Hazardous materials aboard ships … minimizing the risks through effective program execution

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, March-April, 2003

Introduction

The hazardous materials (HAZMAT) used for cleaning and maintenance purposes aboard U.S. Navy ships present a range of potential problems to safety and environmental managers. Because of this fact, a number of activities and organizations are committed to eliminating or reducing the risks associated with the use of these materials.

Background

The Navy Safety Center Norfolk, Va., originally was tasked with handling the inherent problems associated with the management of hazardous materials aboard ships, Navy Safety Center personnel were ready and able to deal with the safety risks associated with HAZMAT. Complicating the issue was the presence of too much of this material coupled with the environmental conditions on ships that made some HAZMAT too dangerous to store or use.

So, in 1989 the Chief of Naval Operations turned responsibility for Hazardous Material Control & Management (HMC&M) over to the Naval Supply Systems Command as executive agent (EA) designation. EA responsibilities included the mandate to work with the fleet and type commanders to minimize the risks associated with the use of HAZMAT. From its headquarters in Mechanicsburg, Pa., NAVSUP moved out to meet the challenge.

Managing Hazardous Materials Aboard Ships

NAVSUP's first priority was to press for a reduction in the amount of HAZMAT going on board ships, and secondly, to identify what HAZMAT could be safely used within the shipboard environment.

The Navy Safety Center and NAVSUP received notices of frightening accounts regarding the improper management of HAZMAT from the Inspection and Survey Board (INSURV)--another organization intimately involved in HAZMAT issues. INSURV inspections had identified concerns with the storage and use of MAT, the use of personal protection equipment (PPE), and the lack of appropriate mining.

Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., and Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., also play an important role in the Navy's efforts to minimize the risks associated with the management of HAZMAT. Each of these commands has prescribed what HAZMAT is authorized to be used in the maintenance of weapons systems and the equipment aboard ships. Eliminating certain HAZMAT and approving "greener," more environmentally friendly products, are also within their province.

The Naval Inventory Control Point, also plays an important role in managing Authorized Use Lists, and processing additions and deletions to what is allowed for use on board ships.

Prior to 1989, there was no real restriction on what HAZMAT could be procured, though some chemicals were prohibited as soon as they were recognized as too dangerous for use aboard ships. With few restrictions, excess inventories existed everywhere.

The hazardous waste (HAZWASTE) material removal industry found this very profitable. These companies were taking good HAZMAT and disposing of it as hazardous waste, at a very high price to the fleets. These past practices lead to a Navy Inspector General finding that between $50 million and $100 million of usable HAZMAT was being disposed of as hazardous waste each year.

Not to be overlooked is the important role of the Navy Occupational Safety and Health and Environmental Training Center in Norfolk, Va. NAVOSHENVTRACEN, with a facility at Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, Calif., has provided critical training for the afloat community in proper HAZMAT handling and other related environmental responsibilities. Personnel from NAVOSHENVTRACEN are continuously updating curricula to incorporate ongoing changes in HAZMAT management procedures, regulations, and laws.

All of these organizations have come together at the Hazardous Material Afloat Program (HMAP) conferences over the past 10 years. HMAP, chaired by the NAVSUP Pollution Prevention Director, Terry Tibbs, has brought about a number of improvements in both the quantity and types of HAZMAT now used aboard ships. Personnel injuries have steadily declined and environmental damage from illegal disposal actions is now rare.

The Navy's Mandated Process--CHRIMP

The Navy's mandated process of HAZMAT control is called the Consolidated Hazardous Material Reutilization and Inventory Management Program, better known as CHRIMP. CHRIMP has been a difficult process to implement and incorporate into the day-to-day operations in the fleet. This is due primarily to a lack of a specific job skill and an enlisted rating dedicated to HAZMAT. The Navy does have a Secondary Navy Enlisted Classified Code (9595) but this is an inadequate match for the up-front controls required ion the CHRIMP philosophy.

CHRIMP is a business practice that deals with the use of HAZMAT required for operations. There are a number of activities that minimize or prevent unnecessary or unauthorized HAZMAT from getting to the ship. Only after those activities have taken place and the required HAZMAT gets to the ship docs CHRIMP come into play. First, NAVICP, in coordination with NAVSEA and NAVAIR, issues the Ship Hazardous Material List (SHML) a listing of 25,432 line items that are authorized for procurement and use aboard ships.