By Stacy Childers
July 17, 2018
The Navy recently put Electric Boat on notice regarding failure to comply with appropriate fire prevention work practices. Electric Boat procedures and specific OSHA regulations require the removal, covering, and/or shielding of combustible materials when hot work is performed. Hot work is defined as any activity that generates extreme heat, sparks, or open flames.
The preferred method of fire prevention is to remove all combustibles from within 35 feet of the hot work area. Covering or shielding combustibles with approved fire resistive materials is the next best option. If all combustibles cannot be removed, covered or shielded, one or more fire watches must be positioned as needed to monitor and stop the hot work operation if needed.
Within the past 2 months, Quonset Point has been cited for improper removal, covering and shielding of combustibles within 35 feet of grinding and welding operations. The susceptible combustibles included wood, paper, plastic bags, bubble wrap, Paper towels, cardboard, tape, plastic toolboxes, and uncovered dumpsters and trash cans. The areas that were cited included buildings: 2003, 2006, 2014 (bay 4), 2019, MTS Annex, and the 60 sheet metal shop. Any area where hot work is performed could be susceptible to violations.
Submarines have many tight, restricted spaces (even more so during construction). A fire in a submarine, submarine module or component, or even an open building can have catastrophic consequences. It is imperative that everyone follows EB’s hot work procedures without exception. We cannot allow a fire to get started.
On May 23, 2012, a fire occurred in a forward compartment of the USS Miami while in dry dock up at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The fire was not caught at the early stages (it was later determined to be arson) and it continued to grow. The fire could not be contained by the shipyard fire department which included aid from places as far away as Boston and the New London Sub base. If it were not for the very heroic efforts of the firefighters, the ship would have been lost. Seven firefighters were injured, but thankfully, there were no fatalities. Efforts were put in place to restore the ship, but when the estimate climbed over $450 million in August of 2013, it was decided to stop the efforts and decommission the Miami.
The example of the Miami shows how dangerous and costly a submarine fire can be. Building submarines is hard work. Building submarines safely is even harder. Procedure compliance helps us ensure safety as well as quality. Procedure compliance is an essential part of building our product.
Electric Boat does not have guaranteed contracts from the US Navy. When we fail to follow our own hot work procedures, we are putting our safety and even our jobs at risk. The Navy is overseeing and measuring our performance every day. When we do not follow our own procedures, the Navy questions the ability of Electric Boat to uphold our contractual obligations.
To maintain the contracts we have, we must follow procedures and meet our schedules. Following EB’s Hot Work Prerequisite Check List is just one of the many procedures we must follow every day. Following EB’s Hot Work Prerequisite Check List will help us avoid unnecessary fires and the risks associated with them and most importantly, get us home safely to our family and loved ones.
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