ACN 084/18 - AUG 2018 CHANGE TO TOWER MANUAL CLIMBING QUALIFICATION PROCESS AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                                         CANCEL DATE   20 AUG 2019

R 210711 AUG 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-4//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N11000//
ACN 084/18
SUBJ:  CHANGE TO TOWER MANUAL CLIMBING QUALIFICATION PROCESS AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT
A. Tower Manual, COMDTINST M11000.4 (series)
B. Aids to Navigation Structure Climber Personnel Qualification Standard (PQS)
Manual, COMDTINST M16500.14 (series)
C. Fall Protection Program Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP), CGTTP 4-11.15
1. The purpose of this ACN is to announce a change to tower climber qualification
requirements and a change to the standard tower safety equipment listed in Chapter 2
of REF (A).
2. COMDT (CG-43) is engaging FORCECOM for long term program support and training
sustainment of Coast Guard (CG) tower climbing qualification requirements. As interim
guidance, the current qualification requirements have been updated to reduce fall
mishap risk and resolve issues with qualifications of personnel who transfer between
geographic regions.
3. Civil Engineering Unit (CEU) Miami as the Strategic Operations Product Line (SOPL)
has the authority to administer the Tower Climber Certification program CG-wide. The
Aids to Navigation (ATON) Structure Climber (ASC) program shall be administered by the
COMDT (CG-NAV-1) ATON Program Manager. This message applies to CG personnel climbing
any permanent structure that is taller than 20 feet, energized or non-energized, guyed
or free-standing, and requires an “in-house” or CG rescuer. This message does not
apply to ASCs or to climbers who rely on municipal emergency services for rescues.
ASCs shall follow the standards in REF (B). Any questions regarding ASCs shall be
directed to the COMDT (CG-NAV-1) ATON Program Manager. Climbers with municipal
emergency rescue shall comply with all requirements of REF (C).
4. New Tower Climbers. New tower climbers must attend a SOPL-approved commercial
tower climbing training course. Regional CEUs will no longer provide tower climber
training. The courses listed below have been pre-approved to meet qualification
requirements to obtain competent rescuer or authorized rescuer certifications in
accordance with industry standards: American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Standard Z359.2 - Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection
Program. Alternate courses providing equivalent training may also be authorized.
The SOPL Manager/CEU Miami Commanding Officer is the approving authority for
alternate courses. Attendance at any commercial course shall be unit funded.
    a. Gravitec Systems Inc. – Tower Climber and Rescue Competent Person
    b. SafetyOne Training Inc. – Complete both Basic and Advanced Fall Protection Safety and Rescue
    c. ComtrainUSA– Competent Climber and Rescuer
    d. Miller Fall Protection– Tower Training Competent Tower Climber and Rescuer
5. Tower Climber Certification. Upon completion of an approved commercial training
course, personnel must send their completion certificate and designation letter request
signed by their CO/OIC to: Commanding Officer, CEU Miami, Attn C4IT Asset Line. Once
CEU Miami issues the tower climber designation letter, CG personnel will hold the
competency code TOWERCL and are authorized to climb all non-ATON CG towers at any height
in any geographic region.
6. Current Qualified Climbers. Climbers qualified under the previous CEU Training
Program must have completed the course within the last two years, be actively climbing
(climbed a tower within the last year), and hold the competency code TOWERCL (CEU Tower
Climber) or TOWERTR (CEU Trainer). Current qualified climbers are granted a two year
phase-in period from the date of release of this ACN.
7. Recurring Training. CG personnel designated as a qualified CG tower climber must
perform and document all climbs and perform at least one rescue annually to maintain
the certification. The rescue shall be recorded in the CG Training Management Tool (TMT)
each year. Qualified CG tower climbers shall complete rescue refresher training at least
every two years from a competent rescue trainer (as described in Paragraph 4) to meet
fall protection and rescue requirements.
8. CG personnel holding competency code TOWERTR are no longer authorized to train CG personnel.
9. Additionally, the new CG standard for tower safety shall be the cable climb system
in lieu of the rigid rail climbing system. The SOPL is directed to install cable safety
climb systems on newly constructed towers in compliance with industry standards:
Telecommunications Industry Association Standard (TIA) 222-G and ANSI American National
Standards for Ladders – Fixed – Safety Requirements A14.3 – 2008. Existing towers with
rigid rail systems shall remain in place until replacement is required based on standard
maintenance schedules or material condition.
10. These changes will be incorporated into the next revision of REF (A) which will be
released within the next year.
11. Point of contact: LT Steph Wood, Strategic Operations Product Line, at
Stephanie.D.Wood@uscg.mil or (305) 278-6730.
12. Released by RDML M. W. Bouboulis, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics.
13. Internet release authorized.