PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-554
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 554
JANUARY 1999
Store in
locked
cabinet
with
warning
label
M41 PATS . . .
Help for PATS
the accessories (except the battery and
alcohol bottle), a point of contact at
your unit (name and phone number),
and your unit ID code (UIC).
If you do ship PATS yourself, notify
your local TMDE group so they can
enter your PATS in their database for
tracking purposes.
Normally, USATA will need less than
a week to calibrate a PATS.
For more information, contact
USATA’s Greg Boggs at (256) 955-
8138, DSN 645-8138, or e-mail him at
dboggs@tmdeccstmp.redstone.army.mil
M8A1 Chemical Alarm . . .
If you operate the M8A1 indoors or
in a vehicle, you must use an outlet
filter to trap any radioactive particles.
Replace the filter if it becomes clogged
or damaged. When you’re done with
a filter, you must handle it with dis-
posable gloves. Then put the gloves
and filter in a plastic bag, which goes
into a metal container. Dispose of the
tection officer (RPO), or Environ-
mental Protection Agency office can
usually get you some.
One thing you don’t want to store in
that cabinet with your M43A1 detec-
tors is radiacmeters. The radiation from
the M43A1s affects the radiacmeter
readings.
Because of the radioactive source,
the M43A1 must be wipe-tested by
support for leaks every 12 months. If
it’s overdue, the M43A1’s NMC and
you could be written up. Check the
label on the detector cell to see when it
was last tested. If it’s overdue, get it
tested ASAP. For more details,
see TACOM-ACALA safety-of-use
message 98-02. It’s on the Internet at
container
through
your local RPO. De-
tails are in Para 4-13 of TM 3-6665-
312-12&P.
You can make installing and remov-
ing the outlet filter easier with a snap-
on adapter, NSN 4730-01-350-1584.
Once the adapter’s on, you won’t have
to take off the air outlet nut to put on
the filter.
Remember to report all incidents
involving lost or damaged devices
con-taining radioactive material to your
local RPO or safety officer immediately.
For details, see TACOM-ACALA
ground precautionary message (GPM)
98-01. You can find the message on the
TACOM-ACALA Internet site or get
a copy from your TACOM-ACALA
logistics assistance representative.
Outlet filter must be disposed of properly
Check
label
for last
wipe
test
you
ha ven 't
been
following
the
radiation regulations
on the m8 alarm,
have you?
how
can you
tell?
PS 554
41
JAN 99
PS 554
40
he M43A1 detector for the M8A1
alarm has a radioactive source that re-
quires special storage and treatment by
NBC NCOs.
Regulations require you to store
M43A1s in a locked room or caged
area with a radioactive caution sticker
posted on the door. The best place to
store M43A1s is in a locked metal
cabinet with a caution sign on the front.
There is no NSN for the sticker, but
your local safety office, radiation pro-
NBC NCOs, you no longer need to
send your M41 protection assessment
test set (PATS) back to the manufac-
turer for calibration or repair. The Army
has taken over those jobs.
You can either turn in your PATS to
your local TMDE group for shipment,
or ship it directly to:
US Army TMDE Activity (USATA)
ATTN: AMSAM-TMD-SS
Bldg 5435, Fowler Rd
Redstone Arsenal, AL
35898
Pack PATS in a cardboard box for
shipment. Include the PATS case, all
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