flushed with high-pressure salt water for at least 10 minutes before they are disconnected and stored. Use of unapproved hoses and adaptors is prohibited due to the possibility of crossconnect ions with potable water lines. Under no circumstances will sewage transfer hoses be connected to potable water lines.
If wastewater is spilled onto the deck or pier during discharge, the affected area must be flushed with high-pressure salt water and disinfected if necessary.
As previously stated, sewage transfer hoses will normally be provided by the receiving activity. Sewage hose handling and storage facilities are designed to accommodate the repair, maintenance, and storage of transfer hoses. All hose handling and storage facilities are required to incorporate the following into their design and construction:
Wooden racks and tables for handling and storage are prohibited.
All windows and doors must be adequately screened to prevent entry of vectors.
Back syphonage devices must be installed on all potable water lines used for flushing and cleaning sewage transfer hoses.
Handwashing and shower facilities with hot and cold water, dispensable soap, and single use towels must be provided.
All indoor work spaces must be well ventilated.
The sewage hose handling and storage facility must be constructed, equipped, and operated by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
PERSONAL HYGIENE, SANITATION, AND SAFETY
Observing good personal hygiene and sanitary practices is essential to prevent the spread of contamination and the resulting outbreak of disease aboard ship.
Personnel who come in contact with sewage wastes must wear protective clothing and observe the following rules to minimize contamination:
Movement about the ship while wearing contaminated clothing must be kept to a minimum.
Contaminated clothing must be placed in plastic bags and laundered as soon as possible following cleanup operations.
Rubber boots, gloves, oxygen breathing apparatus (OBA) and other similar items must be cleaned with hot water and detergent and rinsed with an approved disinfectant solution. Personnel must thoroughly wash with soap and hot water as soon as possible before engaging in other activities.
Spaces that become contaminated with sewage as a result of leaks or spills or sewage system backflow must be thoroughly cleaned with detergent and water. In addition, food service spaces, berthing spaces, and medical areas must be treated with an approved disinfectant.
Bilges contaminated with sewage wastes must be pumped out, washed down, and pumped out again. If potable water tanks form the floor of the bilge, daily bacteriological monitoring will be performed until it is certain that the tanks are not contaminated. Furthermore, all potable water tanks suspected of contamination must be secured until the water is determined to be safe for consumption. Signs are posted in spaces containing MSD equipment warning against eating, drinking, or smoking in these spaces.
Personnel who handle or connect sewage transfer hoses will not handle potable water hoses without first washing and changing into clean clothing. No open flames, flashlights, or electrical apparatus will be in or near holding tanks until they have been certified gas-free. When the space is certified gas-free, personnel may enter using an approved OBA and wearing a safety harness and tending line if only one person is entering the space. If more than one person enters the tank, they must keep each other in sight at all times.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The presence of MSDs and the associated equipment and facilities aboard ship increase the risk of exposure to untreated wastewater, which in turn increases the potential for diseases associated with human waste. Medical Department representatives must become familiar with the MSDs on board their ship and knowledgeable in the proper personal hygiene practices and decontamination procedures concerning the