PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-634
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 634
SEPTEMBER 2005
Always
read the
material safety data sheet (MSDS)
about each chemical you use.
PS 634
SEP 05
41
Commo
Equipment…
Before
you start
to chemically
clean your commo
equipment, there
are a few things
you need to do…
Prepare to Be Safe
Use a face shield or splash goggles
when using a chemical cleaner. NSN
4240-00-202-9473 or NSN 4240-00-542-
2048 brings a face shield. NSN 4240-00-
190-6432 or NSN 4240-01-292-2818
brings a pair of splash goggles.
Sometimes the scuttlebutt will tell you
that a shield or goggles is not needed for
a certain chemical. Maybe that word’s
right, but why chance it? Besides, is there
any chemical that you want splashed in
your eyes?
Wear disposable chemical resistant
gloves. Chemicals not only ruin the skin
on your hands, but soak into your body. If
you use them regularly, you’re putting
more toxic chemicals into your body than
you might think.
Drying is Important, Too
Never use more than 30 psi com-
pressed air to dry commo equipment
you’ve cleaned. And use only com-
pressed air when the equipment was
cleaned with soap and water or a water-
based compound.
Never use compressed air to dry
parts when a solvent cleaner has been
used. Solvents must dry at their own
pace to ensure they dissipate over a
period of time. Quick-drying with
compressed air puts a higher concen-
tration of solvent fumes in the air and
could cause illness or an explosion.
Good, Good, Good Ventilation
Good ventilation is a must when you
clean with chemical cleaners. Ven-
tilation disperses fumes over a wide
area and dilutes their toxic potential.
Poor ventilation concentrates those
fumes and allows them to be drawn into
your lungs.
Most cleaning jobs don’t require a
respirator, but some might. If you have
any doubts, check with your supervisor
or safety office before you begin your
cleaning chore.
Do Some Reading
Read TB 43-0135,
Environmen-
tally Safe Substances for Use with
Communications-Electronics
Equipment.
This will tell you the
things you can and can’t use when
cleaning your commo equipment.
Don’t depend on your equipment
TM to tell you what chemicals to
use. Some contain out-of-date infor-
mation.
Don’t have the TB? Have your
pubs clerk order it. It’s also available
on the Logistics Support Activity
(LOGSA) website:
Click on Publications and Forms.
If you have questions about a
cleaning substance, email
Half-Mast:
what to know
before
you clean
Wear
goggles
or
face
shield
Wear gloves for
extra protection
TB 43-0135
TECHNICAL BULLETIN
ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE
SUBSTANCES FOR USE WITH
COMMUNICATIONS-
ELECTRONICS
EQUIPMENT
Distribution Statement A.
Approved for public release;
distribution is unlimited
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
1 JUNE 1994
famous last
words:
“I don’t need a
respirator
to
do
this
job”.
634.40-41(C).qxd
7/29/05
11:41 AM
Page 1
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Half.mast
Half.mast@us.army.mil
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