PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-589
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 589
DECEMBER 2001
PS 589
3
PS 589
DEC 01
2
Safety-of-Use Messages.
..
I
t’s just plain bad business when information is available
that can prevent damage to equipment and injury to per-
sonnel—and you haven’t seen it.
Sad to say, many maintenance facilities and the soldiers
that work in them either never see the information found in
safety-of-use messages (SOUM), don’t understand what
they’re supposed to do with the information, or don’t keep
track of whether the messages are being followed.
SOUMs direct you to do something to avoid danger to
crew and damage to equipment. And an SOUM’s impor-
tance comes right out of AR 750-1.
SOUMs pertain to any defect or hazardous condition, actual or potential, where
a high or medium safety risk condition has been determined according to AR 385-
16,
System Safety Engineering and Management,
that can cause death or serious
injury to personnel or damage to equipment. These messages are classified into
three categories.
what the
heck is an
soum!?
Here’s
HOW TO
GET
SOUMs
a
rr
g
h
!
“Commanders at all
levels will ensure
prompt compliance
with requirements
dictated by
safety-of-use
messages.”
Note that AR 750-6,
ground safety
notification system,
covers procedures
for issue, compliance
and management of
ground-based
equipment
SOUMs…
…and AR 95-3,
Aviation: general
provisions, training,
standardization and
resource manage-
ment,
covers the
same information
for
aircraft.
SOUMs should come through
regular chain of command routes. If
they don’t, contact your DS unit,
Logistics Assistance Office (LAO)
or Safety Office. Make sure
some-
one
sends you SOUMs every time
they get them.
Deadline SOUM
Orders to cease operations and use
of a specific model, series or design
of equipment, or to cease perform-
ance of certain tasks.
Technical SOUM
Guidance that requires actions or
inspections that, if the hazardous
situation is present, will deadline
the equipment.
Operational SOUM
Guidance that changes operating
procedures or imposes limits on the
use of equipment.
Here’s a rundown of
the various
types of
SOUMs
and
what they
require
589. 02-05 (C)
10/25/01
1:14 PM
Page 1
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