Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) affixed their P100s and completed respirator training 11 July.

Proper use of PPE is an essential part of staying safe on Truman, not only in cases of emergencies, but also for anyone doing maintenance or using toxic paint.

“A respirator is designed to keep you safe from contaminants and chemical products during painting and maintenance projects,” said Electronics Technician 1st Class Lawrence Okiyih, a safety department instructor.

Knowing when a respirator is essential to complete specific tasks is something that Sailors need to know.

“If you’re painting on the flight deck, then you don’t need a respirator, but if you’re painting in a closed-in room, then you do need a respirator,” said Okiyih. “If you have any questions as to why you need a respirator, come talk to us in the safety department and we’ll let you know.”

However, Sailors also need to know what kind of respirators are needed for which jobs and how long the cartridges last.

“We recommend usage for a maximum of 8 hours,” said Hull Maintenance Technician 1st Class Nicholas Sybrowsky, a member of the safety department. “Basically, if you’re painting a space for multiple days, then you should come back and get a new cartridge or let us know ahead of time so that we can adapt to those needs.”

Sailors must complete the required medical clearance form and have a current physical health assessment before attending respirator training. Upon completion of the class, Sailors will be issued a respirator card that will last one year.

“I’d suggest that anyone E-5 and junior come over and knock out this training,” said Okiyih.

Truman is currently underway conducting composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG).

COMPTUEX is an intensive, month-long exercise designed to fully integrate units of HSTCSG, while testing the strike group's ability as a whole to carry out sustained combat operations from the sea. Ships, squadrons and staffs will be tested across every core warfare area within their mission sets through a variety of simulated and live events, including air warfare, strait transits, and responses to surface and subsurface contacts and electronic attacks.

HSTCSG is scheduled to deploy later this year. Strike group elements participating in COMPTUEX include Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing One; staffs from Carrier Strike Group 8 and Destroyer Squadron 28, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60); and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) and USS Farragut (DDG 99).

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