ANSBACH, Germany (Dec. 23, 2014) -- Thirty-nine members of Team Ansbach participated in an aircraft confined-spaces training course, held Dec. 9-11, at the Urlas Fire Fighting Training Site, and inside Hangar 3 at Katterbach Airfield here.
A confined space is defined as an area large enough for an employee to enter and perform work, but has limited or restricted means of entry or exit and is not designed for continuous human occupancy. Examples include storage tanks, aircraft fuel cells, crawl spaces, grain and sand bins and silos, pipelines, construction sites and trenches, sewers and tunnels.
Maureen Pikal, an industrial hygienist with the Occupational Health Sciences Portfolio,
Public Health Command Region-Europe, facilitated the training. The course was a joint venture among Public Health Command, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, and the U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach Safety Office.
The three-day course covered the principal hazards associated with entering confined spaces, and how to protect workers entering the spaces from engulfment hazards; oxygen enriched or deficient environments; flammable and toxic atmospheres; or other physical or environmental hazards. Trainees learned how to use atmospheric testing equipment and how to properly set up exhaust ventilation systems. Additionally, members were medically cleared and fit tested for airline respirators.
According to Pikal, confined-space training is required for persons supervising confined-space entry. This includes entrants -- employees entering and working within a confined space; and attendants -- those persons tasked with assisting with the entry, but not actually entering themselves. Rescue teams, whether it is an organizational team or the installation fire department, must also be trained on confined-space entry, she added.
"Working on aircraft is not without challenges," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Samuel Rodriguez, aviation safety officer with the 412th Aviation Support Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade. "For aircraft mechanics, entry into confined spaces is a part of the job. But entering fuel cells presents a set of challenges unlike most others. The normal safety hazards associated with aircraft maintenance are complicated by the limited space in which to work, but the most serious threat to the health and safety of the mechanics comes from atmospheric hazards. Poor ventilation can cause the atmosphere to be life-threatening. Explosive and toxic gases or a lack of oxygen cause the majority of confined-space injuries, and can be fatal."
Inae Thorner, occupational health nurse for USAG Ansbach and Public Health Command-Europe, was on site to medically clear the course participants for the wear of respirators.
"Respirators can make breathing more difficult, and not everyone is able to wear a respirator," Thorner said. "Some conditions that could prevent a person from using a respirator include heart conditions, lung disease and psychological conditions like claustrophobia. Before Soldiers, DA civilians or host-nation employees use a respirator or are fit tested, they must be evaluated to determine whether they are medically able to wear a respirator."
Once medically cleared, the installation industrial hygienist and USAG Ansbach Safety Office fit tested the class participants for airline respirators.
"A respirator can't protect you if it doesn't fit your face," said Manfred Meyer, safety specialist with the USAG Ansbach Safety Office. "It's that simple. Certain respirators, known as tight-fitting respirators, must form a tight seal around your face to work properly. If the respirator doesn't fit your face properly, contaminated air can leak into the respirator, and you could breathe in hazardous substances. So before wearing a tight-fitting respirator at work, all Army personnel must be fit tested. Fit testing ensures the respirator properly fits and protects you from breathing dangerous substances, as long as you use it correctly."
"Although the aircraft confined-space course focuses principally on entering fuel cells, the information provided in the course applies to any confined space," said EJ Singleton, USAG Ansbach safety manager. "With proper training, personnel required to enter any confined space can recognize and mitigate potential hazards. Pre-planning, sampling, preparation, proper equipment; personal protective clothing and equipment; and a fully trained and ready rescue team are all key elements when it comes to confined-space entry."
"The interactive classroom training class kept us engaged in the learning process, and the hands-on exercises really drove the need for the training home," Sean Gausnell, industrial hygienist with USAG Ansbach and Public Health Command-Europe.
"When it comes to confined spaces, don't take chances," Gausnell added. "Supervisors must protect their personnel by giving them the training that can save their lives."
Related Links:
STAND-TO!: Army Safety and Occupational Health Objectives
Social Sharing