What must be done with any additional hand signals?

For additional hand signals to be effective in a training or operational environment, they must be approved by the activity. This ensures that all personnel understand and use the signals consistently and correctly, which is crucial for maintaining safety and effective communication, especially in high-stakes situations like construction or maritime operations. Approval by the activity ensures that the signals are in line with established protocols and can be comprehensively communicated to all relevant team members, minimizing the risk of miscommunication.

Standardization is important for common signals, but without approval, there could be inconsistencies or confusion about the usage of the signals. Similarly, improvisation of signals may lead to misunderstandings and decrease safety. Documentation is essential for clarity and record-keeping, but the immediate need is for the signals to be authorized first. Thus, having a systematic approval process is key to ensuring that any additional hand signals are reliable and universally understood among the team.