CHAPTER 9 THE SHOP INSPECTOR

Preventive maintenance (PM) and the safety inspection of a vehicle go hand in hand. Besides keeping a vehicle in good operating condition, preventive maintenance ensures that a vehicle is safe to operate. The proper inspection of the devices or parts of a vehicle that make for safe operation can be done at scheduled preventive maintenance times.

As a CM-1, you maybe assigned the job of vehicle inspector. Besides making scheduled CESE inspections, you should be looking for inoperative devices that make a vehicle unsafe, and for damage that may have been caused by improper or dangerous operating procedures. You will need to be familiar with instructions and regulations pertaining to safety as well as regular scheduled maintenance inspections. Using the COMCBPAC/COMCBLANTINST 5100 (series), NAVFAC P-300, Management of Transportation Equipment Manual and chapter 19 of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Safety and Health Requirements Manual, 385-1-1, will provide you with guidance in vehicle safety and reliability inspections. Be sure the mechanics working under your supervision are aware of these instructions and the proper procedures of making a thorough vehicle inspection. The job of vehicle inspector should not be assigned to an inexperienced mechanic.

WARNING

CUTTING SAFETY SHORT MAY CUT SOMEONE'S LIFE SHORT.

THE VEHICLE INSPECTOR

The vehicle inspector is assigned to a maintenance shop in either a public works department, a battalion, or a special operating unit to assist the transportation shops supervisor (public works) or maintenance supervisor (battalion) in inspecting the equipment to be serviced. The inspector should be a senior mechanic, proficient in his rating, and capable of readily determining the nature of necessary repairs. He should be able to exercise independent judgment as to whether the equipment requires immediate attention or can be delayed until the next regular scheduled preventive maintenance inspection. The scheduled preventive maintenance system is designed to ensure optimum life out of the equipment of a unit or station. Figure 9-1 defines the level of inspection and the intervals required for each of

Figure 9-1.-Preventive maintenance interval schedule.