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HEALTH HAZARD ASSESSMENT (HHA) PROGRAM

The HHA program supports defense acquisition programs via an integrated effort intended to reduce occupational health hazard risks associated with use of materials and throughout the life cycle of materiel. This program performs assessments and recommends controls of identified health hazards associated with weapon systems, munitions, hazardous materials, fuels, equipment, clothing, training devices, and more. Navy Medicine provides this service for acquisition programs supporting submarines, surface vessels, aircraft, vehicles, weapons systems, and shore activities. The HHA is designed to assist with maintaining operational readiness, capabilities, and performance by reducing the risk of health hazards associated with use of materials and throughout the life cycle of materiel.

Risk assessment and management is a cyclical process involving hazard anticipation and identification, risk assessment, identifying control options, making risk decisions, mitigating risk including control implementation, and evaluation of risk mitigation and control measures. HHAs will provide valuable information for the risk assessment process and can be requested by U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps activities to inform acquisition program managers of potential health effects during the use of a product, chemical, or the operation of equipment. Assessments may be requested to evaluate new products or processes, consider changes to previously evaluated products and processes, or address reformulations of products.

More information on requesting a HHA can be found here: NMCFHPC IH ATS REQUESTING HEALTH HAZARD ASSESSMENT June 2023

If the request is related to a weapon system, additional information for weapons acquisition program managers can be found here: NMCFHPC IH ATS REQUESTING WEAPONS HHA Oct 2024

Examples of HHA request topics include:

  • Weapons or Weapons Systems - evaluated per the DoD System Safety Standard, MIL-STD-882E
  • Military Specification screening - comparing products against military specifications (e.g., MIL SPEC, MIL-PRF, MIL-DTL) documents for compliance with hazardous materials, toxicity, noise or other occupational health related restrictions.
  • Shipboard Hazardous Material Control and Management
    • Products being considered for addition to the Qualifying Product List (QPL) and for stock number assignment.
    • Hazardous material screening and categorization under the Shipboard Hazardous Material Minimization Program and listing on the Ship Hazardous Material List (SHML) through SHML Feedback Reports (SFR).
    • Cleaning products considered for listing in the US Navy Surface Ship Authorized Chemical Products and Dispensing Systems Catalog (S6480-A4-CAT-010). This program is transitioning to adding authorized products directly to the SHML under the Technical Purchase Description (TPD)criteria.
    • Newly developed products for performance demonstration testing.
  • Program-based Evaluations - assessing chemicals, including green alternatives, for use in specific scenarios. Sample categories include corrosion prevention, thermal insulating materials, alternative fuels, fuel biocides and naval research processes.
  • Submarine Materials - evaluating products and processes to derive a category recommendation under the Submarine Atmosphere Control Manual (S9510-AB-ATM-010 of 15 Mar 12) and subsequent listing by NAVSEA on the Submarine Material Control List (SMCL).

The HHA program is carried out under BUMEDINST 6270.8C. Specific requirements for the HHA process requirements are further defined in internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for references, writing and review.



Web Resources
Clinicians

Clinical guidance, including recognition, management and clinical isolation guidance are generally covered by CDC: CDC Clinical Overview

Clinical management for Fleet medical personnel can be found in the NMCFHPC Fleet Mpox Medical Guidance

Clinical guidance for MTFs can be found in the DHA Mpox Guidance Update_5Sept2024

Currently, neither mpox testing nor treatment are readily available in a forward deployed operational setting. Units should identify suspected cases, isolate them, and move them for care at an MTF when operationally feasible.


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