Investigation Into Sub Fatality Blames Victim

[livvy]

Investigation Into Sub Fatality Blames Victim
Command cited for ‘shortcomings’ in safety, training

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Nov 29, 2008 7:01:51 EST



Machinist's Mate 3rd Class (SS) Michael A. Gentile died Sept. 21 after becoming “entangled and pinned” in the rudder ram during a cleaning evolution aboard the submarine Nebraska, according to the Naval Safety Center's Web site.



PH1 Michael Rinaldi / Navy A sailor who died Sept. 21 after he was injured aboard the submarine Nebraska had become “entangled and pinned” in the rudder ram during a cleaning evolution, according to the Naval Safety Center's Web site.


SAN DIEGO — A Navy investigation into the Sept. 20 death of a submariner found that the sailor got himself into a deadly situation while trying to clean up some oil aboard the ballistic missile submarine Nebraska during its weekly “Field Day.”

Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class (SS) Michael A. Gentile became crushed and pinned in the rudder ram in the submarine’s “shaft alley” at its far aft section when Nebraska, operating near the Hawaiian islands that morning, changed course, according to an investigation the Navy released Wednesday. Despite efforts by crew members to stem blood loss, Gentile died aboard a Coast Guard helicopter en route to the military hospital on Oahu.

Investigators found that Gentile, 21, had ignored warning signs posted in the aft auxiliary area, and he stepped into an area to place absorbent cloths in the space, likely expecting the rudder mechanisms wouldn’t move while he got the cleaning done.

Gentile “went beyond a posted warning sign and safety chain and placed himself in dangerous proximity to specifically marked moving components of the rudder ram,” Rear Adm. Tim Giardina, who commands Submarine Group-Trident in Silverdale, Wash., wrote in an endorsement of the report completed by Submarine Squadron 17 under the Judge Advocate General’s Manual. Gentile “disregarded these visual safety warnings.”

But Giardina and investigators also found some “shortcomings” in Nebraska’s chain of command, specifically lack of enforcing safety rules and the cleaning habits and practices in shaft alley, where some sailors had taken to using sticks or bilge grabbers to reach and clean its tight confines.

more...


http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/navy_nebraskadeath_112608w/%2e

[midnight]

1. It sounds like Michael A. Gentile lost his life due to a design flaw.

Michael A. Gentile sounded like he was given no choice but to maintain a dangerous zone that left him totally without options. "the cleaning habits and practices in shaft alley, where some sailors had taken to using sticks or bilge grabbers to reach and clean its tight confines."

[speedoo]

2. Thanks for posting this.

I'll read later.