Range Safety Questions and Answers Already Passed

Range Safety Questions and Answers Already Passed publications that are used as guidance for range safety on all Marine Corps ranges? AR 385-63/MCO 3570.1 DA Pam 385-63 DA Pam 385-63 provides implementation guidance for the Marine Corps Range Safety Program and has data of weapons systems SOP Each range or range complex will have its own standard operating procedure (SOP). The SOP for an installation will have installation-specific instructions for range safety. You must read the most current SOP for the range that you will be using. USMC Range Safety Pocket Guide summarizes the policies and procedures needed to conduct a live-fire event. Contains information on surface danger zone (SDZ) setup for weapon systems. The Pocket Guide also provides the OIC and RSO with a checklist that will assist them with their most common tasks. SOUM Safety Of Use Memorandums (SOUM) are how the Range and Training Area Management (RTAM) Branch provides range safety information and guidance to the Marine Corps Total Force. This guidance is directive until the SOUM is cancelled, changed or written into the Range Safety Order. RCO who controls the logistics and administrative duties of the range complex provides coordination of ranges in installation complex? OIC responsible for the overall safe conduct of range exercises. He is weapon system knowledgeable and has completed a range safety certification program. RSO Range Safety Officer main priority is safety. He is weapons system qualified and has completed a range safety certification program. The RSO cannot participate in the training. LRSO Directing the safe use of lasers is the LRSO's focus. Can serve as both an RSO and LRSO for a training event. In addition to completing a range safety certification program, the LRSO must also complete the Range Laser Safety distance learning Course. Components of a range land, waterway, airspace, (firing lines & positions, maneuver areas, test pads, detonation pads, impact areas, electronic scoring sites, buffer zone w/ restricted access, exclusionary areas land area of a range start & cease fire lines, target areas, impact areas airspace any one of several types of controlled & uncontrolled airspace required to support range operations. May include restricted areas, warning areas, military operating areas, air traffic control assigned airspace waterways sea space is the operating area neccesary to contain live fire & support ship to shore training Primary components water, land, air Impact areas designated areas, ordnance contained, access - restricted Impact area purpose contain hazards associated with ordnance being fired access restricted fences, barriers, guards, or a combination to protect unauthorized personnel Types of impact areas dedicated, high hazard, temporary Dedicated Impact Area normally associated with non-sensitive ammunition and explosives. These areas can be very dangerous due to possible dud ammunition. Access will be strictly controlled by range control. large areas multiple firing ranges. High Hazard Impact area permanently designated to contain sensitive ammunition and explosives. These areas are very dangerous because they contain high explosives and sensitive unexploded ordnance. Never enter a high-hazard impact area without permission from range control. Temporary Impact Area normally for small arms or non-dud-producing ammunition. This type of impact area exists only for the length of an exercise. Coordinating use of navigable waters installation commander will coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure proper notification of: Waterways involved, Operations to be conducted, Sector of waterway that must be restricted Notices to airmen and mariners pilots, air traffic controllers, & mariners must be informed of location, dates, & times when range operations will pose a safety risk notice to airmen issued by FAA notice to mariners issued by National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGIA) local notice to mariners Issued by USCG purpose of a danger zone (DZ) designate areas that protect personnel and property from dangers during training and, to the extent practicable, during combat. design of the DZ intended to prevent injury to personnel or damage to property by identifying hazardous boundaries of ricochets and fragmentation associated with live fire training. DZ boundary determined by the type of weapon system and the munitions being used. Types of DZs surface DZ, laser surface DZ, weapon DZ surface DZ danger zone area for munitions fired from the ground. laser surface DZ specific type of danger zone when lasers are in use. weapon DZ danger zone for air-delivered munitions. ballistic footprint firing pattern created when a weapon is tested firing a certain ammunition at a certain target media. Characteristics of firing pattern are measured to create an SDZ Standard SDZ for small arms cone and bat wing Cone SDZ is typically used when conducting training that does not involve fire and movement or fire and maneuver. Bat Wing SDZ provides greater containment of ricochets. It will be used when designing or conducting training that involves fire and movement, fire and maneuver, flanking fire, or when ricochet hazards outside the range complex boundary may endanger nonparticipating personnel. Cone SDZ components distance X, dispersion area, ricochet area, area A Distance X max distance a projectile (including guided missiles and rockets) will travel when fired or launched at a given elevation with a given charge or propulsion system. Dispersion area contains projectiles after making initial contact with the target medium. Area within the surface danger zone located between the gun target line (GTL) and the ricochet area. Ricochet Area contains projectiles after making initial contact with the target medium. Defined as an additional 5 degrees off the dispersion area line on the left and right sides. Area A secondary danger area or buffer zone that laterally parallels the impact area or ricochet area depending on the weapon system. Area A contains fragments, debris, and components from frangible or explosive projectiles and warheads functioning on the right or left edge of the impact area or ricochet area. For non-explosive projectiles Area A is a standard 100m in width. For explosive projectiles, the width varies by weapon and munition Batwing SDZ components distance X, dispersion area, distance Y, angle P, angle Q, distance W, ricochet area, major difference b/w cone & batwing SDZ size & shape of ricochet area Distance Y maximum distance downrange at which lateral ricochet is expected to occur when a projectile is fired at a given quadrant elevation Angle P defines the area beginning at the firing point, located to the left and right of the dispersion area, which contains projectiles after making initial contact with the target medium Angle Q defines the area beginning at distance Y, located to the left and right of the dispersion area, which contains projectiles after making initial contact with the target medium. Distance W maximum lateral distance a projectile will ricochet after impacting within the dispersion area. Distance W defines the maximum lateral edge of the ricochet area. RM 5 steps identify hazards, assess hazards, make risk decisions, implement controls, supervise Identify Hazards protect personnel, property, and the mission. Assess Hazards For each hazard identified, determine the associated degree of risk in terms of probability and severity (risk assessment matrix) RAC represents the overall risk of a hazard 3 types of control administrative, engineering, ppe administrative action reduce risk through administrative action (walk-through/safety brief) Engineering controls engineering methods to reduce risks by design, material selection, or substitution when technically or economically feasible. PPE kevlar helmet / appropriate gear supervise step of RM monitoring the effectiveness of the controls that are implemented and identify new hazards. primary communication Almost always a radio. Primary frequency will be designated by range control. backup frequency is normally designated by range control in case the first frequency fails secondary communication If primary fails a cease fire is in effect until its fixed. Range specifics are detailed in SOP. Most likely landline telephones or cell phones. Secondary comms not used for normal exercise communications Red Artillery Streamer much larger than the red streamer and is used for large exercises because it can be seen from farther distances. Should be hung in prominent positions to warn people that they are entering a live fire range area. Certain ranges require hanging a red artillery streamer. Be sure to read the SOP for your range to find if and where the artillery streamer is to be hung for the exercise you are conducting. lateral limit marker establish the left and right boundaries of fire. red flashing light night firing exercises or anytime when an exercise takes place in reduced visibility conditions. general emergency steps cease fire, provide first aid & contact range control, maintain comms with range control until told otherwise MEDEVAC Proceudures the OIC will inform range control of: • Type of MEDEVAC to request (air or ground) • Number of patients and type of injury • Location of the patients • Possible hazards to aircraft or medical vehicles at the site • Methods of marking the site if needed for pickup • Source of injuries • Patient's age, sex, blood type, name, grade, and SSN