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SurFor stresses electrical safety after deaths

SAN DIEGO — Three weeks after a carrier-based chief petty officer suffered a fatal electric shock, the commander of the Navy’s surface fleet ordered all ships to review training and reinforce safety measures for all shipboard electrical systems.

In his safety advisory issued Monday, Vice Adm. D.C. Curtis warned the fleet to follow safety procedures and safe practices and not take dangerous shortcuts that can risk injury.

“Given the recent number of electrical related incidents, we must exponentially raise our awareness forcewide to the hazards associated with what has incorrectly become considered routine or everyday work,” Curtis, Naval Surface Forces commander in Coronado, Calif., said in the message. “Adhering to electrical safety standards is not routine and should not be considered everyday work.”

Curtis ordered that all ships do a thorough review of all electrical safety-related documents and manuals and ensure compliance of those procedures; hold all-hands training on electrical safety and tag-out procedures; and ensure that sufficient electrical safety personal protective equipment and materials, such as insulated tools, test equipment and rubber gloves, are on hand.

Ships must complete their reviews and report to their class squadrons by March 26.

The electrical safety advisory came a week after San Diego-based 3rd Fleet directed a wider electrical safety stand-down for all ships and shore commands and safety reviews completed by March 26. The directive by Vice Adm. Richard Hunt came on the heels of two fatal accidents in recent months.

Chief Electrician’s Mate (SS/DV) John G. Conyers, 36, died Feb. 19 after he was electrocuted while working in an auxiliaries space aboard the carrier Ronald Reagan, which is undergoing a maintenance availability at North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado. On Nov. 28, Engineman 3rd Class David Mudge, 22, died aboard the frigate Rentz after he was shocked while working in an auxiliary machinery space while the ship was berthed in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.

Officials have not yet provided details about what happened in each case. Both incidents are being investigated.

After the Rentz incident, Naval Sea Systems Command issued several advisories about shock hazards that reiterated existing shipboard safety and electrical procedures and advised the fleet to inspect all shipboard electrical enclosures for rust and corrosion, especially high-humidity areas that have higher risk of corrosion.

The recent incident involved the installation of a breaker into a 450-volt load center during the maintenance availability, but, according to a NavSea safety advisory, power sources were not secured, and the load center wasn’t de-energized and tagged.

NavSea’s commander, Vice Adm. Kevin McCoy, in the March 1 safety advisory, urged “strict adherence” of safety procedures for shipboard electrical systems. McCoy also sought to dispel misconceptions about safety measures, and he warned against complacency.

“The misconception that exists in some parts of the fleet that racking in or out a breaker in energized switchgear is routine and low risk must be eradicated,” he wrote. “Beyond electrical shock, such work poses a significant risk of arc flash if technical manual guidance is not strictly followed.”

“Every job must be approached with a focus on what could go wrong and careful consideration of the worst case risk inherent in what is being planned,” he added. “No electrical work, no matter how frequently performed, should be considered routine; steps should always be taken to remove dangers and keep people safe.”