ALCOAST 294/25 - JUN 2025 UPDATE - SAFE TO OPERATE REQUIREMENTS FOR WEIGHT AND MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT (W/MHE)

R 301545Z JUN 25   MID120002045311U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 294/25
SSIC 11260
SUBJ: UPDATE - SAFE TO OPERATE REQUIREMENTS FOR WEIGHT AND
MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT (W/MHE)
A. United States Coast Guard Regulations 1992, COMDTINST 5000.3B
B. Support Equipment - Weight and Material Handling Program,
COMDTINST 11260.1
C. Control of Hazardous Energy - (Lockout/Tagout) Shore,
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 (SE) defined in
REF (B). This guidance 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 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/sites/cg4/SEProgram/Shared%20
Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?csf=1&web=1&e=VxSnoG&CID=d6bd9b2d%2Df5
4c%2D44f7%2Da31f%2D18989822285e&FolderCTID=0x01200001ED67AEBEB0394E8
D1B8981977E90EF&id=%2Fsites%2Fcg4%2FSEProgram%2FShared%20Documents%2
FSTO%20Guidance

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 on the Support Equipment Program SharePoint Page at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

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

Units with assets enrolled in EAL shall report equipment
discrepancies through EAL.
11. 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.
12. RDML Amy B. Grable, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and
Logistics (CG-4), sends.
13. Internet release is authorized.