NSA ANNAPOLIS/USNA SAFETY INSPECTION PROGRAM
Each year, a program of safety inspections is conducted on the Naval Academy Complex to promote quality of life and ensure facilities and operations are in compliance with Navy Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. Supervisors are responsible for ongoing safety compliance. Safety Department inspections play an important role in the detection of unsafe or unhealthful working conditions and practices, thus helping to reduce injuries, hazardous exposures, and property damage. They are also used to follow up on accident reports, hazard abatement programs, and to support the medical surveillance and workplace monitoring programs.
Program Overview and Procedures
All workplaces, recreational facilities, and operations are required to be inspected at least annually, with high-hazard areas inspected more frequently. All areas currently designated, as high-hazard areas will receive a safety inspection twice a year.
Criteria for designating high-hazard areas are as follows:
- Operation/Equipment - Operations which involve the use of industrial machinery, power tools and shop equipment on a routine basis (e.g., SCRD, YPs, Industrial Shops)
- Hazardous Material - Operations involving the significant use of paint, solvents, corrosives, and flammable/combustible materials (e.g., Industrial Shops, Academic Labs)
- Mishap Potential - Operations with high potential for frequent mishaps and/or serious mishaps.
- Mishap Rates - Operations with higher-than- “normal” mishap rates or sharp increases from 1 year to the next.
- Midshipmen Safety - Midshipmen activities with high potential for disabling and/or serious injury.
The annual NSA Annapolis/USNA Safety Inspection Schedule is promulgated on a fiscal year basis. Each inspection date and a starting time will be confirmed by phone or e-mail in advance.
Department heads or supervisors are requested to be available to accompany inspectors through their assigned spaces. The Building First Lieutenant or supervisor will act as an escort for the inspection team. Although a schedule is provided, inspections may be conducted without prior notice. "No Notice" inspections are conducted when, in the judgment of the inspector, they will provide a more accurate assessment of actual operating conditions and practices.
During inspections, employees will be encouraged to discuss matters affecting their safety and health. Individuals identifying unsafe or unhealthful working conditions will remain anonymous if they so desire. During each inspection, employees will be observed to ensure appropriate personal protective equipment is being used and safe work practices are adhered to.
All scheduled inspections will include random spot checks of hazardous materials to ensure that chemicals in use are included on work-unit authorized use listing and have been identified in recent industrial hygiene surveys and monitoring. Departmental/shop safety training compliance will be reviewed as well.
Every effort will be made to ensure inspections are conducted in a manner precluding unreasonable disruption of the operations of the workplace. However, if any conditions are discovered that present an imminent danger, they will be brought to the attention of supervisory personnel; work will be stopped and personnel removed from the area. Electrical tools, equipment or appliances (including personally owned) deemed unsafe by a Safety Department inspector may be confiscated. Unsafe electrical cords or plugs may be cut off and removed from the work area. The Safety Department will assist in arranging cord and plug repairs to such equipment.
Self-Inspection Checklists for industrial and non-industrial areas are provided to assist supervisors and First Lieutenants in conducting self-inspections of work areas. While not covering all possible workplace hazards, the checklists include many of the common deficiencies found by inspectors.
A written report of the workplace inspection will be provided to the official in charge of the operation within 15 workdays. The report will contain a description of each deficiency and its assigned Risk Assessment Code (RAC). The NAVOSH Deficiency Notice (NDN) is used for this purpose. Multiple or identical deficiencies in the same organization will be grouped on a single notice.
Instructions for completing the NDN are provided as part of each inspection report. A copy of each NDN assigned a RAC of 1, 2, or 3 must be posted in the vicinity of the deficiency until it is corrected.
IMPORTANT - Immediate attention must be given to deficiencies assigned a RAC 1 or 2. These deficiencies are considered highly hazardous. Interim control measures must be taken on each deficiency until permanent corrective action is completed. Interim measures in effect for 60 days or longer must be approved by the Safety Department.
Follow-up workplace inspections will be conducted to make sure violations are corrected per accepted standards and workers are protected from hazards during the abatement period.
The original copy of the NDN will be maintained in the Safety Department as a part of the NAVOSH Hazard Abatement Plan until the deficiency is reported by the official in charge as completed and a verification inspection is performed. Inspection reports and completed NDN's will be maintained in the Safety Department for a period of 5 years. Deficiency notices and inspection reports are available for review in the Safety Department office.