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Learn about the hazards associated with portable generator use, including carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shock, and fire risks. Follow safety practices to protect yourself and others.
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Mar 2012 Safety Meeting MN Wing Lt 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.