ALCOAST 234/24 - MAY 2024 SAFE TO OPERATE REQUIREMENTS FOR WEIGHT AND MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT (W/MHE)

R 301813Z MAY 24 MID120001151926U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 234/24
SSIC 11260
SUBJ: SAFE TO OPERATE REQUIREMENTS FOR WEIGHT AND MATERIAL HANDLING
EQUIPMENT (W/MHE)
A. United States Coast Guard Regulations 1992, COMDTINST M5000.3B
B. U.S. Coast Guard Support Equipment - Weight and Material Handling
Program Policy, COMDTINST 11260.1
C. Control of Hazardous Energy - (Lockout/Tagout) Shore Tactics,
Techniques, and Procedures (TTP), CGTTP 4-07.2A
D. Risk Management (RM), COMDTINST 3500.3A
1. This ALCOAST establishes minimum safe-to-operate (STO) criteria
for non-shipboard Weight Handling Equipment (WHE)/Material Handling
Equipment (MHE) and basic lifting requirements, to be used by
Operational Control (OPCON), CO/OIC, and mission support elements in
their planning and decision processes. Per REF (A), the CO/OIC
is responsible for the safety, efficiency, and well-being of the
command. This ALCOAST is one tool to help commands assess their
ability to meet mission demands that are achieved through the safe
use of a special category of Support Equipment defined in REF (B).
This policy does not alleviate the responsibility of commands to
make ready-for-operations decisions considering multiple criteria
including, but not limited to: training, personnel, weather, and
mission readiness.
2. Equipment that experiences a disabling or restrictive discrepancy
identified in paragraph 3 does not meet the minimum STO criteria.
That asset must be tagged out and identified to the Support
Equipment Product Line (SEPL) using the Technical Engineering
Authorization Request (TEAR) process.
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/TEAR

3. A disabling discrepancy is any single discrepancy, or a
collection of multiple discrepancies that will render the Support
Equipment (SE) unable to move and/or perform any mission. When a
disabled condition indicates the asset is unusable until repairs are
affected, the status of the asset will be changed to Not Mission
Capable (NMC). Disabling discrepancies include but are not limited
to:
    a. Engine oil pressure (psi) at or below OEM low limit.
    b. Engine coolant/cooling system temperature at/or above OEM high
limit.
    c. Engine will not start.
    d. Any flat tire or broken track/skid.
    e. Lifting mechanism will not engage.
    f. Failure, at any level, of ANY load and/or incline safety
system(s).
    g. ANY gauge is malfunctioning or disabled.
    h. Back-up/reverse alarm is disabled.
    i. Forks/hook or any purposed lifting point is cracked or cannot
be inspected.
    j. Cracked or damaged overhead guard, Falling Object Protective.
Structure (FOPS) or Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS).
    k. Any leak in the lifting system of the equipment.
    l. Any leak in the fuel system.
    m. Frayed, damaged, or crushed wire rope in the primary lifting
system.
    n. Any discrepancy the unit CO/OIC or SE Product Line Manager
deems as disabling.
    o. Broken or improperly functioning vehicle braking system,
including emergency brake.
    p. Illegible or destroyed safety or warning signs or decals.
    q. An invalid or expired annual inspection/weight test.
    r. Fire extinguisher missing or expired.
    s. Any exhaust leak entering the operator's cab.
    t. Any electrical system component that produces unintentional
sparks creating an ignition hazard.
    u. Outriggers or stabilizers not functioning properly.
    v. Any operator protective system, is missing or not-functioning.
4. A restrictive discrepancy is any single discrepancy, or a
collection of multiple discrepancies that restricts the equipment's
ability to perform at least one operational mission. After the
discrepancy has been entered into the asset's Maintenance Records,
or identified to the SEPL via the TEAR process, the asset status
will be updated to Partially Mission Capable (PMC) with details in
the remarks stating the limits and capabilities of the piece of
equipment. Restrictive discrepancies include:
    a. Any minor leak in the primary engine lube oil system (minor
as determined by unit CO/OIC).
    b. Broken hot-start system (only if critical to expected
response limits).
    c. Broken cabin heating/cooling systems if CO/OIC deems critical
to crew fatigue.
    d. Uncalibrated gauges that the Commanding Officer states are
within safe range.
    e. Tire pressure exceeding or below equipment OEM recommended
PSI.
    f. Fire extinguisher bracket not functioning as designed.
    g. GPS (if installed) encountering error or weak signal.
    h. Minor exhaust leak not effecting operator.
5. If an asset has any disabling discrepancies, tagout procedures
identified in REF (C) must be used to prevent the inadvertent
energizing or startup of machinery, equipment, or systems that could
endanger personnel or equipment. These procedures also prevent
improper operation of machinery, equipment, and systems when safety
devices (e.g., locking devices, seals, or blank flanges) are
installed for testing, maintenance, or casualty correction.
6. Equipment operators must perform a weight handling pre-brief with
their crews to include the number of lifts/hoists, load calculations
and limits, safety zones, hand signals, Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE), and GAR 2.0 risk assessment results as required by
REF (D).
7. Equipment operators and their crew must adhere to the safe
operating procedures identified on the SE Program page.
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/:w:/s/cg4/SEProgram/EaVG0BNP-7tMon48
S1cp-_UB8Swjrh1moVKl6bMijweqog?e=RNrbqg

8. Before using W/MHE with disabling or restrictive discrepancies
(as identified in paragraphs (3 and 4)), the CO/OIC should consult
with the SEPL to develop a mitigation strategy prior to granting a
waiver. COs and OICs have the authority for determining if the
risk versus gain is acceptable and granting a temporary waiver for
the support equipment to be operated in its degraded condition. COs
and OICs may immediately authorize a temporary waiver for mission
critical scenarios; however, the SEPL should be contacted at the
earliest convenience following the waiver.
9. The daily and pre-mission inspection checklists by support
equipment class are located on the SEPL SharePoint site in the
Inspections and Checklists tab. They list the minimum threshold of
critical equipment and systems necessary to operate WHE or MHE
without a waiver. This ALCOAST is not intended to alter or relieve
existing requirements to meet personnel safety and environmental
health regulations.
10. Units will continue to report all support equipment requests
for maintenance, parts, or replacement assistance using the TEAR
PROCESS posted on the Support Equipment Program SharePoint Page
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/siteas/TEAR

Units with assets enrolled in EAL shall report equipment
discrepancies through EAL.
11. These changes will be included in the next update to REF (B),
which will be released within the next year.
12. This message will be cancelled 29 MAY 2025.
13. POC: CG Support Equipment Program Manager (CG-441),
Mrs. Jen Ozley: Jennifer.D.Ozley@uscg.mil or Support Equipment
Product Line Manager, Mr. Joe Sump: Joseph.G.Sump@uscg.mil.
14. RDML Amy B. Grable, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and
Logistics (CG-4), sends.
15. Internet release is authorized.