Are you planning diving operations at your workplace?

There was a diving fatality in 2002 when a diver with recreational certification was engaged by a company to retrieve an object dropped under a barge. The diver encountered difficulties underwater and could not be rescued in time.

Divers employed within British Columbia are required to comply with the requirements of Part 24 of the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation. The responsibility for compliance rests not only with the employer of the divers but also with the owner of the site who contracts with the diving company.

The following are key points from Part 24 and the Workers Compensation Act.

Diving competency

Each occupational diver must meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z275.4-97 Competency Standard for Diving Operations. Documentation specific to each certification must be available at the dive site.

Each diver, dive supervisor, and diver's tender must be qualified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and oxygen therapy. Documentation must be available at the dive site regarding those qualifications.

Each occupational diver must be certified as medically fit to dive. The only acceptable medical documentation is that which is provided by WorkSafeBC. The medical certification must be available at the dive site.

NOTE: Recreational certification is not acceptable for occupational diving purposes in British Columbia.

Dive supervisor

A knowledgeable and competent diving supervisor must supervise each occupational diving operation. The supervisor shall be competent in the techniques being used, shall remain on-site and be in direct control of the diving operation.

Minimum crew

A minimum crew of three shall be present at each diving operation and shall include at least two divers and a diver's tender. The minimum crew requirement will change according to depth, equipment usage, and degree of hazard and other conditions.

Notice of project (NOP) for diving activity

The employer must submit an NOP for diving activity or notify WorkSafeBC by telephone a minimum of 24 hours prior to commencement of some diving operations. Refer to Part 24.9 for specific requirements.

Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) restrictions

Restrictions have been placed on the use of scuba for occupational diving purposes. Scuba cannot be used for underwater construction, demolition, salvage and recovery, jetting, blasting, welding or cutting, penetrations or in other areas if the diver is exposed to a hazard such as differentials of pressure, excessive flows, confined spaces, contaminated environments or entrapment. Surface supplied diving equipment must be used in place of scuba.

Depth restrictions

Scuba shall be limited to a depth of 130 feet and the use of air as respirable medium restricted to 165 feet. Beyond 165 feet the diver shall breathe mixed gases and shall have on-site approval from WorkSafeBC to use such gases.

Safe dive procedures

Every employer engaged in diving operations must prepare and publish a set of site-specific safe diving procedures which must be available at the dive site. These procedures are based on a comprehensive evaluation of hazards to divers.

Standby diver

A standby diver shall be on the dive site at all times and able to render assistance when diving operations are in progress. The standby diver shall be able to enter the water in one minute.

Specific diving hazards

This requirement deals specifically with the requirements for lockout, hazardous mechanisms, intakes, pipes, tunnels and contaminated environments.

Owner responsibility

Owners who contract diving companies to work at their site must provide, to the diving company, information necessary to control hazards. Also the owner must ensure that diving activities are coordinated.

For further information contact your nearest WorkSafeBC office or the WorkSafeBC Diving Coordinator at 604 276-3100.