U.S. Navy Ship Salvage Manual Volume 6 - Oil Spill Response

S0300-A6-MAN-060low. Although solvents and high-pressure-water washing facilitate cleaning, some manual scrubbingis always required, especially when intricate surfaces have been oiled.3-9.3 Equipment Handling. Handling mistakes cause much damage to response equipment.Extra measures are needed to prevent equipment damage during demobilization.Equipment usually is most efficient and is damaged least in its design environment. For example,containment boom, designed to be in the water, is seldom damaged in the water. Damage to boomoccurs when it is streamed or retrieved from the water, transported or otherwise moved—mostoperational damage to boom occurs during demobilization. Boom can be torn when dragged overrocks or when impaled by a careless forklift operator. Equipment damage and the costs associatedwith repairs or replacement can be reduced by thinking out all equipment-handling operations andeliminating identified hazards. Supervisors must be alert to signs of indifference or haste on thepart of operators who are anxious to complete the operation. Equipment should be handled withthe same care and given the same protection during demobilization as during mobilization.3-33