REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS IN THE WATER

R 131406Z JUL 11ALCOAST 330/11COMDTNOTE 5100SUBJ: REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS IN THE WATERA. SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MANUAL, COMDTINST M5100.47(SERIES), CHAPTER 31. PURPOSE: THIS ALCOAST FURTHER DEFINES THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTSFOR PERSONS IN THE WATER (PIW) DURING OPERATIONAL AND TRAININGMISHAPS.2. BACKGROUND: PERSONS IN THE WATER CAN RESULT FROM SEVERAL CAUSESSUCH AS ACCIDENTLY FALLING OVERBOARD FROM A VESSEL OR PIER, A BOATEJECTION, FALLS DURING BOARDING ANOTHER VESSEL OR CLIMBING AN ATONSTRUCTURE, ETC. ALTHOUGH THEY CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY ORFATALITY THESE ON-DUTY MISHAPS ARE NORMALLY REPORTED AS CLASS CMISHAPS DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE INJURIES.3. DISCUSSION: CURRENT MISHAP REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN REF A DO NOTENSURE THE TIMELY REPORTING/SHARING OF LOW CONSEQUENCE, HIGHPOTENTIAL (HIPO) MISHAPS. ALL HIPO EVENTS, INCLUDING PIW, SHOULD BEREPORTED TO ENSURE THE TIMELY MITIGATION OF HAZARDS AHEAD OF A HIGHCONSEQUENCE MISHAP. IN ADDITION, HOW THE PIW EVENT IS INITIALLYCATEGORIZED BY THE UNIT (OPERATIONAL, TRAINING, ETC.) HAS BEEN SHOWNTO DICTATE HOW THE EVENT IS REPORTED, E.G. A PIW AT A TRAININGCOMMAND WITH NO INJURIES WOULD BE CATEGORIZED AS NON-OPERATIONAL,INVESTIGATED LOCALLY, ENTERED INTO E-MISHAP AND MAY NOT BE SHAREDOUTSIDE THE COMMAND VIA MESSAGE.4. ACTION: A. ALL PIWS SHALL BE CLASSIFIED AS A CLASS C HIPO MISHAP, UNLESSTHE SEVERITY OF INJURIES REQUIRES A HIGHER CLASSIFICATION, AND BEREPORTED WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME FOR CLASS A AND B MISHAPS (TELEPHONEREPORT TO HQ COMMAND CENTER WITHIN 4 HRS FOLLOWED BY A PRELIMINARYMESSAGE REPORT WITHIN 12 HOURS USING THE E-MISHAP ONLINE SYSTEM TOGENERATE THE MESSAGE REPORT). B. THE MISHAP MESSAGE SHALL BE SHARED WITH THE APPROPRIATEOPERATIONAL AND TRAINING COMMUNITY. THIS CLARIFICATION OF POLICY WILLBE INCORPORATED INTO THE NEXT UPDATE TO REF A.5. 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) 475-5197.6. RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE,SENDS.7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.