditions if they occur and take the proper corrective
throughout the Navy. Heat stress is any combination of
actions.
air temperature, thermal radiation, humidity, airflow,
and workload that may stress the human body as it
Further information and guidance of the Navy Heat
attempts to regulate its temperature. Heat stress
Stress Program is contained in OPNAVINST 5100.19B,
becomes excessive when your body's capability to
Navy Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH)
adjust is exceeded. This results in an increase in body
Program Manual for Forces Afloat.
core temperature. This condition can readily produce
fatigue, severe headaches, nausea, and poor physical
and/or mental performance. Prolonged exposure to heat
SUMMARY
stress could cause heatstroke or heat exhaustion and
severe impairment of the body's temperature-regulating
In this chapter, we have described your
ability. Heatstroke can be life-threatening if not
responsibilities regarding general and equipment safety,
immediately and properly treated. Recognizing
both as an individual and as a petty officer and chief
personnel with heat stress symptoms and getting them
petty officer.
prompt medical attention is an all-hands responsibility.
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