Commercial Diving Safety Manual

OSHA Commercial Diving Requirements

Federal OSHA regulates commercial diving operations under 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart T — Commercial Diving Operations.

Subpart T applies broadly to covered diving and related support operations conducted in connection with work including:

• General Industry.
• Construction.
• Ship repair.
• Shipbuilding.
• Shipbreaking.
• Longshoring.
• Other commercial work.

The standard establishes requirements for:

• Dive-team qualifications.
• Safe Practices Manuals.
• Pre-dive procedures.
• Procedures during dives.
• Post-dive procedures.
• SCUBA diving.
• Surface-supplied air diving.
• Mixed-gas diving.
• Liveboating.
• Diving equipment.
• Recordkeeping.

The employer is responsible for complying with requirements of general applicability and with requirements for the specific diving modes used.

OSHA Safe Practices Manual

Covered employers must develop and maintain a Safe Practices Manual and make it available at the dive location to each dive-team member.

The manual should not be treated merely as a generic company safety policy.

It is an operational document intended to establish how the employer will safely conduct commercial diving activities.

The Safe Practices Manual must contain the applicable OSHA commercial diving standard and the employer’s policies for implementing its requirements.

For each diving mode used by the employer, the manual must address required:

• Diving safety procedures.
• Diving checklists.
• Dive-team assignments.
• Dive-team responsibilities.
• Equipment procedures.
• Equipment checklists.
• Emergency procedures.

Emergency procedures should address applicable situations involving:

• Fire.
• Equipment failure.
• Adverse environmental conditions.
• Medical illness.
• Injury.

The manual should be maintained so it accurately reflects the employer’s diving operations.

What Should a Commercial Diving Safety Manual Include?

Depending on operations, the manual may address:

• Commercial diving responsibilities.
• Designated Person-in-Charge.
• Dive-team qualifications.
• Dive-team assignments.
• Diver training.
• First aid and CPR.
• Diving physics and physiology.
• Safe Practices Manual requirements.
• Dive planning.
• Pre-dive procedures.
• Dive hazard assessments.
• Dive plans.
• Dive-team briefings.
• SCUBA diving.
• Surface-supplied air diving.
• Mixed-gas diving.
• Liveboating.
• Breathing-gas systems.
• Diver communication.
• Diving equipment.
• Underwater tools.
• Underwater welding and cutting.
• Differential-pressure hazards.
• Contaminated water.
• Environmental conditions.
• Emergency procedures.
• Decompression.
• Recompression chambers.
• Post-dive procedures.
• Recordkeeping.

The contents should reflect the diving modes and underwater work actually performed.

Commercial Diving Safety Program

An effective Commercial Diving Safety Program establishes responsibilities and procedures for planning, supervising, performing, and supporting diving operations.

Management should provide qualified personnel, properly maintained diving equipment, appropriate breathing-gas systems, emergency resources, safe work procedures, and sufficient time and personnel to perform diving operations safely.

Management should also ensure that hazards are evaluated before work begins and that employees have the authority to stop diving operations when conditions become unsafe.

Designated Person-in-Charge

The employer or an employee designated by the employer should be at the dive location and in charge of aspects of the diving operation affecting dive-team safety and health.

The Designated Person-in-Charge should have experience and training appropriate to the diving operation being conducted.

Responsibilities may include:

• Coordinating dive activities.
• Confirming dive-team assignments.
• Reviewing hazards.
• Conducting or overseeing pre-dive planning.
• Verifying required equipment.
• Coordinating emergency procedures.
• Evaluating changing conditions.
• Suspending operations when necessary.

The person in charge should have sufficient authority to control the diving operation.

Dive-Team Qualifications

Each dive-team member should have the experience or training necessary to safely perform assigned duties.

Training and experience should address:

• Assigned diving mode.
• Diving equipment.
• Tools and systems.
• Work procedures.
• Emergency procedures.
• Individual responsibilities.

Employees should not be assigned duties for which they are not qualified.

First Aid and CPR

Dive-team members should receive required first-aid and cardiopulmonary-resuscitation training.

Training should be current and appropriate to commercial diving operations.

Dive personnel should understand how to respond to:

• Drowning.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Breathing emergencies.
• Bleeding.
• Trauma.
• Diving-related illness.
• Other medical emergencies.

Diving Physics and Physiology

Dive-team members who are exposed to hyperbaric conditions, or who control the exposure of others to hyperbaric conditions, should receive training in diving-related physics and physiology.

Training should help employees understand hazards associated with:

• Pressure changes.
• Gas expansion and compression.
• Decompression.
• Barotrauma.
• Breathing gases.
• Hyperbaric exposure.

Dive-Team Assignments

Each diving operation should have sufficient qualified personnel to safely perform the planned work and respond to reasonably anticipated emergencies.

Assignments may include:

• Designated Person-in-Charge.
• Working diver.
• Standby diver.
• Tender.
• Diving supervisor.
• Life-support personnel.
• Chamber operator.
• Other support personnel.

Actual team composition should reflect the diving mode, work, depth, environmental conditions, equipment, and applicable requirements.

Working Diver

The working diver should:

• Follow established dive procedures.
• Maintain required communication.
• Use assigned equipment.
• Monitor personal condition.
• Report hazards.
• Follow depth and time limitations.
• Terminate the dive when required.

Divers should not continue a dive when conditions make continued operation unsafe.

Standby Diver

Where required, a standby diver should be available and properly equipped to provide assistance.

The standby diver should:

• Understand the operation.
• Know the working diver’s location and task.
• Remain ready for deployment.
• Avoid duties that prevent timely response.
• Be familiar with emergency procedures.

Tender

Tenders may be responsible for:

• Managing umbilicals.
• Assisting divers.
• Monitoring equipment.
• Supporting communications.
• Maintaining safe work areas.

Tenders should understand line-handling and entanglement hazards and maintain awareness of changing surface and underwater conditions.

Dive Planning

Every commercial diving operation should be planned before the diver enters the water.

Planning should consider:

• Work objective.
• Diving mode.
• Depth.
• Bottom time.
• Decompression requirements.
• Dive-team composition.
• Breathing-gas supply.
• Environmental conditions.
• Water temperature.
• Current.
• Visibility.
• Vessel traffic.
• Underwater hazards.
• Tools and equipment.
• Emergency procedures.

Conditions should be reassessed when circumstances change.

Dive Hazard Assessment

The dive team should identify hazards associated with both the underwater work and the surrounding environment.

Potential hazards may include:

• Differential pressure.
• Intakes.
• Discharges.
• Currents.
• Entanglement.
• Contaminated water.
• Vessel movement.
• Falling objects.
• Underwater structures.
• Explosives.
• Electrical hazards.
• Welding and cutting.
• Heavy equipment.
• Poor visibility.
• Marine life.

Controls should be established before the dive begins.

Pre-Dive Procedures

Before each diving operation, the employer should evaluate conditions and establish appropriate procedures.

Pre-dive activities should include applicable:

• Dive planning.
• Hazard assessment.
• Equipment inspection.
• Breathing-gas verification.
• Emergency planning.
• Team assignments.
• Employee briefing.
• Communication checks.

Required information and emergency resources should be available at the dive location.

Pre-Dive Briefing

Dive-team members should be briefed before the dive.

The briefing should address applicable:

• Work tasks.
• Safety procedures.
• Unusual hazards.
• Environmental conditions.
• Diving mode.
• Maximum working depth.
• Planned bottom time.
• Decompression.
• Emergency procedures.
• Individual assignments.

Employees should have an opportunity to raise safety concerns before operations begin.

Emergency Information

Required emergency information should be available at the dive location.

Information should include applicable means of contacting:

• Emergency medical services.
• Decompression or recompression resources.
• Transportation.
• Other emergency assistance.

The dive team should know how to initiate emergency response without unnecessary delay.

First-Aid Equipment

Appropriate first-aid supplies should be available at the dive location.

Equipment should reflect the hazards of commercial diving and the work being performed.

Supplies should be maintained, accessible, and periodically inspected.

Emergency Communication

A reliable means of emergency communication should be available at the dive location.

The communication system should be appropriate to:

• Work location.
• Distance from shore.
• Vessel operations.
• Available emergency services.

Emergency communication should be tested or otherwise verified before operations where appropriate.

Dive Location

The dive location should be organized to support safe diving operations.

The employer should consider:

• Safe access.
• Equipment layout.
• Umbilical routing.
• Trip hazards.
• Vessel movement.
• Lifting operations.
• Electrical equipment.
• Emergency access.
• Weather exposure.

Nonessential personnel should remain outside controlled diving work areas where necessary.

Warning Signals

Appropriate warning signals, flags, lights, or other notifications should be used where required to alert vessels or other operations that diving is underway.

The dive team should consider nearby vessel traffic before and during the dive.

Procedures During the Dive

The diving operation should be continuously managed while divers are underwater.

The dive team should monitor applicable:

• Diver communication.
• Breathing-gas supply.
• Depth.
• Bottom time.
• Environmental conditions.
• Equipment performance.
• Vessel movement.
• Work progress.

Conditions requiring termination of the dive should be understood before work begins.

Diver Communication

Required communication between the diver and surface personnel should be maintained according to the diving mode and operation.

Communication equipment should be:

• Appropriate for the work.
• Tested.
• Maintained.
• Protected from damage.

Loss of required communication should be treated according to established emergency or dive-termination procedures.

Breathing-Gas Supply

Breathing-gas systems should provide an appropriate supply for the diving mode and operation.

Systems should be protected against:

• Contamination.
• Damage.
• Loss of pressure.
• Incorrect connections.
• Exhaust contamination.

Reserve or emergency breathing-gas capability should be provided where required.

Breathing-Air Quality

Compressed air used for breathing should meet applicable purity requirements.

Compressors and breathing-gas systems should be maintained to prevent contamination.

Air intakes should be located to avoid contamination from:

• Engine exhaust.
• Fuel vapors.
• Chemical emissions.
• Other hazardous sources.

Air Compressors

Breathing-air compressors should be:

• Properly maintained.
• Appropriately located.
• Inspected.
• Protected from contamination.

Applicable filters, separators, receivers, relief devices, and monitoring equipment should be maintained.

Volume Tanks and Receivers

Air receivers and volume tanks should be maintained according to applicable requirements.

Equipment should be protected from:

• Excess pressure.
• Corrosion.
• Contamination.
• Physical damage.

Required gauges and relief devices should remain functional.

Diving Umbilicals

Umbilicals may contain:

• Breathing-gas hoses.
• Communication lines.
• Pneumofathometer hoses.
• Strength members.
• Other components.

Umbilicals should be inspected and protected from:

• Abrasion.
• Crushing.
• Cutting.
• Excessive tension.
• Entanglement.
• Vessel propellers.
• Sharp structures.

Umbilical Management

Surface personnel should manage the diver’s umbilical to minimize:

• Entanglement.
• Excess slack.
• Snagging.
• Contact with moving machinery.
• Contact with vessel propulsion systems.

Umbilical routing should be considered during dive planning.

Diver Harnesses

Harnesses should be appropriate to the diving mode and equipment configuration.

Where required, harnesses should provide attachment points for:

• Umbilicals.
• Equipment.
• Recovery or lifting.

Harnesses should be inspected before use.

Diving Helmets and Masks

Helmets and masks should be:

• Appropriate for the diving mode.
• Properly fitted.
• Maintained.
• Inspected.
• Cleaned as appropriate.

Valves, seals, communications, and other components should be checked before use.

SCUBA Diving

Commercial SCUBA operations should comply with applicable OSHA requirements for SCUBA diving.

Dive planning should consider:

• Depth.
• No-decompression limits.
• Cylinder capacity.
• Reserve gas.
• Buddy requirements where applicable.
• Emergency ascent.
• Environmental conditions.

SCUBA should not be selected merely because it is convenient when another diving mode provides necessary protection for the work.

SCUBA Breathing Gas

SCUBA cylinders should contain appropriate breathing gas and be maintained, inspected, and tested as required.

Divers should verify:

• Cylinder contents.
• Available pressure.
• Regulator operation.
• Reserve capability.

Surface-Supplied Air Diving

Surface-supplied air diving provides breathing gas to the diver from the surface through an umbilical.

Operations should address:

• Primary air supply.
• Reserve supply.
• Communications.
• Umbilical management.
• Diver depth.
• Standby capability.
• Emergency procedures.

Surface-supplied systems should be configured for the planned operation.

Surface-Supplied Breathing Gas

The breathing-gas supply should provide sufficient pressure and volume for the diving operation.

Backup or reserve systems should be available as required.

Surface personnel should monitor equipment during the dive.

Mixed-Gas Diving

Mixed-gas diving introduces additional life-support and physiological considerations.

Operations should address:

• Gas composition.
• Gas analysis.
• Depth.
• Decompression.
• Chamber requirements.
• Gas-switching procedures.
• Emergency gas.
• Life-support equipment.

Only appropriately qualified personnel should perform or support mixed-gas operations.

Breathing-Gas Mixtures

Breathing-gas mixtures should be appropriate to the planned depth and exposure.

Gas composition should be verified using appropriate procedures and equipment.

Cylinders and supply systems should be clearly identified to reduce the possibility of incorrect gas use.

Oxygen Hazards

Elevated oxygen concentrations can create increased fire hazards.

Oxygen systems should be kept free from:

• Oil.
• Grease.
• Incompatible materials.
• Ignition sources.

Only equipment intended for oxygen service should be used where required.

Liveboating

Liveboating involves supporting surface-supplied diving from a vessel underway.

This operation creates significant hazards involving:

• Vessel propulsion.
• Umbilicals.
• Diver location.
• Current.
• Communication.
• Vessel maneuvering.

Liveboating should be performed only under conditions and procedures meeting applicable requirements.

Propeller Hazards

Divers and umbilicals should be protected from vessel propellers and other propulsion systems.

Procedures should address:

• Propeller status.
• Vessel movement.
• Umbilical routing.
• Communication with vessel operators.
• Energy control where appropriate.

A diver should never rely solely on assumptions about propulsion status.

Differential Pressure Hazards

Differential pressure, sometimes called Delta-P, can create extremely dangerous forces where water flows through or around:

• Dams.
• Gates.
• Valves.
• Intake structures.
• Pipelines.
• Penstocks.
• Pumps.
• Discharge systems.
• Other hydraulic structures.

A diver can be pinned or trapped by differential pressure even when the flow appears insignificant at the surface.

Delta-P Hazard Assessment

Before diving near structures capable of creating differential pressure, the employer should determine whether water movement, pressure differential, suction, or discharge could endanger the diver.

Potential sources should be identified before entry.

Controls may require:

• Shutdown.
• Isolation.
• Lockout/Tagout.
• Blocking.
• Valve control.
• Verification.
• Coordination with facility operators.

Intakes and Discharges

Divers should not approach active intakes, discharges, gates, valves, pumps, or similar systems unless hazards have been evaluated and effectively controlled.

Facility personnel and the dive team should coordinate system status before diving begins.

Hazardous Energy

Underwater work may expose divers to energy from:

• Pumps.
• Valves.
• Gates.
• Propellers.
• Thrusters.
• Machinery.
• Electrical systems.
• Hydraulic systems.
• Pneumatic systems.

Hazardous energy should be isolated and controlled before the diver enters the danger area.

Lockout/Tagout

Where underwater work can be affected by hazardous equipment or systems, appropriate energy-control procedures should be established.

The dive team should verify relevant equipment status before entry.

Coordination is especially important when the dive team is working at another employer’s facility.

Underwater Tools

Commercial divers may use:

• Hydraulic tools.
• Pneumatic tools.
• Power tools.
• Hand tools.
• Cutting equipment.
• Cleaning equipment.

Divers should be trained in the tools assigned to them.

Tools should be inspected and maintained.

Hydraulic Tools

Hydraulic tools are commonly used underwater.

Potential hazards include:

• High-pressure leaks.
• Unexpected activation.
• Hose failure.
• Entanglement.
• Tool reaction forces.

Hoses and fittings should be inspected and routed to minimize damage and entanglement.

Pneumatic Tools

Pneumatic tools may create:

• Noise.
• Vibration.
• Hose hazards.
• Unexpected movement.
• Exhaust bubbles that reduce visibility.

Divers should maintain control of the tool and avoid entanglement with supply lines.

Underwater Cutting and Welding

Underwater welding and cutting can expose divers to:

• Electric shock.
• Explosion.
• Fire.
• Gas accumulation.
• Burns.
• Cutting hazards.
• Poor visibility.

Only qualified divers should perform underwater welding or cutting.

Underwater Electrical Safety

Electrical equipment used underwater should be designed and maintained for the intended environment.

Procedures should address:

• Power control.
• Grounding.
• Cable condition.
• Connections.
• Energization.
• Communication between diver and surface personnel.

The diver should be protected from unintended energization.

Underwater Burning

Burning or cutting can generate gases that may collect in enclosed or overhead spaces.

Before underwater burning begins, the dive team should evaluate whether gases can accumulate and create an explosion hazard.

Appropriate venting or other controls should be provided where necessary.

Explosives — When Applicable

Some commercial diving operations may involve underwater explosives.

Only properly qualified and authorized personnel should perform explosive work.

Procedures should address:

• Storage.
• Handling.
• Placement.
• Communication.
• Detonation control.
• Personnel clearance.
• Misfires.

Material Handling Underwater

Divers may install, remove, or position:

• Pipe.
• Structural members.
• Equipment.
• Rigging.
• Debris.
• Salvage material.

Divers should avoid placing themselves beneath suspended loads or between loads and fixed structures.

Rigging and Lifting

Underwater rigging should account for:

• Load weight.
• Center of gravity.
• Buoyancy.
• Current.
• Visibility.
• Rigging configuration.
• Diver position.

Divers should move to a safe position before lifting begins.

Lift Bags

Lift bags can create rapidly changing buoyancy and uncontrolled load movement.

Procedures should address:

• Rated capacity.
• Attachment.
• Inflation.
• Load control.
• Diver positioning.
• Ascent path.

Divers should not position themselves directly above a lift bag or rising load.

Entanglement Hazards

Divers may become entangled in:

• Lines.
• Nets.
• Cables.
• Umbilicals.
• Wire.
• Debris.
• Vegetation.

Dive planning should identify known entanglement hazards.

Divers should have appropriate means to free themselves where necessary.

Poor Visibility

Low visibility can increase the risk of:

• Entanglement.
• Disorientation.
• Tool injuries.
• Contact with equipment.
• Loss of work position.

Procedures should account for visibility conditions and provide appropriate communication and navigation methods.

Currents

Current can increase:

• Diver workload.
• Gas consumption.
• Umbilical drag.
• Fatigue.
• Difficulty maintaining position.

Operations should consider current speed, direction, tides, and expected changes.

Diving should be suspended when current makes the operation unsafe.

Water Temperature

Cold water can contribute to:

• Hypothermia.
• Reduced dexterity.
• Fatigue.
• Impaired judgment.

Thermal protection should be appropriate to water temperature, dive duration, and diving mode.

Hypothermia

Divers and surface-support personnel should recognize symptoms of cold stress and hypothermia.

Procedures should address:

• Thermal protection.
• Exposure duration.
• Warming.
• Monitoring.
• Emergency treatment.

Heat Stress

Divers can also experience heat stress, particularly while wearing heavy suits or waiting on deck in hot conditions.

Dive planning should consider both water temperature and topside environmental conditions.

Contaminated Water — When Applicable

Commercial divers may work in:

• Sewage.
• Industrial water.
• Polluted harbors.
• Wastewater.
• Chemically contaminated water.
• Biologically contaminated environments.

The employer should evaluate contaminants before selecting diving equipment and protective measures.

Contaminated-Water Diving

Controls may include:

• Appropriate diving dress.
• Full-face masks or helmets.
• Dry suits.
• Gloves.
• Decontamination.
• Hygiene.
• Exposure monitoring.
• Medical evaluation.

Equipment should be selected according to the contaminants present.

Diver Decontamination

Where contamination is present, procedures should prevent contaminants from spreading to:

• Skin.
• Clothing.
• Vehicles.
• Equipment.
• Clean areas.
• Other employees.

Decontamination procedures should reflect the substance involved.

Biological Hazards

Contaminated water may expose divers to biological hazards.

Employees should protect:

• Cuts.
• Abrasions.
• Eyes.
• Mucous membranes.

Appropriate hygiene and medical follow-up should be provided when exposure occurs.

Marine Life

Depending on the location, divers may encounter hazardous marine life.

Pre-dive planning should identify known local hazards and establish appropriate response procedures.

Vessel Traffic

Diving near active waterways can expose divers to:

• Propellers.
• Vessel strikes.
• Wake.
• Current changes.
• Umbilical damage.

Dive operations should be coordinated with vessel traffic as necessary.

Surface-Support Vessel Safety

Where diving is conducted from a vessel, the vessel should provide an appropriate platform for:

• Dive equipment.
• Personnel.
• Emergency response.
• Diver entry and recovery.

Equipment should be secured against movement.

Diver Entry and Exit

Safe means should be provided for divers to enter and leave the water.

Procedures should consider:

• Vessel movement.
• Waves.
• Current.
• Equipment weight.
• Water depth.
• Ladder configuration.
• Diver condition.

Assistance should be available where necessary.

Diver Recovery

Procedures should provide a means of recovering an injured or incapacitated diver.

The dive team should consider the weight of the diver and equipment when planning recovery.

Decompression

Dive profiles should comply with applicable decompression requirements.

Dive personnel should accurately track:

• Depth.
• Bottom time.
• Breathing gas.
• Repetitive dives.
• Decompression obligations.

Unplanned deviations should be evaluated promptly.

Decompression Tables

Applicable decompression tables or procedures should be available to personnel responsible for dive planning and decompression.

Employees should understand how to use the system adopted by the employer.

Decompression Chamber

A decompression chamber should be available at the dive location where required by the diving mode, depth, or planned decompression exposure.

Chambers should be:

• Properly maintained.
• Appropriately equipped.
• Ready for use.
• Operated by qualified personnel.

Chamber Operations

Personnel assigned to operate recompression or decompression chambers should understand:

• Controls.
• Communications.
• Pressure changes.
• Emergency procedures.
• Fire hazards.
• Treatment protocols applicable to their responsibilities.

Decompression Sickness

Dive-team members should recognize potential signs and symptoms of decompression sickness.

Possible symptoms can involve:

• Joint or muscle pain.
• Numbness.
• Weakness.
• Dizziness.
• Unusual fatigue.
• Neurological symptoms.
• Breathing difficulty.

Suspected diving-related illness requires prompt medical evaluation.

Arterial Gas Embolism

Arterial gas embolism can be a life-threatening diving emergency.

Dive personnel should recognize the need for immediate emergency response when neurological or other serious symptoms occur after ascent.

Barotrauma

Pressure changes can injure:

• Ears.
• Sinuses.
• Lungs.
• Other air-containing spaces.

Divers should understand pressure-equalization procedures and report symptoms promptly.

Emergency Procedures

The Safe Practices Manual should establish emergency procedures appropriate to the employer’s diving operations.

Potential emergencies include:

• Loss of breathing gas.
• Loss of communication.
• Diver entrapment.
• Diver unconsciousness.
• Equipment failure.
• Fire.
• Adverse weather.
• Vessel emergency.
• Decompression illness.
• Injury.
• Contaminated-water exposure.

Dive-team members should understand their assigned emergency responsibilities.

Loss of Breathing Gas

Procedures should address failure of the diver’s primary breathing-gas supply.

Depending on the diving mode, emergency response may involve:

• Reserve gas.
• Bailout systems.
• Surface backup.
• Standby diver.
• Controlled ascent.

Emergency systems should be checked before diving.

Loss of Communication

The dive team should establish procedures for communication failure.

Depending on the diving mode, procedures may include:

• Line-pull signals.
• Recall.
• Dive termination.
• Standby-diver deployment.

Employees should understand the backup communication method before the dive.

Diver Entrapment

Emergency planning should consider potential entrapment involving:

• Lines.
• Structures.
• Debris.
• Equipment.
• Differential pressure.
• Collapsed material.

Standby personnel should understand the hazards before attempting rescue.

Unconscious Diver

The dive team should have procedures for recovering and providing immediate care to an unconscious diver.

Planning should address:

• Recovery.
• Airway.
• Breathing.
• CPR.
• Oxygen where appropriate.
• Emergency medical services.
• Recompression evaluation.

Fire

Fire can threaten diving operations through:

• Compressors.
• Fuel.
• Oxygen systems.
• Vessels.
• Electrical equipment.
• Welding.
• Cutting.

Emergency procedures should address both diver safety and topside evacuation or response.

Adverse Environmental Conditions

Diving operations should be modified or suspended when environmental conditions make continued work unsafe.

Potential conditions include:

• Lightning.
• High winds.
• Waves.
• Strong currents.
• Flooding.
• Ice.
• Extreme temperatures.
• Reduced visibility.

Post-Dive Procedures

After a dive, procedures should address:

• Diver condition.
• Decompression.
• Equipment.
• Dive records.
• Abnormal events.
• Medical symptoms.

Divers should report physical symptoms that may be related to the dive.

Post-Dive Observation

Divers should be monitored as appropriate following dives involving decompression or other increased physiological risk.

Dive-team members should understand symptoms requiring medical evaluation.

Flying After Diving

Post-dive procedures should address altitude exposure where relevant.

Divers should follow applicable restrictions or procedures before flying or traveling to higher elevations after diving.

Equipment Inspection

Diving equipment should be inspected, tested, maintained, and repaired according to applicable requirements.

Equipment may include:

• Helmets.
• Masks.
• Regulators.
• Cylinders.
• Compressors.
• Umbilicals.
• Gauges.
• Communications.
• Harnesses.
• Chambers.
• Tools.

Defective equipment should be removed from service.

Equipment Checklists

The Safe Practices Manual should include equipment procedures and checklists appropriate to each diving mode.

Checklists may address:

• Pre-dive inspection.
• Functional testing.
• Breathing-gas systems.
• Communications.
• Emergency equipment.
• Post-dive inspection.

Checklists should reflect the employer’s actual equipment.

Preventive Maintenance

A preventive-maintenance program should address safety-critical diving equipment.

Maintenance should be performed by personnel qualified for the equipment involved.

Records should be maintained where required.

Gauges and Timekeeping Devices

Depth gauges, pressure gauges, timekeeping devices, and other instruments used to control diving exposure should be maintained and tested as required.

Dive personnel should not rely on visibly damaged or malfunctioning instruments.

Communications Equipment

Diver communication equipment should be maintained in operating condition.

Connections, cables, headsets, speakers, and power supplies should be checked as appropriate.

Emergency Equipment

Emergency equipment should be readily available and maintained.

Depending on the operation, this may include:

• First-aid supplies.
• Oxygen equipment.
• Emergency breathing gas.
• Rescue equipment.
• Recompression chamber.
• Communication equipment.

Personal Protective Equipment

PPE for commercial diving may include both diving equipment and topside protection.

Depending on tasks, PPE may include:

• Diving helmets.
• Masks.
• Exposure suits.
• Gloves.
• Harnesses.
• Safety footwear.
• Eye protection.
• Hearing protection.
• Hard hats.
• Fall protection.
• Personal flotation devices.

PPE should be selected according to the work and environment.

Topside Safety

Surface-support personnel can be exposed to significant hazards even though they do not enter the water.

Potential hazards include:

• Slips and falls.
• Lifting.
• Moving equipment.
• Vessel movement.
• Electrical hazards.
• Weather.
• Hoses and umbilicals.
• Compressed gas.
• Cranes and rigging.

The Safe Practices Manual should address relevant topside hazards.

Crane and Rigging Operations

Commercial diving projects may require cranes or lifting equipment to position:

• Tools.
• Pipe.
• Structures.
• Dive stages.
• Equipment.
• Salvage material.

Lifting operations should be coordinated with the dive team.

Divers should remain clear of suspended loads.

Working Over or Near Water

Surface-support employees working near unprotected water hazards should use applicable fall and drowning protection.

Appropriate rescue equipment should be available.

Electrical Safety

Electrical equipment used at the dive site should be appropriate for the environment and maintained in safe condition.

Procedures should consider:

• Wet conditions.
• Grounding.
• Ground-fault protection.
• Cords.
• Connections.
• Underwater electrical equipment.

Damaged electrical equipment should not be used.

Compressed Gas Cylinders

Cylinders should be:

• Properly secured.
• Protected from damage.
• Appropriately identified.
• Stored safely.
• Maintained.

Oxygen cylinders and systems should be protected from oil, grease, and incompatible materials.

Hazard Communication

Dive operations may involve:

• Fuels.
• Cleaning chemicals.
• Welding gases.
• Oxygen.
• Contaminated water.
• Coatings.
• Industrial chemicals.

Applicable chemical hazards should be addressed through the employer’s Hazard Communication Program.

Manual Material Handling

Diving equipment can be heavy and awkward.

Employees may handle:

• Cylinders.
• Helmets.
• Umbilicals.
• Compressors.
• Tools.
• Weights.
• Rigging.

Mechanical assistance and team lifting should be used where appropriate.

Housekeeping

Dive stations should be organized to prevent:

• Trips.
• Falls.
• Damaged equipment.
• Tangled hoses.
• Blocked emergency access.

Umbilicals, hoses, cords, and tools should be routed and stored appropriately.

Incident Reporting

Employees should promptly report:

• Diving injuries.
• Diving illnesses.
• Near misses.
• Equipment failures.
• Loss of breathing gas.
• Communication failures.
• Uncontrolled ascents.
• Delta-P incidents.
• Contaminated-water exposures.
• Other unsafe conditions.

Significant events should be evaluated before similar diving operations continue.

Incident Investigation

Diving incidents should be investigated to identify:

• Immediate causes.
• Contributing factors.
• Root causes.
• Corrective actions.

Investigations may consider:

• Dive planning.
• Team composition.
• Equipment.
• Communication.
• Breathing gas.
• Environmental conditions.
• Hazardous energy.
• Emergency response.
• Training.
• Supervision.

Root Cause Analysis

Root Cause Analysis may identify underlying issues involving:

• Dive procedures.
• Equipment selection.
• Preventive maintenance.
• Training.
• Staffing.
• Dive planning.
• Hazard recognition.
• Client coordination.
• Emergency planning.
• Management systems.

Corrective actions should address identified causes rather than simply assigning blame.

Commercial Diving Safety Training

Training should reflect each employee’s assigned diving and support duties.

Depending on responsibilities, training may address:

• Diving modes.
• Equipment.
• Emergency procedures.
• First aid.
• CPR.
• Diving physics.
• Diving physiology.
• Underwater tools.
• Differential pressure.
• Contaminated water.
• Rigging.
• Hazardous energy.

Employees should not perform work for which they have not received appropriate training or demonstrated the necessary experience.

Pre-Job Safety Meetings

Before diving begins, the dive team should review the planned work and hazards.

Topics may include:

• Dive objective.
• Team assignments.
• Diving mode.
• Equipment.
• Depth and duration.
• Environmental conditions.
• Delta-P.
• Vessel traffic.
• Emergency procedures.
• Stop-work conditions.

Stop-Work Authority

Dive-team members should immediately communicate unsafe conditions.

The person in charge should suspend or terminate diving operations when conditions create unacceptable risk.

Production or schedule pressure should never override required diving safety procedures.

Commercial Diving Records

Commercial diving employers should maintain records required for their operations.

Records may include:

• Dive records.
• Equipment inspection and testing.
• Equipment maintenance.
• Employee training.
• Diving-related injuries and illnesses.
• Exposure records where applicable.
• Medical records where applicable.
• Decompression information.
• Other records required by OSHA.

Records should be retained for applicable periods.

Dive Records

Dive records should document required information concerning commercial diving operations.

Accurate records can help establish:

• Dive exposure.
• Depth.
• Duration.
• Decompression.
• Abnormal events.
• Diving-related injuries or illnesses.

Records should be completed promptly and accurately.

Additional Safety Programs

Depending on diving operations and employee exposures, additional programs may be necessary for:

• Commercial Diving Safety.
• Commercial Diving Safe Practices.
• SCUBA Diving.
• Surface-Supplied Air Diving.
• Mixed-Gas Diving.
• Liveboating.
• Dive Planning.
• Differential Pressure / Delta-P.
• Contaminated-Water Diving.
• Underwater Welding & Cutting.
• Underwater Tools.
• Diving Equipment Inspection.
• Breathing-Air Systems.
• Compressed Gas Cylinders.
• Hazardous Energy Control.
• Lockout/Tagout.
• Crane & Rigging Safety.
• Working Over or Near Water.
• Personal Flotation Devices.
• Electrical Safety.
• Hazard Communication.
• Personal Protective Equipment.
• Emergency Action Planning.
• First Aid & CPR.
• Heat Stress.
• Cold Stress.
• Housekeeping.
• Incident Reporting & Investigation.
• Root Cause Analysis.

Programs should be included when the employer’s diving modes, underwater work, equipment, environmental conditions, and employee exposures make them applicable.

Building a Commercial Diving Safe Practices Manual

A useful Commercial Diving Safe Practices Manual should reflect the employer’s actual diving operations rather than relying on a generic set of underwater safety rules.

A surface-supplied commercial diving contractor may require extensive procedures for dive stations, air compressors, volume tanks, umbilicals, communications, bailout gas, standby divers, underwater tools, decompression, vessel support, and emergency recovery.

A contractor performing underwater construction or infrastructure work may require additional procedures for cranes, rigging, hydraulic tools, underwater cutting and welding, differential pressure, hazardous energy, concrete or structural work, and heavy material handling.

A vessel-maintenance diving company may require greater emphasis on propellers, thrusters, sea chests, intakes, hull cleaning, vessel traffic, Lockout/Tagout, contaminated water, and coordination with vessel personnel.

A potable-water, wastewater, or industrial diving contractor may require specialized procedures for contamination assessment, protective diving equipment, decontamination, biological or chemical hazards, facility isolation, and diver hygiene.

A salvage contractor may require additional procedures for unstable structures, rigging, lift bags, heavy lifting, entanglement, poor visibility, vessel condition, cutting, and changing underwater conditions.

The Safe Practices Manual should therefore be built around the diving modes and work actually performed.

Customized Commercial Diving Safety Manuals

A Commercial Diving Safety Manual can be developed around the employer’s diving modes, dive-team organization, underwater work, equipment, breathing-gas systems, vessels, environmental conditions, emergency capabilities, and other occupational hazards.

The finished manual may incorporate applicable procedures for SCUBA, Surface-Supplied Air Diving, Mixed-Gas Diving, Liveboating, Dive Planning, Differential Pressure, Underwater Tools, Underwater Welding and Cutting, Contaminated-Water Diving, Diving Equipment, Emergency Response, Decompression, Crane and Rigging Safety, Hazardous Energy, and other hazards associated with commercial diving operations.

Most importantly, the manual can be structured around the OSHA Safe Practices Manual requirements for commercial diving operations, providing the employer with a practical document for use by dive-team members at the dive location.