ALCOAST 262/08
COMDTNOTE 5100
SUBJ: COAST GUARD SAFETY POLICY AND PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES FOR
SAFETY FOOTWEAR (SAFETY SHOES) AND PRESCRIPTION SAFETY EYEWEAR FOR
CIVILIAN AND MILITARY MEMBERS
A. OSHA STANDARDS FOR GENERAL INDUSTRY, 29 CFR 1910
B. SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MANUAL, COMDTINST M5100.47
C. BASIC PROGRAM ELEMENTS FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES OSHA, 29 CFR 1960
D. RESCUE AND SURVIVAL SYSTEMS MANUAL, COMDTINST M10470.10 (SERIES)
E. AVIATION LIFE SUPPORT MANUAL, COMDTINST M13520.1 (SERIES)
F. UNIFORM REGULATIONS MANUAL, COMDTINST M1020.6E (SERIES)
G. MEDICAL MANUAL, COMDTINST M6000.1, (SERIES)
1. DISCUSSION.  THE COAST GUARD ACTIVELY STRIVES TO PROTECT ITS
PERSONNEL BY ASSESSING AND CONTROLLING RISKS. THE BEST MEANS OF
PROTECTING PERSONNEL FROM EXPOSURE TO HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE IS
TO ELIMINATE OR MINIMIZE HAZARD EXPOSURE THROUGH ENGINEERING
CONTROLS.  IF THIS IS NOT FEASIBLE, ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS THAT
REDUCE EMPLOYEE EXPOSURE TO THE HAZARD SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.  IN
SITUATIONS WHERE NEITHER OF THESE METHODS CAN BE EMPLOYED,
REFERENCES A AND B REQUIRE THE EMPLOYER TO CONDUCT A HAZARD RISK
ASSESSMENT AND IDENTIFY HAZARDS THAT ARE PRESENT.  REFERENCE C,
REQUIRES THE EMPLOYER PROVIDE APPROPRIATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT (PPE) TO AFFECTED EMPLOYEES AT RISK TO HAZARDOUS
EXPOSURES.  THE EMPLOYER IS FURTHER REQUIRED TO TRAIN EMPLOYEES TO
USE THE PPE AND ENFORCE ITS USAGE.  EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO USE
THE PROVIDED EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR PROTECTION.  TO CLARIFY THE
ACCEPTABILITY FOR UNITS TO PROVIDE SAFETY GEAR, THIS MESSAGE
ESTABLISHES POLICY FOR COAST GUARD PROCUREMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF
SAFETY SHOES AND PRESCRIPTION EYEWEAR FOR COAST GUARD MILITARY AND
CIVILIAN PERSONNEL EXPOSED TO WORKPLACE HAZARDS REQUIRING THESE
ITEMS.
2. POLICY.  UNIT COMMANDING OFFICERS AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE SHALL
ENSURE A WORKPLACE HAZARD RISK ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AT
EACH WORKPLACE BY SAFETY AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, TO DETERMINE THE
NEED FOR AND TYPE OF SAFETY FOOTWEAR AND EYEWEAR TO PROTECT
EMPLOYEES.  THIS POLICY CHANGE WILL BE REFLECTED IN REFERENCE B
DURING THE NEXT REVISION.  FOR HEADQUARTERS LEVEL SAFETY PROGRAMS
(RESCUE AND SURVIVAL SYSTEMS, AVIATION LIFE SUPPORT, ORDNANCE),
REFERENCES D AND E WILL APPLY.
 A. MILITARY PERSONNEL.  FOOTWEAR SHALL BE STANDARD UNIFORM SAFETY
SHOES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCE F, UNLESS WORKPLACE HAZARD RISK
ASSESSMENT INDICATES A SPECIALTY TYPE SHOE IS REQUIRED.  EXCEPT
WHERE THE WORK ENVIRONMENT CAUSES AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RATE OF
DETERIORATION, MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT OF SAFETY SHOES IS THE
MEMBERS RESPONSIBILITY. SAFETY PRESCRIPTION EYEWEAR WILL BE
PROVIDED PER REF G.
 B. CIVILIAN PERSONNEL.  CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WORKING IN AREAS
REQUIRING SAFETY FOOTWEAR OR EYEWEAR WILL BE PROVIDED THESE ITEMS
USING STANDARD PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) PART 8. HOWEVER, CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO WEAR PRESCRIPTION SAFETY EYEWEAR MUST OBTAIN
THE PRESCRIPTION AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. THE SUPPLY SOURCE AND
PROCUREMENT OF SAFETY FOOTWEAR AND EYEWEAR ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE IN
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.
3. EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
 A. ALL PERSONNEL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SHALL BE OF APPROPRIATE
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE WORKER FOR THE
PARTICULAR WORK PERFORMED.  PERSONNEL SHALL USE ONLY THOSE ITEMS
THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AND APPROVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
FOLLOWING STANDARDS. SAFETY SHOES SHALL CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS
OF THE ASTM F2413-05 STANDARD. WHEN SAFETY SHOES EXHIBIT WEAR, SUCH
THAT SAFETY PROTECTION IS NO LONGER AFFORDED, THE EMPLOYEE SHALL
CONTACT THEIR SUPERVISOR AND REQUEST A REPLACEMENT PAIR.  WHEN NEW
SAFETY SHOES ARE PROVIDED IAW PARA. 2 ABOVE, THE OLD PAIR SHALL BE
DESTROYED. FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL, PRESCRIPTION SAFETY EYEWEAR
SHALL MEET ANSI Z87.1-1989 2003 HIGH IMPACT STANDARDS AND MAY BE
PROVIDED WHEN CURRENT SAFETY EYEWEAR IS NO LONGER USABLE OR WHEN
THE MEMBERS PRESCRIPTION CHANGES.
 B. BOAT FORCES PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT SHALL MEET
SPECIFICATIONS LISTED IN REF D.  FLIGHT CLOTHING SHALL MEET
SPECIFICATIONS LISTED IN REF E.
4. FOR QUESTIONS CONCERNING PPE PROCUREMENT, CONTACT MR. MICHAEL L.
SMITH, CG-1132 AT 202-475-5205, EMAIL MICHAEL.L.SMITH4(AT)USCG.MIL
OR LT FRANCISCO ESTEVEZ, CG-843, AT 202-372-3656, EMAIL
FRANCISCO.A.ESTEVEZ(AT)USCG.MIL.
5. CAPT. LORI A. MATHIEU, ACTING, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND
WORK-LIFE SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.