ALCOAST 376/22 - OCT 2022 TOWER CLIMBER QUALIFICATION PROCESS

R 042020Z OCT 22 MID200080299707U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 376/22
SSIC 11000
SUBJ: TOWER CLIMBER QUALIFICATION PROCESS
A. Aids to Navigation Structure Climber Personnel Qualification
Standards (PQS) Manual, COMDTINST M16500.14A
B. Fall Protection Program Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures
(TTP), CGTTP 4-11.15
1. The purpose of this ALCOAST is to identify tower climber
qualification requirements and certification process.
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 created 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 is administered by the
COMDT (CG-NAV-1) ATON Program Manager. This ALCOAST 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 ALCOAST does not apply to
ASCs or to climbers who rely on municipal emergency services for
rescues. ASCs shall follow the standards in REF (A). 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 (B). This ALCOAST does not apply
to CG members who are climbing structures on cutters.
4. Tower Climber Requirements. Effective immediately, tower
climbers shall complete the following training requirements:
a. Tower climbers must complete training from a SOPL-approved
commercial tower climbing training course for initial
certification. Regional CEUs do not provide tower climber
training. The courses listed on the SOPL C5I Asset Line page on
the CGPortal have been approved to meet qualification requirements
to obtain authorized or competent tower climber and rescuer
certifications in accordance with the most recent versions of
following industry standards:
(1) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z359.2 -
Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection
Program;
(2) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z490.1 -
Criteria for Accepted Practices in Safety; and
(3) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z359.1 -
The Fall Protection Code - Part of the Fall Protection Code.
(4) National Association of Tower Erectors
(NATE) Tower Climber Fall Protection Training Standard (NATE CTS)
b. Alternate courses providing equivalent training may also be
authorized. Members should follow the process outlined on the SOPL
CGPortal page identified in paragraph (9) below to request
approval for alternate courses. The SOPL Manager/CEU Miami
Commanding Officer is the approving authority for alternate
courses.
c. Member's unit shall fund all travel and fees for commercial
tower climbing courses. Tower climbing courses are considered
equivalent to class "C" schools and shall not be classified as a
conference.
5. Tower Climber Certification. Upon completion of an approved
commercial training course, personnel shall send their Course
Completion Certificate, Command Endorsement, and Tower
Certification Memorandum to the SOPL C5I Asset Line. Memorandum
templates are provided on the SOPL portal site. The CEU Miami
Commanding Officer will sign the memorandum, 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 shall have their own FPP
IAW REF (B). After members receive a signed memorandum from
CEU Miami, units shall designate these members according to their
FPP and ensure that the members are meeting recertification
requirements according to industry standards.
7. Recurring Training. CG personnel designated as qualified CG
tower climbers must perform and document all climbs to meet
industry standards for recertification. Commercial Tower Climber &
Rescue credentials must remain valid and all recurrent training
must be completed at a commercial tower climbing training course
in accordance with issuing agency. Tower climbing certificates
expire in accordance with industry standards. Current industry
standards require recertification after two years. Due to safety
concerns and high risk factors associated with tower climbing, no
members will be "grandfathered" into a different timeline for
their recertification.
8. CG personnel holding competency code TOWERTR are not authorized
to train CG personnel on tower climbing procedures or provide
recurring training for recertification.
9. Link to SOPL C5I Asset Line CGPortal page:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/silc/CE%20Product%20Lines/SO
/SitePages/SOPL%20Home.aspx

10. These policies will be codified in the SOPL Tower CSTO upon its
release.
11. POC: LCDR Kieron McCarthy, Strategic Operations Product Line,
at Kieron.D.McCarthy@uscg.mil or (786) 858-9345.
12. C. J. List, RDML, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and
Logistics (CG-4), sends.
13. Internet release is authorized.