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Squadron Briefings
AOPA/Air Safety Institute Chart Challenge: Live!
On 27 March 2013, the Air Safety Institute, in association with the Aircraft Owner's and Pilots Association, hosted another free safety seminar. The topic was called Chart Challenge: Live! and was designed to get both VFR and IFR rated pilots thinking about charting symbology and flight planning. In this increasingly GPS and digitally-dominated world, it is far too easy to simply plan a direct route. After all... the shortest distance is a straight line, right? But what about obstructions, airspace, minimum altitudes, and other traffic?
A dozen member-pilots of the Columbus Senior Squadron, Group VIII, and even Ohio Wing staff were in attendance to represent CAP. For those who were unfortunate enough to miss out on this free seminar, the authors present a couple hidden links you can visit to peruse the content at your leisure.
AOPA/ASF Free Interactive Course - Say It Right! (communications primer for operating at towered and non-towered fields and communicating in the air traffic system in general) This is a FREE course and it counts toward many insurance discounts as well as FAAWings and CAP Safety credit!
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Revised CAPR 62-1 and 62-2, 19 DEC 12
Just in time for the holidays, NHQ has released newly revised editions of the primary Safety regulations, CAPR 62-1 Civil Air Patrol Safety Responsibilities and Procedures and CAPR 62-2 Mishap Reporting and Review. The changes do not add much content applicable to the unit level but it is a good idea for anyone involved in Safety to become familiar with the changes. The most important change is found in the CAPR 62-2, chapter 4, section a (2), which warns: These two regulations form the backbone of the CAP Safety policy. As always, if you have any questions over this or any other Safety-related topic, please contact your Safety Officers or Squadron Commander at any time. |
High-Visibility Safety Apparel
The safety of CAP personnel is of utmost importance when working in any Emergency Services capacity. This is of particular concern to ground operations members working in low-light or poor-visibility conditions where vehicles, aircraft, or other people could bring harm to them. To help protect these workers, CAP has defined requirements for the wear of high-visibility reflective safety apparel. Like all other safety-related matters, CAPR 62-1 provides specific details. Per CAPR 62-1, Chapter 7 Personal Protective Equipment: "Every CAP member will wear appropriate safety vests or safety apparel as outlined below when participating in CAP ground functions during all times, day or night. Safety vests or safety apparel may be orange or lime green and may be worn with or without the CAP logo. Examples of applicable ground functions are, but not limited to: (1) All outdoor ground functions of emergency services. (2) This guidance applies to formations only to the degree determined necessary to maintain formation visibility to traffic. Road guards or safety spotters should be utilized to safely warn traffic of formation movements. (3) All individuals performing volunteer activities who are exposed to traffic hazards, including flight line support. The exception to this is for flight crews in transit between operations/flight planning and the aircraft, and while performing duties within the shadow of their aircraft (i.e., performing pre-flight or post-flight tasks). (4) At all times during night in unlighted areas of operation when outside of vehicles or facilities while participating in any ground activity. (5) Outdoor field activities where exposure to hunting or recreational use of weapons could be encountered." CAPR 62-1,7, goes on to requiring safety vests to "meet ANSI Class 2 or 3 standards as noted on the ANSI classification tag which must be affixed to the garment. Examples of safety apparel are coats, jackets, rainwear, and may include orange or lime green reflective pants in conjunction with upper-body wear." Stay legal. Stay Safe. If working during ground operations, wear your safety vest. If you do not have one, or if you need any assistance in obtaining one, please do not hesitate to contact your friendly neighborhood squadron Safety Officers or your Commander. |
How To File a Mishap - Step 1 training
All members should complete the "How to file a mishap - Step 1" training in eServices. This needs to be completed before our next meeting on Dec 17, 2012, so that Maj Moos can complete our annual safety survey and show 100% compliance for this training. To access the training: Log onto eServices. Click "Safety Management System SMS" on the left. Click "Online Education" on the left. Click the Step 1 first training module under SMS. Review the Reference/Reading Material presentation. Then click the Verification box. Finally, Start the Safety Management System training to complete the quiz. |
Noise and Hearing Facts
Noise Threatens Hearing Noise
is one of the leading causes of hearing loss in the 28 million people
with impaired hearing in the United States, and health statistics
suggest a trend that the incidence of hearing loss is occurring at
younger and younger ages. Noise-induced hearing loss, though
preventable, is permanent. How Loud is Too Loud? To
know if a sound is loud enough to cause damage to your ears, it is
important to know both the level of intensity and the length of exposure
to the sound. The unit used to measure environmental sound intensity is
the decibel (dBA). Zero decibels is approximately the softest sound the
healthy human ear can hear. The scale increases logarithmically; that
is, the level of perceived loudness doubles every 10 decibels. Experts
agree that continued exposure to noise above 85 dBA, over time, will
eventually harm hearing. In general, the louder the sound, the less time
required before hearing will be affected. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss - How the Damage Occurs Loud
noise assaults the delicate hair cells of the inner ear. Noise-induced
hearing loss typically occurs gradually and without pain. After exposure
to loud noise, a person may experience ringing in the ears or
difficulty hearing. This is called a "temporary threshold shift". After a
few hours (or in some cases, a few days), this temporary shift in
hearing returns to normal. With repeated exposure, however, this
temporary shift in hearing can become permanent. Once permanent hearing
damage has occurred, it is not possible to restore hearing. Pay Attention to the Warning Signs Noise-induced
hearing loss is cumulative across the life span. Often, by the time a
person realizes that there is hearing loss, it is too late. But there
are certain early warning signs to suggest that there may be a problem.
If you experience any of the following early warning signs, have your
hearing tested by a licensed audiologist, or have your ears examined by
an ear doctor. • A ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) in the ears immediately after exposure to noise. • A slight muffling of sounds after exposure making it difficult to understand people when you leave a noisy area. • Difficulty understanding speech; that is, you can hear all the words, but you can't understand all of them. Protect Your Hearing To
avoid noise-induced hearing loss, pay attention to the noises around
you and turn down the volume whenever possible. Avoid or limit time
spent in noisy sports events, rock concerts and night clubs. Wear
adequate hearing protection, such as foam ear plugs or ear muffs, when
you must be in a noisy environment or when using loud equipment. Common Environmental Noise Levels Fact Sheet How
Loud is Too Loud? Experts agree that continued exposure to noise above
85 dBA over time, will cause hearing loss. To know if a sound is loud
enough to damage your ears, it is important to know both the loudness
level (measured in decibels, dBA) and the length of exposure to the
sound. In general, the louder the noise, the less time required before
hearing loss will occur. According to the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (1998), the maximum exposure time at 85
dBA is 8 hours. At 110 dBA, the maximum exposure time is one minute and
29 seconds. If you must be exposed to noise, it is recommended that you
limit the exposure time and/or wear hearing protection. Measure
Up and Turn it Down: Decibel Levels Around Us The following are decibel
levels of common noise sources around us. These are typical levels,
however, actual noise levels may vary depending on the particular item.
Remember noise levels above 85 dBA will harm hearing over time. Noise
levels above 140dBA can cause damage to hearing after just one exposure. Points of Reference, measured in dBA or decibels - 0 The softest sound a person can hear with normal hearing - 10 normal breathing - 20 whispering at 5 feet - 30 soft whisper - 50 rainfall - 60 normal conversation - 70 vacuum cleaner at 3 feet - 85 Hheavy truck at 50 feet - 95 jackhammer at 50 feet - 110 discoteque - 120 thunder - 125 Jet takeoff at 300 feet - 140 threshold of pain |
Flood Safety Driving Tips
April 4, 2011 The
occurrence of heavy rain makes flooding a real threat. Floods come
about as streams and rivers overflow their banks. This can occur from
deep snow run off or during heavy rainfall. Flash floods can happen
rapidly and unexpectedly. Flash flooding can occur after a few minutes
of heavy rain fall or after a lengthy period of significant
precipitation. People who live in flood prone areas should always be
conscious of the threat of flash floods when experiencing significant
rainfall. Here are a few flood safety tips for drivers: •
During severe rain storms, don't travel unless absolutely necessary. If
you have to travel carry a cell phone with a car charger. •Purchase a weather scanner and heed all flood and flash flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service. •Do not drive around barricades at water crossings. •Be especially vigilant at night. Many drowning deaths occur at night when it is difficult to see water crossings. •Do
not cross or enter flowing water. Driving fast through high water on
the road is not a solution. Faster speeds create less tire contact with
the road surface, which can cause hydroplaning and increase your chance
of losing control and crashing. •Driving through standing water may affect your brakes. Test your brakes at low speeds as soon as you exit the water. •Be
aware that road erosion may occur when there is swiftly running water.
Newly-formed, hidden gullies or deep potholes may have formed in the
roadway. If you need to pull off the roadway, pull into a driveway, not
the shoulder of the road. Road shoulders could be weak and may
collapse. •Flood
water on low sections of roadways may be much deeper than you think.
Your vehicle may become stranded in swiftly flowing water. Leave
a stalled car and seek higher ground immediately. In this situation,
staying with the vehicle is not the safer choice, even if leaving means
getting soaked. Respect the force of the water flow, you may be swept off your feet. Focus your attention on getting to higher ground. •
Remember that six inches of water will reach the bottoms of most car
doors. One foot of water will float many vehicles, and two feet of
moving water can carry away most vehicles. More than 50 percent
of people killed in a flash flood are in cars. Once the vehicle starts
to float, it is at the mercy of the flood waters and is at a high risk
of being pushed along sideways. At that point, the car may roll over and
trap the occupants inside. If
you find yourself stranded in flood waters remain calm and call 911. If
you can do so safely move to higher ground. Keep children away from
sewer manholes, grates, flooded ditches and culverts. Injury may occur
due to fast-moving water, debris in water or contamination. Flood safety at home: -
Do not enter a flooded room (or basement) if there is any chance that
an electrical device or outlet come in contact with the water. Furnace,
dryer and freezer motors are usually situated very close to the floor.
If it appears the water has reached any power source in the flooded
area, contact the power company and have the electricity disconnected.
Rubber boots and gloves offer very limited protection from electrical
shock. If the furnace and or water heater have been submerged, shut off
the fuel supply (Natural gas, propane, fuel oil) to the appliance. The
appliance will require servicing before it can be used again. -
Following sewage back up into basements, disinfect the area with a
chlorine solution of 1⁄4 cup household bleach in one gallon of water.
Discard anything that cannot be cleaned and/or disinfected. Wear rubber
gloves when handling contaminated materials. Wear waterproof covering
on feet when working in basement areas. |
Highlights of CAP REGULATION 62-1
December 6, 2010 For those who were unable to attend, attached is the handout for the December 6 squadron safety briefing. In addition, we discussed the eServices online safety briefing reporting and self briefing systems. Explore this on the CAP eServices site and select the "CAP Education" item at the upper right hand corner of the window, and the "Online Safety Education" item at the lower left hand corner. CIVIL AIR PATROL SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROCEDURES 1. Program Goal. The
underlying goal of the CAP Safety Program is to minimize the risks
faced by our membership in the performance of their volunteer duties. 2. Responsibilities. All
levels of command shall work in partnership to develop effective safety
education and mishap prevention measures to safeguard our members and
preserve our physical resources, and shall seek to instill a culture of
safety that guides the planning and execution of every CAP activity. All members will live the CAP motto of “Always Vigilant” in planning, conducting and participating in all CAP activities. 3. Required Program Criteria. This section addresses the appointment, training and responsibilities of safety officers in all units. It
states that the monthly face-to-face safety meeting, at least 15
minutes in length, is an important part of the CAP safety program. Note
that, according to the November 2010 SAFETY BEACON, the quarterly
face-to-face requirement, as stated in the current edition of CAPR
62-1, for safety education has been removed. Furthermore,
reading the newsletter does not meet the requirement of safety
education. You may use the topics in the newsletter to prepare for your
monthly safety education briefing; however, to just read the newsletter
and enter it in the safety education database as “Safety Beacon” does
not meet this requirement. Members
who missed the face-to-face safety meeting will review the information
presented at the meeting before they participate in any CAP activity
(including unit meetings). Safety
briefings shall be incorporated into all field training exercises,
encampments, and other special activities where members face risk. All mishaps will be promptly reported and investigated in accordance with CAPR 62-2, Mishap Reporting and Investigation. Special attention will be given to any contributing factors that can be promptly corrected. An
annual Safety Day will be held in all units sometime during the month
of October to focus on improving safety knowledge and attitudes during
the new fiscal year. 4. Recommended Program Features. The
features addressed are: the review of CAP and other safety newsletters;
participation in safety seminars; the FAA Pilot Proficiency Program;
adding safety messages to routine communications; and, the use of the
optional safety award program. 5. Recognizing Safety Excellence. This
part discusses the various awards that are available for outstanding
Wing and Region safety programs and safety records; Safety Officer of
the Year Award; and, Distinguished Aviator Award. It lists the
requirements for these awards. Members are encouraged to participate in the FAA Pilot proficiency Program. 6. Safety Officer Responsibilities. This
section provides guidelines for safety officers in fulfilling their
duties, including establishing a viable safety program within their
unit. It gives suggested reference safety material and topics for
safety presentations, both for flight and ground CAP activities. |
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