SRF-JRMC Conducts Spill Prevention and Response Training
Story and photo by Keiichi Adachi, CFAY Public Affairs

While other training attendees look on, five volunteers respond to a simulated spill as part of a mock small spill drill after the classroom session was completed.
講習を受けた後、他の参加者が見守る中、５名のボランティアが小規模流出事故の実施訓練を受けた。

CFAY and SRF-JRMC Det. Sasebo personnel participate with SRF-JRMC Yokosuka production shop workers in Spill Prevention and Response training. SRF-JRMC Environmental Division is responsible for planning and providing the training.
小規模流出事故対応トレーニングにSRF-JRMC工場従業員と共にCFAY、SRF-JRMC佐世保分所の従業員が参加。環境課はSRF-JRMCの工場で働く従業員へトレーニングの計画と実施の責任を担う。

In the ship repair business, it is essential for personnel to identify and properly respond to minor spills of petroleum, oil, and lubricant (POL) and other hazardous materials within shops, external work areas, and on board ships using the correct procedures and equipment and in compliance with regulations and best practices.

Members of the Environmental Division at U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) recently hosted Small Spill Response training.

Environmental Engineer Hidemi Kakimoto served as the instructor for the training.

“The session was designed for 10 to 15 personnel and provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to small spills of POL, hazardous substances, and hazardous waste,” said Kakimoto. “This session is based on Japan Environmental Governing Standards (JEGS) and combines theoretical and practical exercises that are simple and effective that allow participants to learn better practices for limiting the incidence and spread of spills over a wide range of scenarios. The session also outlines methods and potential difficulties of spill clean-up.”

The Environmental Division is responsible for Spill Prevention and Response training for all SRF-JRMC Yokosuka production shop workers. The division planned the training and then invited environmental personnel from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) and SRF-JRMC Detachment Sasebo to participate with SRF-JRMC Yokosuka employees. This provided an opportunity for all personnel to gain handson experience in spill management from SRF-JRMC Environmental experts. This was a great opportunity to leverage resources and share spill management training with CFAY and detachment Sasebo, according to Bill Ingersoll, director of Occupational Safety, Health and Environment at SRF-JRMC.

“This session also provides a basic understanding of the importance of pre-planning for a spill and the start of an action plan; determining if a spill is hazardous or non-hazardous and what to do if it is hazardous; importance of the material safety data sheet (MSDS); providing personnel with an awareness of the environmental requirements; confidence on how to use emergency spill response equipment; knowledge of the type of spill response equipment available and its usage; knowledge [of] the different types of absorbents and neutralizers that are available commercially, their generic characteristics, features and benefits; allowing participants to review and improve their own chemical handling techniques; and providing an overview for emergency plans, incident reporting, and disposal preferences,” added Kakimoto.
 
On a daily basis, the SRF-JRMC production shops conduct a wide variety of ship repair, maintenance and modernization for their fleet customers. To accomplish this, shop workers use various types of POL and hazardous material, often producing hazardous waste and other pollutants that must be safely and properly contained and then disposed of in order to prevent leaks and spills that could pollute the environment.

“Most POL accidents are [due to] unexpected reasons, but they are preventable,” Kakimoto said. “Employees and their supervisors need to follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) while doing their jobs. They should be aware of how important the SOP is. Even if you are aware, people around you may accidentally cause something unexpected to happen which may lead to negative results or chain reactions. We must always be careful while doing our jobs.

“During our daily work, we may not eliminate all spills, but we could reduce the frequency of spills and mitigate the impact of spills through the training and awareness that spill prevention is the first defense,” he said.

One attendee from CFAY stated his appreciation for the training opportunity and that he would like to see it extended to provide more hands-on participation in the mock spill training exercises.

According to Kakimoto, more than 85 percent of the attendees rated the training as comprehensive.

“During the training, I concentrated on improving everyone’s capability to perform their work,” he said. “This is my motivation throughout the training. The training requirements and concept of spill prevention and response are also part of our Environmental Management System.”
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S R F - J R M C 環境課、小規模流出事故対応トレーニングを提供
文・写真：安達慶一、CFAY広報課

工場内・外部もしくは艦船上で、少量の燃料、オイルや潤滑油（POL）またはその他の有害物質が流出した際、規則を遵守しつつ最善の慣行例に沿って正しい手順と器材を使用して適切な対処方を判断し、対処する能力が不可欠である。

米海軍艦船修理廠及び日本地区造修統括本部 (SRF-JRMC)の環境課は先ごろ小規模流出事故対応トレーニングを主催した。

環境エンジニアの垣本英臣さんがトレーニングの講師を務めた。「今回のセッションは POL、有害物質、有害廃棄物の小規模な流出の際に必要な知識とスキルを１０名から１５名を対象に行われました。トレーニングは日本環境管理基準（ＪＥＧＳ）を基本に理論と実践練習を交えたものであり、参加者には、多くの流出の想定に備えて、単純でも効果的に流出を最小限に且つその被害を最小限に抑える方法を学んでもらいました。また、流出に対する洗浄の方法と潜在的な難しさの要点もカバーしました。」

と垣本さんは説明した。労働安全衛生環境部部長のビル・イングソールさんによると、環境課はSRF-JRMCの工場で働く従業員への流出防止と対処トレーニングの責任がある。環境課はトレーニングを計画し、横須賀基地司令部（CFAY）とSRF-JRMC佐世保分所の従業員を招待した。これはCFAY と佐世保分所の人材の有効活用と流出管理トレーニングをシェアする良い機会であるという。

「このトレーニングでは流出の対処方と事前準備の重要性の基本的理解を習得します。それは流出が有害か無害かの判断、有害の場合の取るべき行動、『ＭＳＤＳ（資材安全データシート）』の重要性、従業員への環境要件の啓蒙、緊急流出対処道具の使用方法への自信、利用できる流出対処道具の知識とその使用法、市場にある異なる吸収物と中和剤の包括的特性、特質、利点の概要、参加者の持つ化学的扱い技術の見直しと改善、緊急計画、事実報告、好ましい破棄方法なども含まれます。」と垣本さん。

SRF-JRMCの工場では日常的に艦船に幅広い修理や整備、そして近代化工事を行っている。そのため工場では多種のPOLや有害資材の使用でしばしば産出される有害廃棄物や汚染物質の漏れや流出による環境汚染を防ぐために、安全且つ適切にそれらの保管と廃棄を行なわなければならない。

「ほとんどのPOLに関連する事故は予期せぬ理由で起こりますが、防止可能です。作業中に従業員とその上司が正しい手順（ＳＯＰ）に従うことが必要です。彼らがどれほどSOPが重要であるかを意識すべきです。たとえ意識していても周囲の人たちの偶発的な行動が悪い結果や連鎖反応に繋がることも有り得るのです。私達は作業中の更なる注意を喚起しなければなりません。」と垣本さんは話し、こう続けた。

「日々の作業で全ての流出事故をなくすことは不可能かもしれませんが、流出防止が肝心であるという趣旨のトレーニングや意識を通じて、流出事故の頻度の減少や流出のインパクトを軽減できます。」

CFAYから参加した１人はトレーニングに感謝し、もっと実地訓練に時間を割いて欲しいと感想を述べた。「85パーセントの参加者がトレーニングは包括的だったと評価してくれました。全参加者の作業能力が向上するようにトレーニングに集中しました。トレーニングの要件と流出防止と対処のコンセプトは我われが推し進める環境管理システムの一環です。」と垣本さんは言葉を締めた。