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CHAPTER 9
EXPLOSIVES SAFETY
This chapter will acquaint you with basic explosives
safety precautions. All activities involved with ordnance
have experts trained in the areas of ordnance usage,
stowage, handling, disposal, and transportation. As a
safety supervisor, you must know about ordnance safety.
It will be up to you to reduce hazards and to help prevent
mishaps. In this chapter we briefly discuss the following
topics:
Purpose and elements of the Naval Explosives
Safety Program
Organization and general responsibilities of the
Naval Explosives Safety Program
The safety supervisor’s ordnance safety
requirements and responsibilities
General safety precautions for freight/weapons
elevators and ammunition hoists
Personal protective equipment
Protective clothing worn during ordnance
handling
Prohibited articles in hazardous areas
Ordnance hazards associated with fire and heat
Qualification/certification criteria and proce-
dures
Definitions and terms associated with explosives
mishap reports
Reportable mishaps or deficiencies
Investigation and reporting responsibilities
THE NAVAL EXPLOSIVES SAFETY
PROGRAM
Preventing the premature, unintentional, or
unauthorized discharge of explosives and devices
containing explosives is what explosives safety is all
about. It involves a decrease in the effects of explosions,
combustion, and toxicity. It includes all mechanical,
chemical, biological, and electrical hazards associated
with explosives and hazards of electromagnetic
radiation to explosive ordnance. In addition, explosives
safety includes equipment or systems in which
malfunction would hazard the safe handling,
maintenance, storage, transfer, release, delivery, or
firing of explosives.
The Weapons Systems Explosives Safety Review
Board (WSESRB) reviews the explosives safety of
weapons or explosives systems. It makes safety
recommendations to the proper naval systems
commander or project manager responsible for the
system or material under review. This board, headed by
a representative of the Commander, Naval Sea Systems
Command (COMNAVSEASYSCOM), consists of
representatives from appropriate systems commands
and other commands as necessary.
The Department of Defense Explosives Safety
Board (DDESB) sets up explosives safety standards for
Department of Defense (DOD) personnel. It advises the
Secretary of Defense and each DOD component on
hazardous conditions associated with the handling,
transportation, and storage of explosives and
ammunition. This board consists of one colonel or
captain (O-6, or senior) from each military department.
An officer or a person of equivalent seniority chairs the
board. That position rotates among the departments.
Liaison officers and a permanent secretariat of senior
civilian explosives safety engineers from each of the
military departments provide technical support to the
board.
PURPOSE AND ELEMENTS OF THE
NAVAL EXPLOSIVES SAFETY PROGRAM
The purpose of the Naval Explosives Safety
Program is to ensure safety and enhance operational
readiness. The program uses several elements to reduce,
to a minimum, the chance of injury, loss of life, and
property damage.
Explosives Safety Standards
Explosives safety standards are an essential element
of the Naval Explosives Safety Program. The DDESB
sets explosives safety standards and periodically
coordinates their revision. These standards guide DOD
components in avoiding the hazardous conditions
connected with explosives. Appropriate Naval Sea
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