Soldiers assigned to the 689th Rapid Port Opening element completed a new safety class at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. Dec. 17.
The 10 hour course has been approved by OSHA and is a new requirement for transportation specialists working at marine terminals, according to Darren Reese, a safety officer and an OSHA certified instructor at the 597th Transportation Brigade.
Reese taught the class along with Gregory "Safety First" Ferst, a safety manager at the 599 Trans. Bde. and Travis Wetzler, an explosive safety manager at SDDC.
The class focused on occupational hazards that can pose long-term risks, such as hearing loss or repetitive use injuries.
The SDDC safety officers are all former military transportation specialists and shared stories and personal anecdotes about the hazards faced on the job, such as low visibility inside of a vessel and loud noises being emitted from running engines and honking horns.
"At some ports, containers and equipment are being loaded off of vessels every 45 seconds," Wetzler said, "It is important to know the hazards because terminals are busy, fast-paced, and always in motion."
The Soldiers saw pictures and videos of what to look out for during loading operations, such as what an off-balance crane looks like and how to identify cargo handling equipment that is no longer serviceable, such as chains and clips that are bent out of shape.
The training also covered best practices such as how to work safely with port workers from outside of your own unit, such as the longshoremen and members of the U.S. Navy.
At the end of the course the Soldiers completed a written exam.
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