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The Divers Association
AN INTRODUCTION
Agenda
Introduction
Mission Statement
Board Members
Representatives
Association Aims
The Way Forward
Introduction
The Divers Association was formed as a result of the interest shown in the two petitions raised to improve diver safety in Europe and the US.
Currently there are an average of 60 divers killed each year, almost all of which could be prevented by the implementation of improved regulation.
The Association intends to bring the issues that require improvement to the attention of the regulating bodies, and provide the input of experienced working divers.
It is the opinion of the Association board members, that the current contractor associations, while valuable in many areas, do not give enough input of the views and concerns of the working diver.
As divers are the the people who face the most risk during operations, the Association aims to bridge the gap, and provide that input.
Mission Statement
The Divers Association is a Nonprofit International Organisation formed for the sole purpose of promoting commercial diving safety through regulation and education.
It is not Anti, or Pro any Diving Contractor Association or Union. It will not involve itself in pay or employment issues.
The sole purpose of The Divers Association is to work closely with Regulatory Bodies and groups involved in defining and implementing standards of Diver Safety, and in educating Customers who contract diving services. It will offer a means for input from independent working divers and supervisors who are currently involved in diving operations.
The Divers Association will cooperate with all groups that have the goal of improving diver safety.
Board Members
The Divers Association was formed as a non profit organisation in the USA by the following key board members:
• John Roat - USA - President
• Mark Longstreath - Asia - Vice President
• Peter Pilkington - USA - Secretary & Treasurer
• Hal Lomax - Canada - Board of Directors
• Michael Shord - Australia - Board of Directors
• Georges Arnoux - France - Head of Executive Advisory Committee
• Dr. Philip Bryson - UK - Medical Director
• Mike Sisley - UK - Board of Directors
• Justin Mitchell - USA - Lawyer and Advisor on Legal Matters
Representatives
Dr. Adesola Osidipe - NigeriaArea Representative
Derek Moore - UKAdvisor on Union Affairs
Andrew Lee - USAArea Representative
Edwin Santiago - Puerto RicoArea Representative
Arturo Villazón - SpainArea Representative
Gary Young - USAArea Representative
Bob Rieche - USAArea Representative
Harish Naidu - UAEArea Representative
Carlos Zarate - ArgentinaArea Representative
Dr. Jean-Yves Massimelli - SingaporeAdvisor on Medical Affairs
Charles Trombley - CanadaArea Representative
Leigh Mount - SingaporeArea Representative
Colin Woodward - NorwayArea Representative - UK & Norway
Michael Cocks - UKTraining Advisor
Craig Smith - New ZealandTechnical Advisor - Electrical
Michael Ehlers - USAArea Representative
David Joseph - AustraliaTechnical Advisor - Mechanical
Stephen P. Reimers - USAArea Representative
Association Aims
Currently, the Divers Association is focused on bringing awareness on the following main points, that it feels are in need of change:
• The use of SCUBA in commercial diving operations
• Minimum team size
• Training standards, and experience required for supervisory positions
• Standardising decompression tables throughout the industry
Current legislation, and industry guidance is deficient in these areas, and contributes to the increased number of fatalities each year.
The Association aims to lobby governments to revise the minimum requirements in these areas.
It is felt that if the legal minimums are changed, all contractors will have an equal opportunity when bidding contracts without putting the divers at such a high level of risk.
Association Aims
The use of SCUBA in commercial diving operations.
The use of SCUBA is probably one of the main contributors in the amount of increased fatalities each year. Currently it is used by contractors throughout the world in a variety of mainly inshore operations, such as dam inspection, intake clearance, ships husbandry, fisheries etc.
The association feels that in most cases, SCUBA should not be allowed, and that Surface Supplied Diving Equipment (SSDE) should replace it, with built in communications and safety line.
Each area where SCUBA is currently allowed should be reviewed and a safety case be put forward. Its use in aquariums for example, is an area where it could remain in use.
Its use in dam inspection on the other hand, should be banned outright, and replaced with SSDE.
Association Aims
Minimum team size.
Currently, most countries allow a minimum air diving team size of three men, consisting of:
• Supervisor
• Diver
• Tender
The association aims to lobby for an increase in this to five men:
• Supervisor
• Diver
• Standby Diver
• Divers Tender
• Standby Divers Tender
Association Aims
Training standards, and experience required for supervisory positions.
At present, many training schools around the world have no failure rate. Students have to pay for their courses, and should schools fail them, it is believed that they will get a reduced attendance rate.
The association believes that this is allowing many unsuitable divers to enter the industry and become a danger to the teams that they work with.
It is suggested that minimum training standards be met at set periods throughout a diving course, and that should a student not pass each of these standards during the course, that they be removed, and the school be obliged to refund a percentage of the course fee.
For personnel looking to advance to supervisory positions, it is felt that a minimum experience time of five years be required in the field that they wish to supervise, and that recommendations should be made by at least three supervisors that have worked with them.
Association Aims
Standardising decompression tables throughout the industry Currently, different companies will use different decompression tables, as has been found suitable for that company. These range from the USN rev’s 5 & 6, the Canadian tables, a version of the Comex tables, and others.
The association feels that a single set of tables should be defined, taking the safest tables for a working diver, and using these as mandatory throughout the industry.
This would have the benefit of allowing Supervisors, LSS's and all other personnel to be able to become conversant with these tables, and not have to change when moving between companies.
This could then increase the safety factor against error, and by choosing the safest tables, limit the possibility of decompression sickness.
The Way Forward
The Divers Association, and the need for the input of the working diver, is gaining recognition throughout the industry.
It currently has the support of a US Congressman, Members of the European Parliament, Unions in the UK and US, the USCG, US Navy, Canadian Navy, and several industry stakeholders.
Membership is open to all diving personnel throughout the world, and is building daily. No membership fees are required, though contributions are being made to help fund the association in its operating expenses.
With growing membership, and support from interested parties, the association will focus on bringing the issues that continue to put working divers at risk throughout the world to the attention of the law makers.
Divers should no longer be “out of sight, out of mind” once they leave surface.
18th March 2012Pierre Rossouw was killed while working for CCC onboard the
NNPC Heavy Lift Ship 2000 (HLS 2000).
27th April 2011Ottavio Baumgartner. Died while cleaning a water intake grill at a the Edipower plant in Sermide in Northern Italy, found stuck on
the grill with his mask off, failed to respond to treatment.
Died 1990'sJohn Webb. Killed while working for CCC in the 1990's. Crushed between pipeline/pipe during crane ops, zero vis, Bombay High.
11th August, 2009Rob Holbrook. Ex RN and very experienced diver. Working from
the Swiber barge 'Glorious' 70 miles off Vung Tau. Supervisor error.
2nd January, 2005Tony Eke. Underwater cave in during salvage of the 'Rostok' from
the Danube.
7th June, 2011David Mato-Garrido, Sucked up a water inlet pipe and drowned in
the hour it took to get a recovery diver to him.
31st March 2010Jean Christophe Casagrande. Found unconscious on the seabed,
recovered to the surface by diver two, did not respond to treatment. No other details known.
21st October 2011Ajesh Gaur. One of six divers who died while in Sat on the Koosha 1
in Iran after the vessel overturned and sank.
18th September, 2009Gerald Chia Jia Jie, 21, was found near the oil rig he had been
working on, still clad in dark-blue work overalls and with his gas tank and face mask still in place.
9th September 2010Cristian Zarafu. Romania. Died during a pollution survey on the
Turkish cargo vessel 'Medy', six miles off Constanta breakwater on the 1st September 2010.
14th April 2012Jarrod Hampton, 22, died pearl diving for the Paspaley company in
Western Australia
6th October 2009Jamie York. Canadian, died when trapped during cleaning
operations along the Trent waterway, in 4m of water.
4th May, 2009Chris Wilson. American, aged 38, floating a pipeline 10 miles south of Sabine pass, oversized air bag, no hold back, inverter line tied to inadequate weight, failed air bag rigging, dragged from depth to 22
metres.
Just The Tip of the Iceberg
