Larry BrockshusMN Wg/SE

Sentinel Power Tool Safety

Complacency Expediency Situational Awareness Ownership

• CFIs know students place them and their aircraft in compromising situations. – How many mishaps have been caused by letting the

student take the aircraft beyond the ability of the IP to correct the situation as soon as the student does something unexpected.

– 2008 MN incident…tail ring strike on student landing.• “Unconscious Competency”. ..We all do it. – We are competent enough that we can do one thing,

even inter-act with other people, yet the mind is somewhere else.

– Did you ever take a long trip by car and wondered, frighteningly, “where did the last 10-miles go to?

4 The Sentinel — Civil Air Patrol’s Safety Newsletter — February 2009

• We have had MN wing aircraft taxi with the tow-bars still connected.

• What is your answer when a student or passenger asks: “So do you need to preflight again after you put fuel in during a cross country flight?”– Answer A: “No, We only inspect those parts you

don’t want to fail in flight”.– Answer B: “No, once is good for the full day.”

We have had MN wing aircraft attempt to land at an airport winds out of limits

This is at the core of our safety training. Review all those myriad topics; they all end or begin with “awareness” (of) something or other.

“Thus cometh the rogue pilot, thus cometh the infection of complacency and expediency.”

• In the 1960s CAP was equipped with WWII relics. Today we have equipment that reflect the faith and importance that the Air Force and U.S. government have in CAP. – $350,000 airplanes– $28,000 vans– $250,000 mobile command centers– Laptops, and printers, and radios. – Where ever I have traveled as a

• Most CAP people take enormous pride and self-disciplined ownership in every asset assigned to them.

• Yet, some have an attitude that betrays the enormous trust and National Treasure given out of the shared common interests of Americans. The trust de-valued as if somehow that airplane was a right and not an asset with a wholly specific purpose.

• Take ownership. “Return it in better condition than when I received it”

• What Are the Dangers of Power Tools?    Guards    Operating Controls and Switches    Electric Tools    Portable Abrasive Wheel Tools    Pneumatic Tools    Liquid Fuel Tools    Powder-Actuated Tools    Hydraulic Power Tools

• Keep all tools in good condition with regular maintenance.

• Use the right tool for the job. • Examine each tool for damage before use

and do not use damaged tools. • Operate tools according to the

manufacturers' instructions. • Provide and use properly the right personal

protective equipment.

• Hand tools are tools that are powered manually. • Hand tools include anything from axes to wrenches. • The greatest hazards posed by hand tools result

from misuse and improper maintenance.

• Some examples of hazards :– Using a screwdriver as a chisel , the tip of the chisel may

break– Loose handle on a tool, such as a hammer or an axe, the

head of the tool may fly off. – If the jaws of a wrench are sprung, the wrench might slip. – Impact tools such as chisels, wedges, or drift pins with

mushroomed heads, the heads might shatter on impact.

• Never carry a tool by the cord or hose. • Never yank the cord or the hose to disconnect it from the receptacle. • Keep cords and hoses away from heat, oil, and sharp edges. • Disconnect tools when not using them, before servicing and cleaning them, and

when changing accessories such as blades, bits, and cutters. • Keep all people not involved with the work at a safe distance from the work

area. • Secure work with clamps or a vise, freeing both hands to operate the tool. • Avoid accidental starting. Do not hold fingers on the switch button while

carrying a plugged-in tool. • Maintain tools with care; keep them sharp and clean for best performance. • Follow instructions in the user's manual for lubricating and changing

accessories. • Be sure to keep good footing and maintain good balance when operating power

tools. • Wear proper apparel for the task. Loose clothing, ties, or jewelry can become

caught in moving parts. • Remove all damaged portable electric tools from use

• Use gloves and appropriate safety footwear when using electric tools.

• Store electric tools in a dry place when not in use.

• Do not use electric tools in damp or wet locations unless they are approved for that purpose.

• Keep work areas well lighted when operating electric tools.

• Ensure that cords from electric tools do not present a tripping hazard.