Abrasive Blasting Limitations for Steam Plants

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Preoperational Requirements

TB-43-0144 Painting of Watercraft Manual

Safety Precautions for Pneumatic Tools

engaged in work near abrasive blasting operations, shall wear full eye protection and NIOSH-approved

dust respirators. Approved ear protectors shall be worn wherever the airborne noise level is above 85

dBA. Both earplugs and earmuffs (double protection) shall be worn if the noise level exceeds 108 dBA.

f. Staging shall be stable and correctly positioned for the safety, convenience, and comfort of the blast

operator.

g. Operating Safety Precautions. The nozzle shall never be pointed in the direction or ricochet line of

another person, even with the air and abrasive stream shut off. The blast operator shall always keep

hands and other parts of the body away from the discharge and the nozzle, and shall never try to adjust

the nozzle while the abrasive stream is flowing.

h. Hose shall be secured, leaving only enough free length to be handled safely by the blast operator. All

hoses, fittings, and so forth shall be inspected before blasting begins; worn parts shall be discarded.

When couplings are located where sudden parting would be hazardous, both coupled hoses shall be

secured to a strong support or to each other.

i. Abrasive blasting equipment shall be properly maintained because operation of damaged or poorly

maintained equipment at high pressures is dangerous.

j. Whenever practical, hoppers and hopper tenders should be located on top of dry-dock walls rather

than in the basin. This improves housekeeping and permits grit flow to be aided by gravity. Minimizing the

number of people who must be in the dock basin reduces the risk of injury if a hose or connection should

break, causing the hoses to whip.

2-19. Abrasive Blasting Limitations for Steam Plants. Abrasive blast cleaning of installed (onboard)

steam plant components is prohibited. Blast cleaning of installed tanks is allowed; provided the following

listed conditions are met, in addition to the other requirements of this section.

a. All piping ends and other tank openings shall be plugged to preclude spread of blasting materials.

b. All internal tank parts must be accessible for hand cleaning (to ensure removal of all blasting material

prior to plug removal).

c. When large hull tanks are blasted, sealing the blast operator in the tank may be a practical way, if

space permits, to preclude contamination or damage to other equipment or components. When this

appears practicable, advance National Maintenance Point (NMP) approval shall be obtained for proposed

procedural details, including safety precautions. If this is not practicable, equipment and components

must be protected by methods such as those specified in paragraph 2-18 above.

2-20. Safety Precautions for Hydro blasting. Although not considered as hazardous as abrasive

blasting, hydro blasting uses water at high pressure that can cut through the body, causing serious injury

or death. The abrasive blasting precautions and the special precautions given in the following

paragraphs, shall apply when abrasives are injected into the water stream.

2-21. Safety Precautions for Electrically Operated Power Tools. Portable power tools shall be

equipped (by manufacturer or modification) with a safety throttle/lock-off device or a protected throttle

switch to prevent inadvertent startup caused by tools being dropped, bumped, or stepped on. Precautions

for power tools are described below.

a. Inspection. Portable power tools shall be kept cleaned, oiled, and repaired. Tools shall be carefully

inspected before use; switches must operate, cords shall be clean and free from defects, and plugs shall

be clean and sound. The switch on a tool shall be in the OFF position at the time the tool is plugged into a

receptacle. Tools shall be stored in a clean, dry place.