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627th LRS takes initiative with their color coded equipment

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Keoni Chavarria
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  The 627th Logistics Readiness Squadron has taken the initiative by switching from yellow and black stickers, to red attachments with red tape to distinguish tools that produce over 85 decibels of sound.

In August, the squadron switched out all of the black and yellow stickers with posters and stickers of the silver air coupler and the red air coupler.

The silver coupler identifies equipment that produces less than 85 decibels and only requires single hearing protection. The red coupler identifies equipment that cannot be brought down to the 85 decibel level with single hearing protection and requires double hearing protection.

The change took place to assist personnel using the equipment to more easily identify whether the tool they need requires the use of single hearing protection or double hearing protection.

"Now with the queues and the visuals with the silver and the red differentiating, it allows people to benefit from it. When they see a red one, they know to wear double hearing protection and it has been briefed to all of LRS," said Airman 1st Class Tyler Hill, 627th Logistics Readiness Squadron fire truck maintenance.

Before the change took over, the stickers were replaced quarterly, but in some instances the stickers needed to be replaced more often. Because of the type of chemicals and abuse the stickers were exposed to, such as rubbing, they were worn out or made unreadable over time.

"The impact gun gets used constantly. The stickers might go bad in a week, depending on the job," said Master Sgt. Wayne Simmons, 627th Logistics Readiness Squadron section chief of multipurpose shop.

The change has taken change across all shops in the 627th LRS on McChord Field.