Mar 2012 Safety Meeting

MN WingLt Col Brockshus

Overview

• Portable Generator Use• Aircraft Braking• MN Wing mishaps• Safety training reminders

Portable Generator Hazards

• Useful but they also can be hazardous.• Primary hazards – carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning – electric shock or electrocution– fire and burns.

• Every year, people die in incidents related to portable generator use.

Carbon Monoxide Hazards

• When used in a confined space, generators can produce high levels of CO within minutes.

• You cannot see or smell CO. Even if you do not smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. Use battery powered CO detector.

• Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours

• Get to fresh air right away if you start to feel dizzy or weak.

Electrical Hazards • Generators pose a risk of shock and electrocution– Protect the generator from moisture to help avoid

the shock/electrocution hazard, – Operate the generator under an open, canopy-like

structure on a dry surface where water cannot reach it or puddle or drain under it.

– Dry your hands, if wet, before touching the generator.

• Make sure your generator is properly grounded to avoid electrical shocks. – Check the generator owner's manual for correct

grounding information

Electrical Hazards • Don't overload the generator.

– All generators have a power rating, they should be used only to power a limited number of appliances or equipment

• Check that each cord is:– Free of cuts or tears– Has all three prongs– Not pinched or crushed if it passes through a window or

doorway. – Long enough to allow the generator to be placed safely

outdoors– A heavy-duty extension cords designed for outdoor use– Rated for a wattage that exceeds the total wattage connected

to it– Connected directly to appliance

Electrical Hazards • NEVER try to power the house wiring by

plugging the generator into a wall outlet– A practice known as “backfeeding.” – Extremely dangerous and presents an

electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors

– Bypasses some of the built-in household circuit protection

• If you wish to hard-wire a generator to your home, it should be installed by a licensed electrician with an approved cut-off switch that will automatically disconnect the home from the power grid

Fire Hazards

• Never store fuel for your generator in the home. • Gasoline, propane, kerosene, and other

flammable liquids should be stored outside of living areas

• Use properly-labeled, non-glass safety containers• Do not store them near a fuel-burning appliance,

such as a natural gas water heater in a garage.• Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let

it cool down. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.

Cold Facts:Braking Action Reports

• Braking reports are offered at towered airports via ATIS or ATC when runway and taxiways are covered in ice, snow or water.– GOOD: No degradation of braking action.– FAIR: Somewhat degraded braking conditions.– POOR: Very degraded braking conditions.– NIL: No braking action.

When braking action is reported as less than good

• Number of acceptable landing runways may diminish

• Land into the wind (no crosswind landing here)

• Make sure there is plenty of extra landing distance– Doubling the landing distance published in the

pilot operating handbook may be a good place to start.

When braking action is reported as less than good

• Use the aerodynamic braking– Fly at the correct approach speed. – Once in the landing flare, hold the aircraft’s nose off

the runway as long as possible to aid in aerodynamic braking.

• When settled use the brakes sparingly – or not at all. This is not the time to slam on the brakes to make the first taxiway– Good rudder and aileron skills will also come in handy – The longitudinal axis of the airplane should be aligned

with the runway

Practical Application

• When the reported braking action falls to poor or nil, you should give serious thought to delaying the flight.

• If flying into airports where the braking action is likely to be less than good, plan alternates ahead of time.

MN Wing mishaps

• 3 Mar- Pain in cadets ankle• 3Mar- Twisted cadet ankle during volley ball

game• 3 Mar- Cadet fell on arm during volleyball

game• 4 Mar- Cadet fell while ice skating…small cut

of forehead.

Safety training reminders

• An annual Safety Day will be held in all active units during the months of January, February, or March to focus on improving safety knowledge and attitudes.

• At least once annually, Operational Risk Management (ORM) will be discussed during a unit safety meeting.

Stay Safe…Keep your head up