Category III - Marginal: May cause minor personnel injury, minor occupational illness, or minor property damage.

Category IV - Negligible: Probably would not affect personnel safety or health but is nevertheless in violation of specific criteria.

Step 2: Identify corrective action - Our primary reference for preventive measures is the Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, 29 CFR PART 1926 and our secondary reference being the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Safety and Health Requirements Manual, EM 385.

Step 3: Obtain equipment/material/training - The operations department and safety department will provide assistance for setting up training and any equipment or material necessary for the mishap.

Step 4: Ensure personnel awareness - A key to a successful mishap prevention program is personnel awareness. The purpose of the daily 5 minute stand-up safety lecture is to make sure everyone is properly trained to perform the task at hand. These lectures must address all hazards identified on NCF CAS sheets or any construction task performed by the Seabees.

Step 5: Proper supervision - The crew leader is responsible for making sure the crew members are provided with the proper training, equipment, and material to perform their task.

Step 6: Emergency response - To ensure that an emergency response is not delayed in the event of a mishap, you must post on the jobsite the location of the nearest phone, a map of the nearest medical facility, and emergency phone numbers.

Step 7: Investigate and report - Any mishap or near mishap must be documented to minimize the chance of it happening again. Crew leaders must initiate a mishap report.

Mishap Reporting

When a MISHAP occurs in your shop or office or within your crew, you must submit an accident/mishap report to the safety officer. Use the sample message format shown in figure 1-6, as described in OPNAVINST 5102.1.

When you properly use this report, it is one of your best mishap prevention tools. In many cases, the difference between a minor mishap and a major one is a matter of good fortune. Do not ignore mishaps that result in small cuts and bruises; investigate the reason for them and correct the cause. If you persist in doing this, you will have a safe and efficient jobsite, shop, or office.

Mishap Investigation

Before filling out an accident/mishap report, you must conduct a mishap investigation to get the answer to questions, such as those in the following six categories:

1. Unsafe conditions. Was the equipment improperly guarded, unguarded, or inadequately guarded? Was the equipment or material rough, slippery, sharp-edged, decayed, worn, or cracked? Was there a hazardous arrangement, such as congested work space, lack of proper lifting equipment, or unsafe planning? Was the proper safety apparel being worn? Were the proper respirators, goggles, and gloves provided?

2. Type of mishap. Did an object strike the person? Did the person fall at the same level or from a different level; or did the person get caught between objects or slip (not fall)?

3. Unsafe act. Was the person operating a machine without proper authorization or at an unsafe speed; that is, too fast or too slow? Was a safety device made inoperative; that is, blocked out or removed? Was a load made unsafe or were tools or equipment left in an unsafe place where they would fall? Did someone fail to wipe oil, water, grease, or paint from working surfaces? Did the injured person take an unsafe position or posture or lift with a bent back or while in an awkward position? Did the person lift jerkily or ride in an unsafe position on a vehicle or use improper means of ascending or descending? Was the injury caused by failure to wear the provided safety attire or personal protective devices, such as goggles, gloves, masks, aprons, or safety shoes?

4. Unsafe personal factor. Was the person absentminded or inattentive; unaware of safe procedures, unskilled, or unable to recognize a hazardous situation? Did the person fail to understand the instructions, regulations, or safety rules. Did this person willfully disregard instructions or safety rules; or did this person have a personal weakness, such as poor eyesight, defective hearing, or a hernia?

5. Type or injury. Did the injured person sustain a cut, sprain, strain, hernia, or fracture?