to anyone. The AME1 and AMEC must, where
possible, ensure “freedom from danger” for his
personnel and equipment.
The best method for the supervisor to meet
his responsibility for safety is by a continuous
safety program. This program should include
inspection of work areas, equipment, and tools;
interpretation of safety directives and precautions;
and personal attention to personnel problems and
differences.
The main objective of this chapter is to discuss
the parts of a SAFETY PROGRAM that will
reduce the human suffering and operational
readiness losses due to aviation safety and survival
equipment accidents.
ORGANIZATION AND
ADMINISTRATION OF A SAFETY
PROGRAM
Many supervisors feel that it is only necessary
to provide safeguards, and safety will take care
of itself. Safeguards are a step in the right
direction, but they alone will not get good results.
To establish a good safety record requires the
establishment of a good safety program. Navy
directives require all organizations to have an
active safety training program. The safety
program discussed in this manual is built
around EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, and
ENFORCEMENT.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Environment, as it applies to safety, can be
defined as the improvement or redesign of
equipment, machinery, work area, or procedures.
The objective of the environment is the elimina-
tion of hazards or providing adequate safeguards
to prevent accidents. The objectives are the
responsibilities of the supervisor. Briefly, the
objectives of supervision are as follows:
1.
2.
3.
To operate with maximum efficiency and
safety
To operate with minimum efficiency and
waste
To operate free from interruption and
difficulty
While these are the primary objectives of
supervision, it is important for you to remember
that your new assignment is important to you
personally. It gives you an excellent opportunity
to gain practical experience toward eventual
promotions to AMCS and AFCM.
WORK AREAS
Supervisory personnel should be especially
aware of shop cleanliness. A cluttered, dirty shop
may cause personnel to become careless and
inefficient. Look for spilled grease and oil. An
otherwise “heads-up” man could become a “tails-
up” man if spilled grease and oil is not cleaned
up promptly. Notice rag storage. Oily rags should
be kept in a closed metal container. Notice
obstructions protruding from work benches and
lying on decks, or items stowed on top of lockers.
These are obvious dangers.
Less obvious hazards are poor work habits.
Are the proper tools used for the tasks assigned?
Are the established safety rules and regulations
being followed? Is the shop lighting and
ventilation adequate?
The hazardous conditions noticed by the AME
during inspections should be corrected now, either
by immediate action or training. General work
center safety is covered more in the Aviation
Maintenance Ratings Supervisor manual.
TOOLS
The inspection of tools should include type,
condition, and use. As a general precaution, be
sure that all tools conform to navy standards of
quality and type. Remember that each tool has
a place and should be in use or in that place. Each
tool has a purpose and should be used only for
that purpose.
If hand tools are dull, broken, bent, or dirty,
corrective action is necessary. Tools that cannot
be repaired should be replaced. Tools should be
cleaned and kept clean. Portable tools should be
inspected prior to each use to ensure they are clean
and in the proper state of repair. The AME
supervisor should be very critical of the tools
within the work center. For more information on
tools and their uses, refer to the Aviation
Maintenance Ratings Supervisor manual.
EQUIPMENT
The AME supervisor will have many different
kinds of equipment in his work center. The
inspection of shop equipment should include
checking for posted operational requirements and
for safeguards such as goggles, hearing protectors,
and protective clothing. Always check for leaks,
frayed electrical cords, proper working
conditions, and general cleanliness.
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