R 071835Z OCT 11

ALCOAST 472/11
COMDTNOTE 5100
SUBJ: REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS IN THE WATER
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 131406Z JUL 11/ ALCOAST 330/11
B. SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MANUAL, COMDTINST M5100.47
(SERIES), CHAPTER 3
1.CANCEL REF A.
2.PURPOSE: THIS ALCOAST REVISES THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR
PERSONS IN THE WATER (PIW) DURING OPERATIONAL AND TRAINING MISHAPS.
3. BACKGROUND: PERSONS IN THE WATER CAN RESULT FROM SEVERAL CAUSES
SUCH AS ACCIDENTLY FALLING OVERBOARD FROM A VESSEL OR PIER, A BOAT
EJECTION, BOARDING ANOTHER VESSEL OR CLIMBING AN ATON STRUCTURE, ETC.
THESE ON-DUTY MISHAPS ARE NORMALLY REPORTED AS CLASS C MISHAPS
DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE INJURIES, ALTHOUGH THEY CAN RESULT IN
SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITY.
4. DISCUSSION: CURRENT MISHAP REPORTING REQUIREMENTS DO NOT ENSURE
THE TIMELY REPORTING/SHARING OF LOW CONSEQUENCE, HIGH POTENTIAL
(HIPO) MISHAPS. ALL HIPO EVENTS INCLUDING PIW ARE REPORTED TO ENSURE
THE TIMELY MITIGATION OF HAZARDS AHEAD OF A HIGH CONSEQUENCE MISHAP.
IN ADDITION, HOW THE PIW EVENT IS INITIALLY CATEGORIZED BY THE UNIT
(OPERATIONAL, TRAINING, ETC) HAS BEEN SHOWN TO DICTATE HOW THE EVENT
IS REPORTED, I.E. A PIW AT A TRAINING COMMAND WITH NO INJURIES WOULD
BE CATEGORIZED AS NON-OPERATIONAL, INVESTIGATED LOCALLY, ENTERED INTO
E-MISHAP AND MAY NOT BE SHARED OUTSIDE THE COMMAND VIA MESSAGE.
5. ACTION:
   A. ALL PIWS SHALL BE CLASSIFIED AS CLASS C HIPO MISHAPS, UNLESS
THE
SEVERITY OF INJURIES REQUIRE A HIGHER CLASSIFICATION, AND BE REPORTED
TO COMDT (CG-113) WITHIN 12 HOURS OF AN INCIDENT VIA MESSAGE TRAFFIC
USING THE E-MISHAP ONLINE SYSTEM. PREVIOUS REQUIREMENT TO REPORT TO
HQ COMMAND CENTER WITHIN 4 HOURS IS NOW RESCINDED. THE MISHAP MESSAGE
SHALL BE SHARED WITH THE APPROPRIATE OPERATIONAL AND TRAINING
COMMUNITY. ALL OTHER REPORTING REQUIREMENTS REMAIN IN EFFECT AS PER
REF (B).
   B. SUBJECT LINE TO READ - MISHAP, PIW. NARRATIVE TO INCLUDE
INFORMATION AS TO WHAT TYPE OF PFD WAS WORN AND WHETHER THE PFD
OPERATED PROPERLY. ALSO, INCLUDE HOW LONG THE PIW WAS IN THE WATER.
6. POCS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
   A. AFLOAT SAFETY: MR. GEORGE BORLASE,
GEORGE.W.BORLASE(AT)USCG.MIL,
(202)475-5218.
   B. SHORE SAFETY: CDR LAURA H. WEEMS, LAURA.H.WEEMS(AT)USCG.MIL,
(202) 475-5216.
   C. AVIATION SAFETY: MISS CATHIE ZIMMERMAN,
CATHIE.ZIMMERMAN(AT)USCG.MIL, (202) 475-5197.
7. RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE,
SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.