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Part 24 Diving, Fishing and Other Marine Operations

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Diving Operations - General Requirements

General Requirements

24.7 Application

Sections 24.7 to 24.68 apply to all persons involved in any occupational diving operation.

24.8 Supervisor's responsibility

Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

* See section 117 of the Workers Compensation Act.

24.9 Notice of project

(1) The employer must submit a notice of project for diving activity, or notify the Board by telephone, at least 24 hours before commencing a diving operation which involves

(a) construction diving,

(b) engineering inspection diving,

(d) diving under ice, under or between nets, or into other areas of potential entrapment,

(e) exceeding the no-decompression limit, or

(f) the use of mixed gas other than nitrox as a breathing medium.

(2) The notice of project must indicate the date, the location, the diving equipment to be used and the scope of the diving operation.

(3) Before diving commences, a copy of the notice of project must be posted at the worksite, or if notification is provided by telephone, a written summary of that notification that contains the information required by subsection (2) must be posted at the worksite.

(4) If in an emergency it is not practicable to notify the Board prior to the start of a diving operation, the Board must be notified as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after the diving operation has begun.

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 253/2001, effective January 28, 2002.]

24.10 Medical certification

(1) The employer must ensure that each diver has current medical certification, from a physician knowledgeable and competent in diving medicine, before commencing diving operations.

(2) A diver's medical certification must be

(a) established prior to entry into any commercial diving activity,

(b) renewed every 2 years up to age 39 and annually from age 40 onwards,

(d) re-evaluated by a physician knowledgeable and competent in diving medicine if the diver is subjected to an event or has a physical condition which may affect the diver's medical status.

(3) A copy of each diver's medical certification must be kept at the dive site.

Note: The Workers' Compensation Board maintains a list of physicians knowledgeable and competent in diving medicine.

24.11 Diver's fitness

(1) A diver must not dive if, in the opinion of the diving supervisor, the diver is incapable of functioning safely underwater.

(2) A diver must be medically re-examined, as required by the diving supervisor, to ensure that the diver is fit to dive.

(3) Divers, standby divers and divers' tenders must not participate in any diving operation if they are physically or emotionally fatigued or if they have consumed drugs or alcohol which would impair their ability to work safely.

24.12 Training

(1) A diver must not dive unless the diver has been thoroughly trained in the theory and use of the diving apparatus that the diver will be using.

(2) The training required by subsection (1) must be provided by a person or agency acceptable to the Board.

(3) All divers, diving supervisors and divers' tenders must be trained in CPR, oxygen (O₂) therapy, and diving accident management.

24.13 Evidence of competency

(1) The employer and diving supervisor must ensure that all divers

(a) meet the minimum requirements of CSA Standard Z275.4-97 Competency Standard for Diving Operations, and

(b) are competent to use the diving equipment that will be used in the diving operation.

(2) A certified copy of competency documents for each diver must be available for inspection on site by an officer.

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

* See also section 4.4 of the OHS Regulation.

24.14 Diving logs

(1) Each diver must have, and keep for 2 years after the last entry, a personal log containing a record of all

(a) dives carried out, and

(b) medical recompressions and other exposures to a compressed air/mixed gas environment.

(2) The records in a diver's personal log must be in chronological order and each dive must be verified and initialled by the diving supervisor.

(3) The records for each dive must include

(a) the type of diving apparatus used and the gas medium breathed,

(b) the times the diver left the surface, reached and left the bottom, and returned to the surface,

(d) the surface interval, if a repetitive dive,

(e) the decompression tables that were used,

(f) the date the dive was undertaken, and

(g) remarks (such as name of employer, unusual incidents).

(4) The diving supervisor must keep a separate log of the diving operation containing the information required by subsection (3).

(5) The diving supervisor's log must be filed with the employer upon completion of the operation.

(6) All current logs must be available at the dive site for inspection by an officer.

24.15 Dive site equipment

When diving is in progress, the dive site must be provided with

(a) a current list of facilities with hyperbaric chambers capable of providing emergency treatment,

(b) the locations and phone numbers of the nearest hospital and available emergency assistance,

(c) if the no-decompression limit is to be exceeded, a 16 mm (5/8 in) synthetic line, marked at appropriate intervals for decompression stops, weighted and of sufficient length to reach the maximum depth for the dive,

(d) a first aid kit and an oxygen (O₂) therapy unit with sufficient capacity to reach emergency medical services,

(e) one complete set of acceptable dive tables and one copy of this Regulation,

(f) an appropriate means for entering and leaving the water, including a means for rescuing an incapacitated diver,

(g) equipment to provide voice communication with emergency services personnel, and

(h) other equipment as may be required by the Board.

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 348/2003, effective March 30, 2004.]

24.16 Lifelines

Divers tended on a lifeline must wear a suitable diver's harness and lifelines must be

(a) securely fastened to the diver's harness, but not attached to the diver's weight belt,

(b) free of knots and splices,

(d) tended at all times by a diver's tender.

24.17 Safe diving procedures

(1) Every employer engaged in diving operations must prepare and publish a set of safe diving procedures which include

(a) safe procedures and health requirements for each type of diving in which workers may be involved,

(b) all the procedures to meet the applicable requirements of this Regulation, and

(2) The safe diving procedures must be kept at the dive site, readily available to all workers, and available for inspection by an officer.

24.18 Diving supervisor's worksite duties

(1) Each diving operation must be directed by a diving supervisor whose duties include

(a) evaluating the hazards,

(b) planning the dive,

(d) ensuring that all needed equipment is available and in good working condition, and

(e) controlling the entire diving operation.

(f) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

* See section 117 of the Workers Compensation Act.

(2) The diving supervisor must prepare a detailed plan of the diving operations which must be given to the worksite employer before diving commences.

(3) The diving supervisor must

(a) remain in the dive area during diving operations,

(b) delegate the supervisory responsibilities to another diving supervisor, if required to enter the water, and

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

24.19 Crew briefing

Immediately before each dive, the diving supervisor must brief all persons involved in the diving operations about

(a) the hazards which may be encountered during the dive,

(b) the intended duration of the dive and the maximum depth to be reached,

(d) the location of other divers,

(e) the work to be done,

(f) specific recall signals, and

(g) emergency procedures to be followed.

24.20 Diver's responsibilities

(1) Each diver must satisfy the diving supervisor that he or she fully understands the signals and procedures in use.

(2) Except in the case of accidental or unavoidable circumstances, a diver must not remain or be permitted to remain at any depth longer than the maximum time planned for that dive.

(3) In any diving operation the diver must inform the tender or diving partner and must proceed to the surface under any of the following conditions:

(a) if any malfunction in diving gear occurs;

(b) on receipt of any signal which cannot be understood;

(d) on receipt of a recall signal;

(e) when the main air supply is near depletion;

(f) if the emergency apparatus/air supply is being used;

(g) in the event of excessive leakage to a dry type of diving suit which may affect the diver's buoyancy.

24.21 Diving tables

(1) Diving operations, repetitive dives, and treatment of divers, must be carried out in strict accordance with tables and procedures published or approved by the Defense and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine (Canada).

(2) Sport diving tables must not be used.

(3) Diving computers must not be used in place of primary diving tables.

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

* See also section 4.4 of the OHS Regulation.

24.22 Decompression procedures

(1) During diving operations which require decompression, a reserve breathing supply with sufficient reserve to bring divers to the surface with appropriate decompression stops must be available and ready for immediate use.

(2) Whenever planned dives will exceed the no-decompression limit

(a) the divers must be equipped with a bailout bottle containing a minimum 1.4 m³ (50 ft³) of breathing medium,

(b) an approved double lock hyperbaric chamber in operable condition with overriding outside controls and appropriate air facilities must be located so that travel time by available transport will not exceed 30 minutes,

(d) a chamber operator must be available on the surface at the dive site or at the hyperbaric chamber.

(3) A dive must not exceed the no-decompression limit if the hyperbaric chamber is occupied.

24.23 Diver care and transportation

(1) The diving supervisor must ensure that on completion of decompression, the diver remains under observation in the general area of the hyperbaric chamber for a period of time to ensure the well-being of the diver.

(2) If a diver shows signs of pressure related illness or requires therapeutic recompression, the diving supervisor must ensure that treatment is initiated immediately and a physician knowledgeable in hyperbaric medicine is notified.

(3) If it is necessary to transport a diver suffering a diving ailment by air, provision must be made to furnish the patient with oxygen and the flight altitude must be prescribed by the attending physician or the diving supervisor.

24.24 Medical alert tag

A diver must wear a medical alert tag or bracelet stating the diver's status and indicating the possibility of decompression sickness or other diving illness, for at least 24 hours after completion of diving.

24.25 Hyperbaric chambers

Hyperbaric chambers must conform to standards acceptable to the Board and must be provided with

(a) a means of extinguishing a fire,

(b) an oxygen monitoring device,

(d) an adequate supply of air, including an emergency reserve supply to complete any decompression and treatment procedures.

24.26 Breathing mediums

(1) If air is used as the respirable medium in diving operations it must meet the requirements of CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z275.2-92, Occupational Safety Code for Diving Operations, with the exception of the water vapour standard.

(2) The air supplied by compressors for breathing air in diving operations must be tested at least annually to ensure that it meets the requirements of subsection (1).

(3) If mixed gases in other than the normal proportions of respirable air are used for breathing by divers, the diving supervisor must ensure that

(a) the diving procedures and schedules of work, and decompression are in accordance with the recommendations of a competent authority, and

(b) prior written authorization has been received from the Board to use mixed gases other than nitrox and that the authorization is kept on the dive site, available for inspection by an officer.

(4) The following requirements apply to operations using nitrox mixes:

(a) procedures and mixes must be acceptable to the Board;

(b) all workers involved with nitrox diving must be trained in the procedures to a standard acceptable to the Board;

24.27 Breathing apparatus

(1) All breathing apparatus and associated delivery systems must be correctly installed and tested for function before each use.

(2) The breathing apparatus, accessories and applicable service records must be available for inspection by an officer, and service records must be available to workers on the dive site.

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

* See also section 4.3 of the OHS Regulation.

24.28 Compressor intake

The compressor intake must be located so that the breathing medium will not be contaminated by gasoline vapours, engine exhausts, or other objectionable impurities.

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

* See also section 4.3 of the OHS Regulation.

24.29 Gauges and meters

(1) Gauges and meter equipment must be tested every 6 months or whenever a malfunction is detected, and errors found must be corrected without delay.

(2) If the equipment is removed from service, the specific problem with the equipment must be identified.

24.30 Warning devices

When any diving activity is taking place, warning devices must be displayed as follows:

(a) marker buoys must be used to display warning devices (flags, lights, lamps, or flares) to define the limits of the diving area, and boats other than those connected with the diving activity must be kept clear of the diving area;

(b) in navigable waters the recognized diver's flag must be flown or prominently displayed;

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

Note: The recognized diver's flag is a red square with a white diagonal stripe from the upper hoist to the lower fly. [Note revised October 29, 2003.]

24.31 Rescue boat

If divers are operating from floating equipment, a suitable power boat, ready for immediate use, must be available on the dive site, for rescue or escape.

24.32 Hoists

(1) If a hoisting device is required to lower or raise the diver it must not be used for any other purpose until the diver has been recovered.

(2) All directions to the hoist operator must be given by either the diver, the diver's tender or the diving supervisor.

24.33 Standby diver

(1) A standby diver must be

(a) on the dive site and able to render assistance at all times when diving operations are in progress,

(b) trained and equipped to operate at the depths and circumstances of the dive, and

(2) A standby diver on the surface may also perform other duties provided such duties do not compromise the standby diver's ability to promptly render emergency assistance to the divers.

(3) When the diving supervisor can assure that the depth of the dive will not exceed 18 m (60 ft) and no hazards are present, 2 divers in the water may act as standby for each other provided that

(a) each diver is free swimming,

(b) the no-decompression limit is not exceeded,

(c) each diver has been trained to effectively rescue a diver in trouble and has demonstrated this ability to the diving supervisor's satisfaction,

(d) the divers are in close proximity to each other at all times so as to be able to effect rescue, and

(e) the divers are in constant audio communication with each other and the surface, or when using scuba they maintain constant physical or visual contact with each other.

(4) In subsection (3) "no hazards are present" includes but is not limited to a dive made in good weather conditions, where there are no appreciable currents, where there is good underwater visibility, no possibility of entanglement with underwater objects, and good access and egress to and from the dive site.

24.34 Dangerous occurrence reports

(1) An incident investigation report meeting the requirements of Part 3 of the Workers Compensation Act and Part 3 of this Regulation (Rights and Responsibilities) must be submitted to the Board as soon as possible if any of the following occurs during a diving operation:

(a) injury or death;

(b) convulsions or serious impairment of consciousness during or after a dive;

(d) lung overpressurization;

(e) any serious mishap, even though the diver escapes actual injury, or a series of events which render equipment or procedures suspect, before, during, or after the diving operation.

(2) The facts must be recorded as soon after the incident as possible, and the report must include the dive profile and all relevant details.

(3) In the event of any diving incident,

(a) the Board reserves the right to take temporary possession of and investigate all equipment related to the diving operation, and

(b) the equipment must not be tampered with or altered in any manner until authorization has been received from the Board.

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