Because of the ambient high humidity and salt spray, electricity, particularly low voltages, offers a problem somewhat more acute than inland
locations.
Grounding of low voltage tools is a requirement at the Pacific sites.
It is important that all electrical devices, particularly those having
moving parts, like drills, grinders, etc., be provided with 3-wire male
Plugs. Not only does the high humidity and salt spray make this a greater
problem than usual, but sweating also is more profuse, thus rendering an
individual a much better contact through his hands and a better ground
through his feet.
Since we said earlier that the general risk of a test operation was like
a "light" construction job, it has been learned in past operations that
personnél while at work should wear reasonably stout shoes. In the past,
there has been the tendency on the part of some to assume that there is
much greater comfort in the tropics in wearing such footgear as sandals,
shower shoes, or the Japanese rubber slipper known as a "Getok".
Such
light footgear is not only unwise from the standpoint of protecting feet
from injury in the working environment, but is also unsatisfactory for
the sureness of foot needed for the safe transfer to and from small boats.
Transportation of personnel, long established as the great accident risk
of civilization, is equally a significant risk of test operations.
Air-
craft, of varying types and sizes are widely used and while scientific
personnel use aircraft only as passengers, there are nevertheless certain
rules of conduct spelled out by the Air Force.
These safety rules should
receive the wholehearted cooperation of the passenger, thus permitting us
to do our share in controlling aircraft risk; for example, keep well clear
of propeller and rotor blades.
At some of the Pacific sites an automobile ride one mile long would be a
iong one. One might think that the automobile would not offer mich of a
problem on a tiny island. Actually, automobile accidents on previous
Pacific operations were not rare. There have been collisions, upsets,
and even pedestrians have been struck.
It should be fairly obvious if
one is going in an automobile for no more than a mile, little is to be
gained by excessive speed.
It is particularly important to drive at quite
slow speeds, like 10 or 15 miles an hour around camps and recreational
areas, since sidewalks and roads are not always well defined.
Although we have previously spoken on the personal risk in boat.transpor-
tation, this problem is worth emphasis.
While one must rely heavily on
the agility of the individual making the boat transfer and on the coxswain,
there are other things that can be done to help improve safety. One should
be ever ready to receive and lend a hand to a fellow passenger and a lift
in the handling of instruments and gear because having both hands free at
the time of boarding or leaving a boat will substantially improve one's
margin for safety. Keeping in good physical and mental condition by virtue
of moderate recreational and social activities in the off hours will also
contribute substantially to the safety margin.