committee is usually presided over by the company or project safety supervisor. The main objective of the committee is to propose changes in the battalion's safety policy to eliminate unsafe working conditions or prevent unsafe acts. These committees are your contact for recommending changes in safety matters. In particular, the equipment committee reviews all vehicle mishap reports, determines the cause of each mishap, and recommends corrective action. As a crew leader, you can expect to seine as a member of the equipment, shop, or crew safety committee. Each committee forwards reports and recommendations to the Safety Supervisors' Committee.

CONSTRUCTION SITE SAFETY

The work involved in construction and maintenance/repair is inherently dangerous, and many of the functions that must be performed contain elements hazardous to personnel. The type of work performed on construction sites is broad and encompasses are as for which substantial material on safety has been written.

General Safety Concerns

This chapter addresses the major areas of general safety concerns and references other publications that are used by NCF/PHIBCB safety and supervisory personnel.

"Safety is everybody's responsibility." This is a rule that must be adhered to during all phases of construction, maintenance and repair, and battalion operations. Training at all levels and enforcement of safety regulations during all types of work is the ongoing responsibility of each Seabee.

Safety at the construction site has elements of general construction, steel erection, high work, and rigging and weight handling. Specialized and detailed areas of safety include weight-handling operations, construction and use of scaffolding, and welding and cutting. Numerous safety manuals and publications provide detailed procedures and regulations for these types of work.

Safety References

Some of the more useful manuals and handbooks applicable to tasks performed on construction sites and maintenance shops are as follows:

1. Naval Construction Force Safety Manual. This manual is applicable to COMSECONDNCB/ COMTHIRDNCB units and also covers many areas useful to PHIBCBs.

2. General Safety Requirements Manual, Corps of Engineers, EM 385. This field manual contains guidance primarily concerning construction.

3. Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926).

Safety Procedures/Standards

Major safety procedures/standards that are required on a jobsite that apply to both construction sites and construction/repair of pontoon structures are as follows:

1. Hard hats must be worn by all personnel in the area, including visitors.

2. Post the site with a hard hat area sign and warning signs (red for immediate hazards and yellow for potential hazards).

3. The safety manuals, EM 385 and the 29 CFR 1926, are required to be kept on the jobsite.

4. Housekeeping is important. Keep materials well sorted, stacked, and accessible. Remove excess items. Keep discarded items and trash picked up. Watch and remove hipping hazards.

5. Designate and mark vehicle/forklift traffic lanes and areas.

6. Each jobsite must have emergency plans posted, containing the location of the nearest phone, the telephone numbers, and the reporting instructions for the ambulance, the hospital, the physician, the police, and the fire department personnel.

7. If a medical facility is not readily accessible (due to time or distance), two crew members must be both first aid and CPR qualified.

8. For every 25 personnel or less, one first-aid kit must be on site and checked weekly for consumable items.

9. If toilet facilities are not readily available, you must provide portable facilities,

10. Drinking water must be provided from an approved source and labeled for &"drinking only." Common use cups are not allowed.

11. Temporary fencing is required as a safety measure to keep unauthorized personnel away from potential hazards if the jobsite is in an area of active use.