ALCOAST 346/24 - SEP 2024 SUPPORT EQUIPMENT PRODUCT LINE (SEPL) WEIGHT AND MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT (W/MHE) INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

R 041754Z SEP 24 MID600117602903U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 346/24
SSIC 11260
SUBJ: SUPPORT EQUIPMENT PRODUCT LINE (SEPL) WEIGHT AND MATERIAL
HANDLING EQUIPMENT (W/MHE) INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
A. U.S. Coast Guard Support Equipment - Weight and Material
Handling Program Policy, COMDTINST 11260.1
B. 29 CFR 1910.178
C. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B56.1, 56.2, 56.3,
56.4, 56.6, 56.9.
D. 29 CFR 1910.179
E. Aids to Navigation Manual - Seamanship, COMDTINST M16500.21A
1. IAW REFs (A) through (D), Coast Guard (CG) commands who have
custodial control and operate Support Equipment (SE), may now
perform required annual Material Handling Equipment (MHE)
inspections, if they have a command certified Support Equipment (SE)
designated competent person as defined in Paragraph 2. That person
shall be designated in writing and shall use a CG Support Equipment
Product Line (SEPL) approved Annual Inspection Maintenance Procedure
Card (MPC). The cards are located on the SEPL SharePoint page below
under "Inspections and Checklists".
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg4/SEProgram/SEPL/Shared%20
Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx

2. A SE competent person is defined by the COMDT (CG-44) SE Program
as any E-5, WG-7 or above equivalent pay grade employee, designated
in writing by the CO/OIC, who possesses the experience and/or
training and knowledge in applicable standards, and is capable of
identifying hazards and hazardous conditions related to the
operation of SE; with the authority to take prompt, corrective
measures to eliminate those hazards. The trust instilled in this
individual by the CO/OIC is reflective of the specific individual
to make safe, reliable decisions on behalf of the CO/OIC, based on
given circumstances. This designation is at the discretion of the
CO/OIC and may be rescinded at any time and will expire upon
permanent change of station or a change in position description.
Regardless of position or title, the designated competent person
shall be empowered to remove a SE asset from service when deemed
unsafe, until command and SEPL evaluations occur and authorize its
return to service.
3. Each CO/OIC with SE, shall designate any SE competent person(s)
in writing and retain with unit certification records until
transfer or otherwise rescinded. An example competent person
designation memorandum is provided on the SE Program SharePoint site
at the link below. The memorandum will be retained at the unit.
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/:f:/s/SEProgramandPL/EhApM5P2gcRMm51g
0yHt-s4BOsFMTE-DE642U9reKUV_GA?e=5bOczE

4. The primary user in coordination with the command responsible
for the SE (property owner) share the responsibility of providing
a safe SE asset to CG employees. Use of third-party inspections
such as parent commands, host commands, support commands, and/or
other CG units with designated SE competent person(s) is
authorized; however, CG employees who conduct the inspections
must have their SE competent person designation memo verified by
the unit receiving support. Commercial contracted support may also
be pursued in the absence of designated CG SE competent personnel.
Inspection scope for contracted vendors shall meet or exceed all
items on the applicable Weight and Material Handling Equipment
(W/MHE) annual inspection MPCs. Identification of W/MHE can be found
on the SEPL SharePoint site at SEPL MHE/WHE in Paragraph 7 below.
5. Annual inspections for mobile cranes will still require a
third-party contracted vendor certification and inspection by an
individual that meets inspector criteria established in REF (D).
This is due to the complexity of crane equipment, the test equipment
required, and the certification requirements needed by the
individual. The command responsible for the asset must provide the
contracted vendor with the SEPL approved MPC for mobile cranes,
located on the SEPL SharePoint site. Commercial vendors must meet
or exceed the inspection criteria listed and are expected to provide
the command with a dated certificate of inspection containing any
discrepancies or deficiencies that require repair. The unit can use
this deficiency report to submit a Technical Equipment Authorization
Request (TEAR) to the SEPL on the SharePoint site.
6. These inspection requirements apply to all W/MHE regardless of
enrollment status in the Electronic Asset Logbook (EAL).
7. Units will verify completion of MPCs on the SEPL SharePoint site
below. Units shall maintain hard copy records for a minimum of three
years, or until the assets are enrolled in a SEPL approved
Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg4/SEProgram/SEPL

8. In addition to these asset inspection requirements, all units
utilizing W/MHE shall perform pre-use inspections and periodic
inspections of their lifting appliances as defined in Paragraph 10.
Lifting Appliances are commonly referred to as rigging gear or loose
gear and includes equipment used in conjunction with W/MHE to
perform lifts and hoists. Units should maintain a record of these
periodic inspections in a unit generated record also known as a
Registry of Lifting Appliances (RLA). IAW REF (E), ATON units must
utilize a RLA.
9. Lifting appliance inspection guidance for shoreside W/MHE
operations will follow current evaluation criteria established by
the USCG National Aids to Navigation School (NATON) Buoy Deck
Training Team (BDTT) MPCs. Any lifting appliance that fails
inspection and is deemed non-repairable will be removed from
service, rendered unusable or destroyed, and disposed of IAW CG
property management publications.
10. The National Aids To Navigation School (NATON) provides
instructional materials for conducting inspections of lifting
appliances. These materials can be located at the NATON training
page linked from the SEPL SharePoint site listed in Paragraph 7.
Units can replicate these materials to establish their own RLA,
tailored to their equipment and needs.
11. Mechanical hoisting and lifting attachments, purpose built and
approved for use on W/MHE by the SEPL, such as personnel baskets,
overhaul buckets, pipe and piling grapples and adjustable fork
carriages are regulated under 29 C.F.R. 1926.1400-(b) and are NOT
considered lifting appliances as defined by International Labor
Organization Convention No. 52, incorporated by reference in
29 C.F.R. 1918.11. If the W/MHE attachment mechanically connects and
is controlled by the primary W/MHE via hydraulic, electric, or
mechanical means, it will also require annual inspections for
structural and mechanical integrity. Attachment inspections are
covered in the respective asset MPC.
12. Units shall begin completing safety inspections on all W/MHE
upon release of this message. All W/MHE and lifting appliances shall
be inspected by 30 Sep 2024.
13. On 01 Oct 2024, any W/MHE without a completed safety inspection
will be considered delinquent. Any lifting appliances not inspected
will also be considered delinquent. Delinquent assets and/or
appliances will not be authorized for use.
14. Commands retain the authority to grant a temporary operational
waiver not to exceed 90 days for a specific asset or for a specific
asset appliance, if it has a current inspection and a SEPL
acknowledged TEAR documenting the discrepancy. As with any waiver,
careful consideration must be taken to determine if the need to
operate outweighs the risk to personnel safety.
15. Commands unable to meet these inspection requirements due to
lack of resources shall contact SEPL via EAL or TEAR to request
assistance prior to any inspection becoming overdue or expiring.
Either notification method will initiate SEPL assistance.
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

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

16. Units will continue to report all support equipment requests
for maintenance, parts, or replacement assistance using the TEAR
process.
17. The direction in this message will be included in a revision to
REF (A), which will be released within the next year.
18. POC: CG Support Equipment Program Manager (CG-441),
Ms. Jen Ozley: Jennifer.D.Ozley@uscg.mil or Support Equipment
Product Line Manager, Mr. Joe Sump: Joseph.G.Sump@uscg.mil.
19. RDML A. Grable, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and
Logistics (CG-4), sends.
20. Internet release is authorized.