ACN 136/19 - NOV 2019 TOWER CLIMBING QUALIFICATION PROCESS

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE         CANCEL DATE  20 NOV 2020

R 210946 NOV 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-4//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N11000//
ACN 136/19
SUBJ:  TOWER CLIMBING QUALIFICATION PROCESS
A. Tower Manual, COMDTINST M11000.4A
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 maintain tower climber qualification requirements
as an update to 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 ACN 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 ACN 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).
This ACN does not apply to CG members who are climbing structures on cutters.
4. New Tower Climbers. New tower climbers must attend a SOPL-approved commercial
tower climbing training course. Regional CEUs do not provide tower climber training.
The courses listed on the Strategic Operations Product Line C4IT Asset Line page on
the CGPortal have been approved to meet qualification requirements to obtain
authorized or competent 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. Members should follow the process on the
CG Portal page identified in paragraph (9) below to request approval for these courses.
The SOPL Manager/CEU Miami Commanding Officer is the approving authority for alternate courses.
Attendance at any commercial course shall be unit funded.
5. Tower Climber Certification. Upon completion of an approved commercial training
course, personnel must send their completion certificate and memo to the members of
the C4IT Asset Line. A memo template is provided on the portal site. The CEU Miami
Commanding Officer will sign the memo, issuing that member a tower climber designation
letter, with the TOWERCL competency code, making them authorized to climb all non-ATON
CG towers at any height in any geographic region.
6. Fall Protection Plan (FPP). Each unit should have their own FPP IAW REF (C).
After members receive a signed memo from CEU Miami, units should designate these
members according to their FPP and ensure that they are meeting recertification
requirements according to industry standards.
7. Recurring Training. CG personnel designated as a qualified CG tower climber must
perform and document all climbs to meet industry standards for recertification.
Members are responsible for knowing and abiding by industry standards to maintain
the certification.
8. CG personnel holding competency code TOWERTR are not authorized to train
CG personnel.
9. Link to SOPL C4IT Asset Line Portal Page:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/silc/CE%20Product%20Lines/SO/C4IT/default.aspx.
10. These changes will be implemented into the next revision of REF (A), which will be released
within the next year.
11. POC: LCDR Gregory McLamb, Strategic Operations Product Line, at
Gregory.A.McLamb@uscg.mil or (305) 278-6714.
12. Released by RDML N. A. Moore, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics.
13. Internet release is authorized.