sleeping days, you will probably experience fa- tigue. The results of fatigue vary from person to person, but   fatigue   always   reduces   your   mental   alertness, increasing the chances of a mishap occurring. Motion  Sickness Anything that hinders your normal alert behavior can  cause  a  mishap.  Motion  sickness  can  weaken, distract, disorient, and cause you severe nausea. In the early stages of motion sickness, you may experience a decrease  in  responsiveness  and  mental  alertness.  These symptoms may increase carelessness, which can lead to a mishap. Your reduced mental alertness will degrade your   decision-making   abilities.   This,   in   turn,   can increase your chances of having a mishap. As motion sickness progresses, you may be drowsy and have cold sweats  and  nausea. COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE MISHAPS Mishaps can occur when there is a breakdown in the passing,  receiving,  or  understanding  of  information. The   most   common   communication   problem   is misunderstanding  the  message  being  sent  to  you.  Your brain reacts to what  it thinks it hears, not necessarily what  it  hears.  Mishaps  can  also  stem  from  language barriers. You can’t understand a message if the person sending  the  message  doesn’t  speak  clearly  enough. EQUIPMENT DESIGN FACTORS THAT CAUSE MISHAPS Poorly  designed  equipment  and  improperly  placed controls  can  cause  mishaps.  Controls  that  can’t  be reached  quickly  and  easily,  emergency  controls  pro- tected  by  cumbersome  interlocks,  and  displays  that  are difficult to read are examples of design problems that can  cause  mishaps.  Now,  refer  to  the  Navy   Occupa- tional Safety and Health (NAVOSH) Program Manual for  Forces  Afloat,  OPNAVINST   5100.19,   and   read chapter  A6. Also  read  enclosure  (4)  Afloat   Safety   Program (OPNAVINST 5100.21). The  information contained in these publications will enhance your knowledge of the overall Mishap Prevention Program. MISHAP  PREVENTION Why  is  mishap  prevention  necessary?  Because the product of the Navy is national defense, the quality of   your   performance   must   be   far   superior   to   that of  any  potential  adversary.  The  Navy’s  business is deadly serious. It’s conducted by professionals, re- stricted  to  limited  resources,  and  allows   no  room for  waste.  Mishaps  produce  waste.  Therefore,  when mishaps are reduced, waste is reduced, and readiness is improved. The  Navy  also  considers   your  safety  to  be  as important   as   productivity.   Unlike   most   civilian businesses whose safety efforts are directed at reducing on-the-job  mishaps,  Navy  mishap  prevention  efforts give you complete coverage, both on and off the job, regardless  of  your  duty  status,  location,  or  mission. Mishap prevention is a vital part of your job. By preventing mishaps, you avoid injury to yourself and damage  to your equipment. When you think of mishaps, you probably think of deaths. But in 1991, aboard ships and  submarines  and  ashore,  for  every  death,  there  were 111  mishaps  that  resulted  in  equipment  damage  or personal  injury. Mishap  prevention  is  the  process  of  eliminating mishap-producing   causes.   The   goal   of   the   Navy’s mishap  prevention  program  is  to  prevent  mishaps  from occurring  or,  once  they  have  occurred,  to  prevent  them from recurring, The Navy’s mishap prevention program consists  of  activities  directed  to  eliminate  (1)  unsafe acts of persons, and (2) unsafe mechanical, physical, or chemical  working  conditions. The best way to prevent mishaps is to eliminate the factors  that  lead  to  mishaps.  This  can  involve  anything from a minute of extra effort by you that costs nothing to lengthy   planning   and   work   by   many   people   at considerable cost. It all depends on the nature of the unsafe  condition. The authority to correct an unsafe condition may involve   any   level   of   the   chain   of   command.   The following four avenues are available to you. 1. Order correction where authority permits. If you have the authority to do so, don’t delay ordering unsafe conditions corrected. Delay means exposure of other people to the unsafe condition. If you’re uncertain about   the   best   correction   method,   talk   to   your supervisor   immediately. 2. Report conditions to higher authority.  If you don’t  have  the  authority  to  correct  the  unsafe conditions,   then   promptly   report   the   hazardous   or 1-8