PM-16.0 Diving Operations - Trakheestrakhees.ae/en/ehs/ports/Documents/Regulations/Regulation PM-16.0... · 16.3.2 The diving contractor’s responsibilities ... 16.7.2.8 Equipment

Rev 00 May 2017 Page 1 of 37

PM-16.0 Diving Operations


Table of Contents 16.1 Purpose 16.2 Scope 16.3 Duties, Roles and Responsibilities

16.3.1 The client responsibilities 16.3.2 The diving contractor’s responsibilities 16.3.3 The diving supervisor responsibilities 16.3.4 The diver responsibilities

16.4 Qualifications, Competence and Training of Drivers 16.5 Medical Fitness of Diver

16.5.1 Certificate of Medical Fitness to Dive

16.6 Decompression Illness after Diving

16.6.1 Air Decompression Policy

16.7 Work Planning

16.7.1 Safe Practice Manual 16.7.2 Pre-dive procedures

16.7.2.1 Approvals/Prohibitions

16.7.2.1.1 Approvals 16.7.2.1.2 Prohibitions

16.7.2.2 Emergency aid 16.7.2.3 Launch and Recovery Procedures 16.7.2.4 First aid supplies 16.7.2.5 Planning and assessment 16.7.2.6 Hazardous activities 16.7.2.7 Employee briefing 16.7.2.8 Equipment inspection 16.7.2.9 Warning signal 16.7.2.11 Diving Team

16.7.3 Procedures during dive

16.7.3.1 Diving Work Permit

16.7.3.1.1 Authorization of Work Permit 16.7.2.1.2 Permit Book 16.7.2.1.3 Permit Book Purchase 16.7.2.1.4 Withdrawal/suspension of work permits


16.7.2.1.5 Completion of work/Closure of work permits 16.7.3.2 Water entry and exit 16.7.3.3 Communications 16.7.3.4 Decompression tables 16.7.3.5 Dive profiles 16.7.3.6 Hand-held power tools and equipment 16.7.3.7 Welding and burning 16.7.3.8 Termination of dive

16.7.4 Post-dive procedures

16.7.4.1 Precautions 16.7.4.2 Recompression capability 16.7.4.3 Availability of compression chambers 16.7.4.4 Diving records

16.8 Diving Process

16.8.1 Surface-supplied air diving

16.8.1.1 Procedures

16.8.2 Mixed-gas diving

16.8.2.1 Procedures

16.9 Risk Management Process

16.9.1 Risk Assessment 16.9.2 Five Steps to Risk Assessment 16.9.3 Job Safety Analysis (JSA) 16.9.4 Revising the JSA 16.9.5 Potential Hazards 16.9.6 Recommend Safe Procedures and Protection 16.9.7 Assign Responsibility 16.9.8 Personnel Involved 16.9.9 Environmental Considerations

16.10 Equipment service and maintenance 16.10.1 General 16.10.2 Air compressor system 16.10.3 Breathing-gas supply hoses 16.10.4 Buoyancy control 16.10.5 Compressed gas cylinders 16.10.6 Decompression chambers 16.10.7 Gauges and timekeeping devices 16.10.8 Masks and helmets 16.10.9 Oxygen safety 16.10.10 Weights and harnesses


16.11 Emergency and Contingency Plans

16.11.1 Emergency Plans 16.11.2 Contingency Plan

16.12 Accident Reporting

16.12.1 General Requirements` 16.12.2 Duty to Notify 16.12.3 Investigation of Accidents 16.12.4 Accident/Incident Records 16.12.5 EHS Inspections

16.13 References


16.1 Purpose To provide guidance to be followed when contracting and / or approving commercial diving operations to take place within PCFC Ports’ waters and ensure compliance with Local and international standards and requirements. 16.2 Scope 1. Diving is One of the most strenuous activities in ship repair which requires special skills and

Hazards and Risk are greater and requires proper and constant supervision also Demands physically and mentally fit to carry out the activity

2. This Regulation applies to all types of underwater work within port limits involving commercial diving.

3. These regulations are applicable to all diving companies entering, using or making use of

facilities belonging to Dubai World. Neither non-possession nor ignorance of these regulations will be considered a reason of non-imposition of a penalty for violation of these regulations.

4. The Competent Department (EHS) is empowered to enforce these regulations to ensure safe

and efficient operation within Dubai world premises. 5. Nothing in these Regulations shall be construed as over-riding or contradicting to:

The Laws of the UAE

The provisions of international, national or regional regulations as applicable.

The Trakhees EHS reserves the right at any time, to alter, change or amend any or all of the provisions contained in these regulations with or without prior notice. The revised EHS regulations supersede earlier issued EHS Regulations. The responsibility for compliance is placed upon “employers” and “employees” as defined in these regulations.

Relevant international Regulations & Guidelines such as IMCA, ADCI, Health & Safety Executive (HSE), OSHA, NFPA, IMO, standards will be the baseline/ reference line for any requirements that have not been referred in this booklet.

6. Without limiting the actions of the competent department in the protection of Health, Safety &

Environment, the competent department is empowered to

Issue appropriate enabling regulations, guidelines and codes of practice for the safe conduct of work and also to amend them where situation & context warrant inducing compliance.

Inspect all work places, take samples or photographs and issue directions/instructions to ensure compliance with Health, Safety and Environmental requirements


Issue Correction notices/Warning letters and/or Penalties were deemed required.

Prepare and execute education/training/awareness programs and / or recommend programs in Health & Safety

Advise Local/Federal Government Departments (where applicable) on status of non-compliant companies/licensees to enable necessary actions

7. All Diving companies have the right to choose the convenient diving association for them to

become a member in it along with their staff, which they deem appropriate for their business, preferably

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)

ASSOCIATION OF DIVING CONTRACTORS INTERNATIONAL (ADCI) 8. This Code for Commercial Diving and Underwater Operations will be effective from 1st of

March 2017. 16.3 Duties, Roles and Responsibilities 1. It is a duty of any person, including the managers of diving companies, who has responsibility

for or control over a diving operation to ensure that diving is reasonably practicable, safe and is carried out in a safe and healthy manner.

2. The following summarizes the responsibilities of various parties directly involved in an

industrial diving operation, diving contractor, diving supervisor and diver who are required to comply with the duty imposed.

16.3.1 The client responsibilities

1. Agreeing to provide facilities and extend all reasonable support to the diving supervisor or contractor in the event of an emergency. Details of the matters agreed should form part of the planning for the project;

2. Considering whether any underwater or above-water items of the plant or

equipment under their control may cause a hazard to the diving team. Such items include:

3. Vessel/floating structure propellers and anchor wires 4. Underwater obstructions 5. Pipeline systems under pressure test or with a pressure lower than the

pressure at the diver work location 6. Subsea facilities 7. Water intakes or discharge points causing suction or turbulence 8. Gas flare mechanisms that may activate without warning


9. Equipment liable to start operating automatically 10. Appropriate isolations and barriers (mechanical, electrical, optical, hydraulic,

instrumentation isolations and barriers) 11. The diving contractor will need to be informed of the location and exact

operational details of such items in writing and in sufficient time to account for them in the risk assessments;

12. Ensuring that sufficient time and facilities are made available to the diving

contractor at the commencement of the project in order to carry out all necessary site-specific safety and familiarization training;

13. Ensuring that other activities in the vicinity do not affect the safety of the diving operation. They may, for example, need to arrange for the suspension of supply boat unloading, overhead scaffolding work, bunkering etc.;

14. Ensuring that a formal control system, for example, a permit-to-work system,

exists between the diving team, the installation manager, Port’s safety officer and/or the master;

15. Providing the diving contractor with details of any possible substance likely to

be encountered by the diving team that would be a hazard to their health, e.g. drill cuttings on the seabed. They will also need to provide relevant risk assessments for these substances. This information should be provided in writing and in sufficient time to allow the diving contractor to carry out the relevant risk assessments;

16. Providing the diving contractor with information about any impressed current

system on the work site or in the vicinity and details of the system. This information should be provided in writing and in sufficient time to allow the diving contractor to carry out the relevant risk assessments;

17. Keeping the diving supervisor informed of any changes that may affect the

diving operation, e.g. vessel movements, deteriorating weather etc.

16.3.2 The diving contractor’s responsibilities

1. A diving project plan; 2. An overall quality management system which includes a safety management

system; 3. Appropriate insurance policies ensuring full compensation for divers involving

accidents at work; 4. Risk assessments for mobilization/demobilization, the operation of the

equipment and work tasks to be undertaken and the contingency/ emergency plans;


5. A management of change procedure; 6. A safe and suitable place from which operations are to be carried out; 7. The diving contractor shall ensure that there are sufficient people with

suitable 8. Competence to carry out safely and without risk to health both the diving

project and any action (including the giving of first-aid) which may be necessary in the event of a reasonably foreseeable emergency connected with the diving project.

9. Suitable plant and equipment supplied, audited and certified in accordance

with the relevant IMCA or ADCI documents, and including equipment supplied by diving personnel;

10. Plant and equipment correctly and properly maintained; 11. A suitable plan which includes emergency and contingency plans; 12. Sufficient personnel of the required grades in the diving team; 13. Personnel holding valid medical and training certificates and qualified and 14. competent in accordance with the IMCA or ADCI Training, Certification &

Personnel 15. Competence tables; 16. Suitable site-specific safety and familiarization training provided to all

members of the dive team; 17. Adequate arrangements to ensure that the supervisor and dive team are fully 18. briefed on the project and aware of the content of the diving project plan and

the dive plan; 19. Project records kept of all relevant details of the project, including all diving 20. operations; 21. A procedure for near-miss and incidents/accidents reporting, investigation

and follow-up; 22. Adequate arrangements for first aid and medical treatment of personnel; 23. Clear reporting and responsibility structure laid out in writing; 24. Diving supervisors appointed in writing and the extent of their control

documented;


25. The latest approved version of the diving contractor documents and plans at the work site and being used;

26. All relevant regulations/standards complied with as mentioned earlier, such

as this code and IMCA or ADCI.

16.3.3 The diving supervisor responsibilities

1. They should satisfy themselves that they are competent to carry out this

work and that they understand their own areas and levels of responsibility and who is responsible for any other relevant areas. Such responsibilities should be contained in the relevant documentation.

2. They should also ensure that they are in possession of a letter from the

diving contractor appointing them as a diving supervisor. Have adequate knowledge, training and familiarization with all life-support and ancillary equipment designated to the diving operations.

3. Be fully cognizant of all relevant governmental regulatory agency regulations

that apply to the diving operation and the diving mode employed, and the employer’s basic safe practices/operations manual. See that all rules and regulations are followed.

4. They will need to make sure that the personnel they are to supervise are

competent to carry out the work required of them. They should also check, as far as they are reasonably able, that these personnel are fit and in possession of a valid medical certificate of fitness;

5. While actually on duty, be in immediate control and available to implement

emergency procedures. The diving supervisor is not permitted to dive unless another qualified diver is present who has also been appointed and designated to assume responsibility.

6. The diving supervisor must also ensure, prior to commencing a diving

operation, in addition to parties directly involved in the diving operation that masters of craft, pilots

7. of submersibles, harbour masters, managers of off shore installations,

pipelines, 8. Civil engineering sites, inland waterways, and all persons responsible for

anything that affects the diving operation are advised that diving or underwater operations are to be undertaken.

9. They will need to check that the equipment they propose to use for any

particular operation is adequate, safe, properly certified and maintained. They can do this by confirming that the equipment meets the requirements set down in this code. They should ensure that the equipment is adequately checked by themselves or another competent person prior to its use. Such


checks should be documented, for example, on a pre-prepared checklist, and recorded in the operations log for the project;

10. They will need to ensure that all possible foreseeable hazards have been

evaluated and are fully understood by all relevant parties and that, if required, training is given. In addition, prior to commencement of a project an on-site job safety analysis (JSA) needs to be carried out. If the situation has changed, further risk assessment and management of change will need to be undertaken. They will need to ensure that the operation they are being asked to supervise complies with the requirements of this code and IMCA or ADCI code.

11. Personally inquire if all personnel on the dive team are qualified and

physically able to perform tasks assigned. Make an assessment of the physical condition of the divers prior to each dive to determine if any physical impairment is present that would be detrimental to the diver’s health and safety in the water or under hyperbaric conditions.

12. They will need to establish that all involved parties are aware that a diving

operation is going to start or continue. They will also need to obtain any necessary permission before starting or continuing the operation, normally via a permit-to-work system from port's safety officer

13. The supervisor will need to have clear audible and, if possible, visual

communications with any personnel under their supervision. For example, a supervisor will be able to control the raising and lowering of a diving bell adequately if there is a direct audio link with the winch operator, even though the winch may be physically located where the supervisor cannot see it nor have ready access to it.

14. Ensure diving operations are carried out from a suitable and safe location on

the surface 15. The supervisor will need to have direct communications with any diver in the

water at all times, even if another person needs to talk to, or listen to the diver

16. Be aware of the procedures to follow to obtain medical support in the event

of an accident, either diving or non-diving related. Ensure a two-way communication system is available at the dive location to obtain emergency assistance.

17. Develop or modify and produce pre- and post-dive checklists for the

operation. 18. Ensuring that proper records of the diving operations are maintained.

16.3.4 The Diver’s responsibilities:


1. Inform the diving supervisor if there is any medical or other reason why they cannot dive.

2. Ensure that their personal diving equipment is working correctly and is suitable for the planned dive;

3. Ensure that they fully understand the dive plan and is competent to carry out the planned task;

4. Comply with all commands and instructions from the diving supervisor or designated diving person in charge (DPIC) during the conduct of diving operations.

5. know the routine and emergency procedures;

6. Ensure that the deepest depth attained during the dive has been established before the ascent.

7. Safely transition from the water to the decompression chamber without avoidable delay.

8. Report any equipment faults, other potential hazards, near misses or accidents;

9. Report any medical problems or symptoms that they experience during or after the dive;

10. Check and put away personal diving equipment after use;

11. Keep their logbooks up to date and presenting it for signing by the diving supervisor after each dive.

12. Maintain a high level of physical fitness.

13. Act as a standby diver or tender when directed to do so. Be capable and qualified to carry out all of the duties and responsibilities of the diver as set forth above. (The standby diver is the individual possessing the required training and experience to enter the water at the diving station in order to render assistance to a stricken diver).

16.4 Qualifications, Competence and Training of Divers

1. Basically, any diver (including standby diver and extra diver) or other diving team member who is competent to take part in an industrial diving operation should have the training and experience necessary to perform the assigned task in a safe manner. Regarding competence to dive in a particular diving mode, a diver should have training and experience in various aspects of the respective mode, specified in


IMCA or ADCI codes. Documentary proof of competence can be a certificate, obtained by training or assessment of experience up to international standard.

2. The training and experience in general terms should include:

Technique of the required diving mode;

The assigned underwater work;

The use of tools, equipment and system relevant to the assigned task; and

Safe practices and emergency procedures. 3. Member companies of the ADCI or IMCA employ persons to perform as certified

commercial divers in the following categories:

Entry-level tender/diver.

Air diver.

Mixed-gas diver.

Bell /Saturation diver.

Air-diving supervisor.

Mixed-gas diving supervisor.

Bell /Saturation-diving supervisor.

Bell /Saturation technician.

Life-support technician.

Deck crew/Riggers.

4. Competence is not the same as qualification. A person who has a particular qualification, such as a diver training certificate, should have a certain level of competence in that area but the diving contractor and the diving supervisor will need to make sure that the person has the detailed competence necessary to do the specific task required during the particular diving operation.

5. The different members of the diving team will require different levels and types of competence and qualifications as mentioned in ADCI or IMCA codes.

6. Diplomas issued by a civilian or military educational organization are for the purpose of attesting that an individual has received the necessary basic formal training to enter a vocational field. Such instruments should not be used to verify that the graduate can perform in the field without further on-the-job training and experience with actual demonstration of competence


16.5 Medical Fitness of Diver

16.5.1 Certificate of Medical Fitness to Dive

1. In general any person, who is likely to be subjected to pressure greater than atmosphere, must be medically fit. A diver must be medically examined and should be in possession of a Certificate of Medical Fitness to Dive. A valid Certificate of Medical Fitness to Dive should be issued by a medical practitioner must be with special experience in underwater or occupational medicine.

2. The certificate of medical fitness to dive is a statement of the diver’s fitness to

perform work under water and is valid for as long as the doctor certifies, up to a maximum of 12 months.

3. The certificate should contain the details specified in IMCA or ADCI codes and

should be entered into the Diver's Log Book. A new certificate of fitness should be obtained if the diver has been sick for a continuous period of 10 days or more, or requires hospitalization of 72 hours or more.

4. It is very important that a diver should be physically and psychologically fit before

commencing a diving operation. Diving should not be undertaken if the person is suffering from any illness.

5. A minimum amount of medical equipment will need to be at a diving site to

provide first aid and medical treatment for the dive team. First aid kits should be held in the diving bell, chambers and hyperbaric rescue facility. In addition specialized medical equipment needs to be held at the dive site. The minimum amount will depend on the type of diving, but a standard list has been agreed in ADCI or IMCA codes

16.6 Decompression Illness after Diving 1. Divers are at risk of decompression illness (DCI) after diving. It is difficult to treat

decompression illness if recompression facilities are not immediately available. The diving project plan will therefore need to specify that divers remain close to suitable recompression facilities for a set time following a dive.

16.6.1 Air Decompression Policy

1. It is the Port policy not to plan or perform decompression diving. No exceptional exposure diving will be planned. If an emergency situation occurs where the no-decompression limit is exceeded due to entrapment, entanglement or timing device failure, in-water decompression is permitted to avoid injury to the diver. Standard Decompression. Tables shall be used to calculate decompression depths and times. Normal diving procedures shall be conducted in the Unlimited /No- Decompression. Repetitive diving procedures will be followed carefully; each diver shall always know his repetitive group and last time of reached surface, so that


surface intervals can be quickly determined for daily dive planning. The dive team supervisor shall ensure that all divers are trained on the use of standard and repetitive diving procedures.

2. For dives that are shallower than 10 metres with planned in-water decompression

not exceeding 20 minutes, all diving companies must have a decompression chamber available in Dubai for any emergency, but for example if two diving companies share in one decompression chamber, so in case of illness (DCI) of any diver, EHS has the right to cease the diving activity for both companies until the patient is treated.

3. Any diver showing signs or symptoms that cannot be attributed to any other cause

must be treated for decompression sickness. Unless the treatment is taken care of by a medical specialist, the diving medic is responsible for carrying out first aid and treatment work, and where necessary should consult the diving contractor's medical adviser.

16.7 Work Planning

16.7.1 Safe Practice Manual

1. This standard requires that the employer develop and maintain a safe practices manual that includes information and procedures relating to the safety and health of the dive-team members. The manual must contain a copy of the commercial diving operations standard and a statement of the employer’s policy for ensuring compliance with the standard. The manual must be at the dive location and available to all dive-team members.

2. The safe practices manual must provide a written operational procedure for each diving mode used by the employer. EHS shall review the manual to determine if it contains safety procedures and checklists for diving operations, assignments and responsibilities of the dive-team members, equipment procedures and checklists, and emergency procedures (at a minimum: fire, equipment malfunction or failure, adverse environmental conditions, and medical illness and injury). The safe practices manual guidance and procedures must be supplemented with additional information specific to each diving operation.

3. The manual should consist of documents such as:

Dive site description

Diving mode selection

Surface and underwater conditions and hazard analysis

Air supply requirements

Diving equipment, systems and required support equipment

Dive team assignments and responsibilities

No-Decompression limits

Emergency procedures (accident/near-accident and incident notification, reporting and investigation procedures)


Evacuation procedures and recompression treatment procedures

A management of change procedure

Adverse weather working policy

Diving/operating/maintenance procedures

Mobilization/demobilization plans

Step-by-step work procedures

Contractors manuals (submitted one time only) and documentation

Code, standards and reference documents

Communication and responsibility organigrams

Equipment audit reports and certification

Permits-to-work

Minimum gas/breathing mixture requirements

Any location-specific hazards identified by the client

Suitable emergency and contingency plans, including: lost bell recovery; rescue of divers from a habitat; and hyperbaric evacuation for surface orientated and saturation diving operations. These should be agreed by all relevant parties Prior to commencement of the project a safety management system interface document should be in place, which reflects and defines the safety management interface between client, diving contractor, sub-contractors and third parties. The document should include the relevant documentation and management systems of all parties involved as well as the responsibilities, communication protocol, emergency response, operational procedures and practices for managing health and safety during the project.

16.7.2 Pre-dive procedures

1. The provisions of this section must be followed by the employer for all diving modes, with the designated person-in-charge responsible for overall compliance with these provisions and briefing dive-team members.

16.7.2.1 Approvals/Prohibitions

16.7.2.1.1 Approvals

1. Prior to the commencement of any diving operation within

PCFC – Trakhees ports limit, written permission shall be obtained from the EHS department, DPW Harbour Master office and other concerned DP World departments.

16.7.2.1.2 Prohibitions

1. Diving operations shall not be undertaken in areas designated as prohibited, restricted unless duly authorized by EHS department. Details of prohibited diving areas shall be obtained from PCFC – Trakhees Ports Harbour master office.


2. Night time diving work/ operations or activities is not permitted without prior permission from the EHS and other concerned DPW departments.

16.7.2.2 Emergency aid

1. Diving Supervisor shall determine whether the emergency aid list is complete and is available to all dive-team members. This list must contain the telephone or call numbers of: the nearest operational decompression chamber (if a chamber is not required at the dive location); accessible hospital(s); the available physician(s); the means of transportation available for use in the event of an emergency; and the nearest DCD Coordination Centre.

16.7.2.3 Launch and Recovery Procedures

1. A diving contractor should ensure that the launch and recovery system(s) used for

diving operations have been tested and certified by a competent person. 2. It is the responsibility of the diving supervisor to ensure that a safe launch/recovery

procedure exists that is understood by all members of both the diving and the support installation crews.

3. The procedure should progress in smooth, logical steps and be designed so that

all personnel involved in the operation are fully aware of the situation at all times.

16.7.2.4 First aid supplies

1. Diving Supervisor shall determine whether a first-aid kit is available at the dive location. The first-aid kit provided at the dive location must be appropriate for the diving operations, and approved by a physician. If it is to be used in a pressure chamber, such as a decompression chamber or a diving bell, the first-aid kit must be suitable for use under hyperbaric conditions because some items in a standard kit (such as bottles of liquid, mercury thermometers, or ammonia ampoules) may burst under pressure. A bag-type resuscitator with a transparent hose and mask (so that the operator can see that the diver’s air passages are clear).

16.7.2.5 Planning and assessment

1. This provision requires the employer to include in the planning of a diving operation an

assessment of the safety and health features of the diving mode, surface and underwater conditions and hazards, primary and reserve breathing-gas supply, thermal protection, diving equipment and systems, dive-team assignments and the physical fitness of dive-team members (including any impairments known to the employer), repetitive dive designation or residual inert-gas status of divers, decompression chamber procedures (including any altitude corrections), and emergency procedures. The employer typically assigns this planning task to the designated person-in-charge. While conducting the planning and assessment, the employer must consider all hazards involved and ensure compliance with other standards


16.7.2.6 Hazardous activities

Hazards encountered during diving operations such as weather, water temperature, current, and bottom conditions must be recognized and taken into account during the planning and execution of the operation. When other operations being conducted in the vicinity (such as dredging, marine traffic, or movement of materials directly above the dive location and/or area of the dive) are likely to interfere with the diving operation, the diving supervisor shall plan the operation only after appropriate coordination with persons responsible for the other activities so that any hazard exposures to the diver(s) or other dive-team members will be eliminated. Failure to plan for such conditions, or to coordinate activities, shall be a basis for a citation.

16.7.2.7 Employee briefing

The employee briefing is usually conducted by the diving supervisor just prior to the diver(s) entering the water. The dive-team members shall be briefed on the tasks to be undertaken, safety procedures for the diving mode, any unusual hazards or environmental conditions likely to affect the safety of the diving operation, and any modifications to operating procedures necessitated by the specific diving operation. The diving supervisor also must advise the dive-team members of the procedures for reporting physical problems or adverse physiological effects during and after the dive. It is particularly important that the designated person-in-charge inquire into each dive-team member’s current state of physical fitness before making assignments.

16.7.2.8 Equipment inspection 1. The equipment-inspection requirement prior to each dive relates directly to the

equipment-checklist requirement in the safe practices manual. The breathing-supply system, including reserve breathing-gas supplies, masks, helmets, thermal protection, and diving bell-handling mechanisms (when appropriate) must be inspected prior to each diving operation. Pre-dive equipment inspection items are those that are critical for the safety of the dive operation. For surface-supplied diving, the breathing-supply system equipment inspection includes diving umbilicals

16.7.2.9 Warning signal

The following paragraphs describe the two distinctions made in the requirements for displaying the warning signal for commercial diving operations:

Requires the warning signal to be displayed when diving from surfaces other than vessels such as wharves, piers, pilings, jetties, fixed caissons, levees, dikes, dams, breakwaters, and artificial islands (secured to the sea floor).

The warning signal is a rigid replica of the international code Flag “A,” and must be at least one meter (3΄-3½˝) in height (see Appendix F of this instruction).


International Code Flag “A”: Alfa; Diver below (when stationary); Keep clear.

16.7.2.10 Diving Team

Dive team shall comprise of minimum (5) members namely one trained supervisor, one trained dive medic, one dive tender, one standby diver and the diver performing the work. Where, the diving work requires more divers in water, and then dive tenders shall be increased accordingly.

16.7.3 Procedures during dive

16.7.3.1 Diving Work Permit

16.7.3.1.1 Authorization of Work Permit

A Permit to Work (PTW) system can only be authorized by an Approved Signatories, as defined below; 1. “Issuing Authority” Vessel Husbandry Jobs (Jebel Ali, Port Rashid, and Port Hamriya):

Master of the Ship if repair works in ports For Diving Operation for Berth areas, Projects and Ship Yards:

Trakhees-EHS Approved Project Manager/Project Engineer/Safety Officer.

2. “Performing Authority”- EHS approved Diving Supervisor 3. “Competent Authority”- Representatives from Trakhees-EHS Ports

Department. 4. No authorized signatory can sign for both the issuing authority and

the performing authority. 5. Work Permit Validity Period 6. Diving permit is valid for a period specified on the permit only.

However the maximum validity shall not extend more than 12 hours.

7. Prior to the commencement of any diving operation within PCFC –

Trakhees ports limit, written permission shall be obtained from the


EHS department, DPW Harbour Master office and other concerned DP World departments.

8. Night time diving work/ operations or activities is not permitted

without prior permission from the EHS and other concerned DPW departments.

16.7.3.1.2 Permit Book

1. The permit shall be prepared in triplicate and distributed as follows:

Original (White) : Work Site/ Location of Work. First copy (Pink) : Issuing Authority Second copy (Blue) : Port Control/ Harbour Master/ Marine

department. 2. Each permit book contains 25 permits and each permit consists of

6 papers (including the colour copies for distribution).

16.7.3.1.3 Permit Book Purchase

1. EHS approved Diving Company shall purchase the permit book from EHS. The steps to be followed for the permit book purchase is as stated

• EHS approved Diving Company shall request to the EHS ports

and maritime section officer via e-mail ([email protected]) for generating the payment advice for the no of permit books as required.

• EHS officer shall raise the payment advice and send to the EHS approved Diving Company accordingly.

• Upon receipt of the payment advice, the Diving Company representative shall proceed to payment counter at EHS Main office at Jebel Ali and close out the payment and collect the permit books form the cashier.

16.7.3.1.4 Withdrawal/suspension of work permits

1. This diving permit may be suspended, withdrawn or cancelled at the

sole discretion of PCFC – Trakhees – EHS & DPW Harbour Master. Any dive work/ operations or activities found to breach any EHS or Port related requirements may result in permit being suspended, withdrawn and/or cancelled.

2. All Permits shall be suspended and Re- Issued in case the Vessel

Changes its Location. 3. New Diving Permit should be issued whenever there is more than

50% change in originally assigned diving crew.


16.7.3.1.5 Completion of work/Closure of work permits

1. On completion of the work the Performing Authority shall withdraw his men, material, machinery, clean the area and make the equipment/area safe to commission the operation. Then he will sign the permit requesting Issuing Authority to cancel/close the permit.

2. Issuing authority shall check equipment/area/site and ensure that the

maintenance/contractor personnel have left equipment/area/site in safe condition and sign the permit as closed. The cancelled permit shall be stored for record keeping for a retention period of 2 months

16.7.3.2 Water entry and exit 1. A means capable of supporting the diver (such as an in water stage or ladder) while entering

or exiting the water is required. If it is a fixed structure, such as a ladder, it must extend below the water sufficiently to allow adequate diver access and support (a minimum of one meter is recommended). Portable ladders should be secured to maintain stability and to prevent pinch points. The employer also must provide a means for assisting an injured diver from the water to the surface or into a diving bell (such as an in water stage, stokes basket, or harness).

16.7.3.4 Communications 1. Effective communications are essential to ensure that all personnel directly involved in

operations are made fully aware of the work being undertaken and that during operations all parties are kept aware of the status of any unusual situation.

2. An operational two-way voice communication system is required for communications between

each surface-supplied air diver or mixed-gas diver and a member of the dive team at the dive location. Also, an operational, two-way communication system (such as a cell phone, marine radio, or e-mail) must be available for obtaining emergency aid.

3. Communications between the diving team and any other relevant personnel (such as marine

crew, DP operators, crane operator) are important for safe and efficient operation. 4. Effective communications are vital to the safety and success of any operation. To ensure this

the diving supervisor needs to be given access to the communications service of the vessel or fixed/floating structure on which operations are based, as and when required.

5. If communications are lost, terminate the dive and use line pull signals for diver’s ascent to

surface. 6. All such communications will need to be recorded, and the recording kept for minimum 24

hours before being erased. If an incident occurs during the dive, or becomes apparent after the dive the communication record will need to be retained until the investigation has been completed.


7. The diving craft, when and where used, shall be equipped with VHF radio (or) radio communication equipment and a fully charged mobile number to maintain a continuous manned listening watch on Port working channel while divers are in the water.

16.7.3.5 Decompression tables 1. This paragraph requires that decompression, repetitive, and no-decompression tables (as

appropriate) be available at the dive location. These tables serve as guides for determining decompression and no-decompression profiles for the diving operation.

16.7.3.6 Dive profiles 1. A written record called a depth-time profile (including any breathing-gas changes, when

appropriate) must be maintained for each diver during the dive, including decompression. This record aids the diving supervisor (or the dive-team member managing the decompression interval) in implementing the planned dive schedule and decompression interval, and making necessary adjustments in the decompression schedule if changes occur in planned bottom times or depths. The dive profile information may be recorded by whatever means and in whatever form the employer prefers, provided that the information is maintained accurately and completely.

16.7.3.7 Hand-held power tools and equipment 1. The standard does not require hand-held electric power tools used underwater to have a

pressure-sensitive manual control switch. However, when electrically powered hand-held tools are used underwater, and the source of power is supplied from the dive location, the hand-held power tool shall not be supplied with power until requested by the diver. When the diver has finished work with the hand-held electric-power tool, the power to the tool will be de-energized from the dive location

2. With respect to custom-made equipment or related installations which are designed,

fabricated for, and intended for use by a particular customer, if determined to be safe for its intended use by the manufacturer on the basis of test data which the employer keeps and makes available for inspection to the authority representatives.

16.7.3.8 Welding and burning 1. Where the dive work/ operations or activities involves use of naked flame, then hot work

permit and gas free certificate shall be obtained from EHS approved Survey Company prior to the commencement of job.

2. A current supply switch must be available to interrupt the current flow to the welding or

burning electrode. The switch shall be tended by a dive-team member in voice communication with the diver performing the welding or burning. The disconnect switch must be in the open position unless the diver is actually welding or burning The diving supervisor shall determine that the welding machine’s frame is properly grounded by means of solid, metal-to-metal contact on all ship’s structure and/or shore ground connections . The ground connection also may be checked with a meter. The diving supervisor also shall determine that


the cables, electrode holders and connections are insulated to prevent overheating or breakdown. The employer must provide insulated gloves for the diver’s protection

3. Prior to welding or burning on closed compartments, structures, or pipes that contain a

flammable vapour or in which a flammable vapour may be generated by the work, they shall be vented, flooded, or purged with a mixture of gases that will not support combustion. “Closed compartments” as used in this paragraph, means any space that is enclosed by bulkheads and overheads (i.e., walls and ceilings), including large diameter pipes and other structures that, because of poor ventilation, could hold or contain a flammable gas or vapour. Prior to hot work, the employer must remove from closed compartments all flammable gases and vapours by ventilating, flooding, or purging with an inert-gas that will not support combustion. Venting alone is not sufficient unless it removes the flammable gases from the compartments. Closed compartments, structures, and pipes already under flow, as in hot tapping operations, meet the requirement for being flooded.

4. A flooded compartment is not necessarily safe for cutting and welding. During the cutting and

welding process, oxygen (from the diver’s welding/cutting O2 supply hose), hydrogen (electrolysis generated by the work process), and other gases may collect in the overhead of a compartment, if it is not properly vented (made gas free). Should the diver cut or weld into the area where the gas collects, then a serious explosion can occur. By properly venting the space, gas will not collect and the space will remain flooded. When making vertical cuts/welds, start high (shallow water depth) and finish low (deeper water depth).

16.7.3.9 Termination of dive 1. The diving supervisor is responsible for determining when a dive shall be terminated.

“Termination” means ending the working interval of a dive. However, it may still be necessary to complete the decompression procedures (when required). The working interval of a dive must be terminated when: the diver so requests; the diver fails to respond correctly to instructions from the dive team (indicating a possible disability of the diver or an equipment failure); communications with the diver are lost and cannot quickly be re-established (either between the diver and the dive location or diving bell, or between the diver and the designated person-in-charge and the skipper of the support vessel for live boating operations); or the diver begins to use the reserve breathing gas. Any of these situations requires termination of the dive. The decompression interval should not be omitted after termination of the dive if doing so would add to the diver’s overall physical risk, unless the circumstances make in water decompression impossible or present a greater physical risk to the diver.

2. Competent Authority has the right to Terminate the operation as deemed necessary during the routine inspections

16.7.4 Post-dive procedures 16.7.4.1 Precautions 1. At the completion of a dive, the employer must: thoroughly check the physical condition of the

diver; instruct the diver to report any physical problems or adverse physiological reactions (including decompression sickness symptoms); advise the diver of the location of the nearest decompression chamber; and alert the diver to the hazards of flying too soon after the dive.


2. As a general rule, a diver should wait 12 hours before flying for air diving not involving decompression, and wait 24 hours for air dives involving decompression and all mixed-gas diving. Decompression sickness effects can occur for some time after the completion of the dive, and sleep can conceal the onset of decompression sickness. Consequently, after a dive deeper than 100 fsw, a dive that requires decompression, or after any dive using a mixed-gas breathing mixture, the employer is required to instruct the diver to remain awake and in the vicinity of the decompression chamber at the dive location for at least one hour after the dive, including one hour after any decompression or diving medical treatment (such as medical treatment for decompression sickness or arterial gas embolism).

16.7.4.2 Recompression capability 1. Decompression chambers provide the only effective therapy (i.e., recompression) for

decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism. A decompression chamber also can reduce a diver’s underwater exposure since chambers may be used to decompress the diver on the surface (i.e., procedures known as “surface decompression on air” and “surface decompression on oxygen”).

2. The decompression chamber must be dual-lock (i.e., having two compartments) so that

supplies and personnel may be transferred into and out of the main compartment. The chamber also must be multi-place (i.e., the main compartment must be large enough for two persons), and must be located and ready for use within 5 minutes of the diver’s exit from the water.

3. The decompression chamber must be equipped with: a pressure gauge for each inner lock

and outer lock; a built-in breathing system (BIBS) with at least one mask for each chamber occupant; two-way voice communication between the chamber occupant(s) and a dive-team member at the dive location who is monitoring the decompression; a view port; and sufficient illumination to observe the chamber occupant(s).

4. Treatment tables, oxygen or other appropriate treatment gas, and sufficient gas to pressurize

the decompression chamber during the treatment period must be available at the dive location. In addition, a competent dive-team member must be available during the dive, and for one hour afterward, to tend and operate the chamber.

5. For each dive in which decompression sickness is suspected or symptoms are evident, the

following additional information must be recorded and maintained: a description of decompression sickness symptoms (including depth and time of onset); and a description of treatment results. Employers shall maintain a log of recordable work-related injuries and illnesses. The purpose of this requirement is to document recordable illnesses, including incidents of decompression sickness, even when the initial symptoms include such manifestations as skin itch, slight joint cramps, and slight numbness of the extremities. Although seemingly innocuous, these symptoms are recognized and suspected as mild forms of decompression sickness. Symptoms and treatments must be recorded similarly to any other injury or illness.

16.7.4.3 Availability of compression chambers 1. For dives that are shallower than 10 metres with planned in-water decompression not

exceeding 20 minutes, the diving contractor should identify the nearest suitable operational


two-person, two-compartment chamber. Under no circumstances should this be more than 6 hours travelling distance from the dive site;

2. For dives between 10 and 50 metres with planned in-water decompression not exceeding 20 minutes, the diving contractor should assess the risk of DCI and likelihood of a diver requiring emergency recompression. This should be based on the depth and duration of the planned dives. The assessment should also consider factors which may increase the risk of DCI such as water temperature, type of work, and the number of dives/ascents. If the assessment demonstrates a significant risk of DCI a suitable, operational, two-person, two-compartment chamber should be provided for immediate use at the site of the diving project. If the assessment demonstrates relatively low risk of DCI, the diving contractor should identify the nearest suitable operational two-person, two-compartment chamber. Under no circumstances should this be more than 6 hours travelling distance from the dive site;

3. For dives with planned in-water decompression stops greater than 20 minutes the diving contractor should provide a suitable, operational, two-person, two-compartment chamber for immediate use at the site of the diving project. The diver should be able to leave the water quickly and easily and be pressurised within the chamber to the appropriate recompression pressure as defined by the time in the decompression schedule being used. The controls of a compression chamber should only be operated by people competent to do so. Such competence will be achieved by a combination of training and experience. The degree of supervision provided should reflect the experience of the operator.

16.7.4.4 Diving records 1. The record maintained for each diving operation must include: the names of the dive-team

members, including the designated person-in-charge; the date, time, and location of the dive; the diving mode(s) used; a general description of the work performed; the approximate underwater and surface conditions; and the maximum depth and bottom time for each diver. The following additional information is required for dives outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 100 fsw, or using mixed-gas: depth-time and breathing-gas profiles; decompression tables (including any modifications); and, for repetitive diving, the elapsed time since the last pressure exposure (if less than 24 hours) or the repetitive dive designation for each diver.

16.8 Diving Process

16.8.1 Surface-supplied air diving

16.8.1.1 Procedures 1. Each diver is required to be continuously tended while in the water. 2. When diving is conducted in enclosed or physically confining spaces,

another diver shall be stationed at the underwater point of entry. The diver stationed at the underwater point of entry is required in addition to any standby diver at the dive location.


3. Requires each diving operation have a primary breathing-gas supply that is sufficient to support divers for the duration of the planned dive, including decompression.

4. For dives outside the no-decompression limits, each diver must: be

tended by a separate dive-team member; have a standby diver available at the dive location while the diver is in the water; and have a diver-carried reserve breathing-gas supply, except when heavy gear is worn.

5. A reserve breathing-gas supply is required at the dive location for dives

outside the no-decompression limits. The reserve breathing-gas supply required at the dive location must be on-line and ready for use, and its source must be independent of the primary breathing-gas supply. The reserve breathing-gas supply must be of sufficient quantity and pressure to allow each diver to complete any planned decompression schedule.

6. For surface-supplied air diving with heavy gear, outside the no-

decompression limits, an extra breathing-gas hose must be available to the standby diver, and the hose must be capable of supplying breathing gas to the diver in an emergency. Also, an in water stage must be provided for the diver(s) in the water.

7. A diver-carried reserve breathing-gas supply must be provided to a

diver in the water when the diver is prevented by the configuration of the dive area from ascending directly to the surface (i.e., when the diver does not have “free access to the surface”), except when the diver wears heavy gear or when the physical space does not permit the use of such a breathing-gas supply. The diver-carried reserve must be sufficient under operating conditions to allow the diver to reach the surface, or another source of breathing gas, or to be reached by a standby diver. Heavy-gear diving is exempted from these provisions because the gear carries its own reserve.

8. For vessels without longitudinal (horizontal) stabilizers, “free access to

the surface” means that the diver is diving above the turn of the bilge; for vessels with longitudinal stabilizers (usually found on military combat vessels), “free access to the surface” means that the diver is diving above the stabilizers.

16.8.2 Mixed-gas diving

16.8.2.1 Procedures

1. A separate dive-team member is required to tend each mixed-gas diver in the water. A standby diver must be available while a diver(s) is in the water.


2. A separate tender must be assigned to each mixed-gas diver at all times, and a standby diver must be available to assist the mixed-gas diver(s) in the water. Therefore, for mixed-gas diving, a tender cannot be a standby diver unless a qualified dive-team member is available to assume the tender’s duties.

3. When diving is conducted in enclosed or physically confining

spaces, another diver must be stationed at the underwater point of entry to assist in tending the diver in the space.

4. The diver stationed at the underwater point of entry is required in

addition to any standby diver at the dive location. 5. Require primary breathing-gas supply sufficient to support divers for

the duration of any planned dive, including decompression. 6. A reserve breathing-gas supply is required at the dive location for all

mixed-gas dives. The reserve breathing-gas supply required at the dive location must be on-line and ready for use, and its source must be independent of the primary breathing-gas supply. The reserve breathing-gas supply must be of sufficient quantity and pressure to allow each diver to complete any planned decompression schedule.

7. When a mixed-gas diver wearing heavy gear is in the water, an

extra breathing-gas hose must be available to the standby diver, and the hose must be capable of supplying breathing-gas to the diver in the water during an emergency. Also, an in water stage must be provided for a diver wearing heavy gear.

8. An in water stage is required for divers who do not have access to a

diving bell for dives deeper than outside the no-decompression limits.

9. When a closed diving bell is used, a dive-team member must be

available in the diving bell to tend the diver in the water. 10. A diver-carried reserve breathing-gas supply is required when diving

outside the no-decompression limits, or when the diver is prevented by the configuration of the dive area from directly ascending to the surface (i.e., when the diver does not have “free access to the surface”), except when heavy gear is worn or when the physical space does not permit the use of such a breathing-gas supply.

11. For vessels without longitudinal (horizontal) stabilizers, “free access

to the surface” means that the diver is diving above the turn of the bilge; for vessels with longitudinal stabilizers (primarily found on military combat vessels), “free access to the surface” means that the diver is diving above the stabilizers.

16.9 Risk Management Process


1. The diving contractor should have a risk management process in place which

addresses the project lifecycle and should include the following:

Risk identification meetings prior commencement of the development of step by step work procedures

Final risk assessment when the step by step work procedures have been finalized

Risk assessments of mobilization/demobilization plans and the contingency and emergency plan

Mobilization and familiarization of the diving personnel

A job safety analysis (JSA) should be completed prior to initiating the work

A toolbox meeting should be held at the start of each shift or prior to any high-risk operation

Dive plan to be prepared used for each dive to brief the divers. It should contain the tasks to be carried out, hazards, risks and precautions to be taken.

16.9.1 Risk Assessment

1. A Risk Assessment is technical approach to identifying significant

hazards; who is likely to be affected by those hazards; the risks associated with the hazards; what measures you will take to control the risks – thus reducing the harm to anyone during diving activities; recording the precautions / procedures you have put in place. The assessment needs to be reviewed periodically while the activity is on-going or whenever there is a significant change

2. A risk assessment should include the initial risk evaluation and risk level

(e.g. high, medium, low) and, if required, further risk reducing measures and the residual risk level. Based on the risk assessment the decision on whether the work can go ahead safely and what precautions need to be taken can be made. The risk assessment should also identify onshore/offshore personnel responsible for ensuring the precautions agreed during the risk assessment are carried out.

16.9.2 Five Steps to Risk Assessment

Step 1: Look for the hazards. Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how. Step 3: Evaluate the risks. Decide whether existing precautions are

adequate or more should be done to lower the risk. Step 4: Record your findings. Step 5: Review your assessment and revise if necessary.

16.9.3 Job Safety Analysis (JSA)

1. The purpose of the JSA is to provide a written document identifying

hazards associated with each step of a job and develop solutions that will reduce, eliminate or guard against hazards. On the JSA, sentences should be short and simple.


16.9.4 Revising the JSA

1. The JSA should be reviewed and updated whenever new equipment,

products or procedures are introduced into the work site. This is especially true if an accident has occurred on a task upon which a JSA has been performed.

16.9.5 Potential Hazards

1. Identify possible hazards associated with each step and list that hazard

opposite the job step. 2. Consider potential accident causes (strain, sprain, slip, fall, cut, crush,

etc.). 3. Consider environmental and health hazards (vapours, gasses, heat,

noise, toxicity, etc.).

16.9.6 Recommend Safe Procedures and Protection

1. Develop solutions for each potential hazard and list the solution opposite the hazard.

2. Detail controls, e.g., ventilate, isolate, allow to cool, secure, guard, train, etc.

3. List of personal protective equipment (PPE) required, e.g., gloves, eye protection, respirators, fall protection, etc.

16.9.7 Assign Responsibility

1. Assign a specific person the responsibility of implementing the safety

procedures or protection required.

16.9.8 Personnel Involved

1. Identify the persons preparing, reviewing and approving the JSA.

2. Distribute the JSA to all personnel involved in the job or task and ensure that each person is familiar with the contents of the JSA.

16.9.9 Environmental Considerations

1. The safe and efficient deployment and operation of divers is dependent upon

suitable environmental conditions. For any given situation the combination of these conditions can be dramatically different and it is the responsibility of the diving supervisor to assess all available information before deciding to conduct, to continue or to finish diving operations.


2. Each diving contractor should normally define clear environmental limits (adverse weather working policy).

3. Diving supervisors should also ensure that they understand the implications

of any other limitations which apply to vessels/fixed and floating structures and deployment systems.

16.10 Equipment service and maintenance

16.10.1 General

1. Every equipment modification, repair, test, calibration, or

maintenance service must be recorded in a log or by means of a tagging system. The tag or log entry must include the date, the type of work performed on the equipment, and the name or initials of the person who performed the work. The CSHO shall check to ensure that the employer has recorded the information required by this provision. This information is used to determine whether the equipment meets the requirements or is in need of maintenance, testing, or replacement. These records (logs or tags) must be kept by the employer until replaced by a subsequent up-to-date record, or until the equipment is withdrawn from service.

16.10.2 Air compressor system

1. Air compressor systems used to supply air to the diver must be

equipped with a volume tank (VT), a check valve on the inlet side of the VT (to prevent loss of air if the compressor fails), a VT pressure gauge, a VT relief valve (to prevent excessive pressure build up), and a VT drain valve (to drain or “bleed” accumulated moisture from the VT). In addition, the air compressor intakes must be located away (upwind) from any internal combustion engine exhaust or other contamination source to protect the diver’s breathing air.

2. Generally, an upwind horizontal separation of at least twelve feet should be maintained between the air compressor intake and the engine exhaust. In addition, the air intake should be located at least six feet above the ground, deck, or other low-lying area that could collect contaminants that are heavier than air. Even if a system is designed to keep the exhaust downwind of the intake (e.g., floating, weather vanning system), these horizontal and vertical distances should be maintained.

3. The employer is responsible for checking the output of the air compressor system every 6 months to ensure that the diver’s breathing air does not contain more than 20 ppm (parts per million) by volume of carbon monoxide (CO), more than 1,000 ppm by volume of carbon dioxide (CO2), 5 milligrams per cubic


meter of oil mist (except that non-oil-lubricated compressors need not be tested for oil mist), or a pronounced or noxious odour. EHS shall review and examine the records indicating the results of such tests. EHS also shall check to ensure that the air sample was taken at the connection to the distribution system (manifold).

4. Compressors used with air-respiratory systems that are not normally monitored, diving compressors are continually monitored by the dive team and are not required to have CO and high-temperature alarms.

16.10.3 Breathing-gas supply hoses

1. Each breathing-gas hose must have a working pressure at least

equal to the working pressure of the total breathing-gas system. Therefore, a hose connected to the low-pressure or downstream side of a regulating valve must meet the working pressure of that part of the system. For instance, the hose working pressure does not have to be equal to the pressure of the gas storage-bank cylinders, but must be equal to the working pressure downstream from the regulator. The working pressure rating of the hose usually will be found on a decal or stencil with the manufacturer’s name at regular intervals along the hose length.

2. Each breathing-gas supply hose shall have a rated bursting

pressure at least four times the maximum working pressure. Each breathing-gas supply hose must be tested annually to at least 1.5 times of its working pressure, and that the open ends of a hose must be taped, capped, or plugged when the hose is in storage or not in use to prevent foreign matter from contaminating the hose.

3. Connectors for diver’s breathing-gas systems must be made of

corrosion-resistant material and have a rated working pressure equal to the maximum working pressure of the hose to which they are connected. Connectors must be resistant to accidental disengagement.

4. Installation of cadmium-plated or other corrosion-resistant plated

fittings is acceptable and meets the requirements of “corrosion-resistant” to the extent that the plating remains intact. However, when the plating becomes worn and the parent metal becomes pitted, the connector must be replaced.

5. Umbilicals must be marked in 10-foot increments from the diver

to 100 feet, and in 50-foot increments thereafter. Hoses in umbilicals (i.e., breathing-gas hoses, hot water hoses, or other hoses that carry air or liquids) must be kink resistant. The breathing-gas hose in the umbilical also must meet other


applicable hose requirements. The maximum allowable working pressure of the umbilical breathing-gas hose can be calculated by: subtracting the maximum depth (in psi) of the supply source (surface or diving bell) from the maximum depth (in psi) of the dive for which it will be used; and then adding 100 psi to this figure.

16.10.4 Buoyancy control

1. The following equipment must have exhaust valves: helmets or

masks connected directly to a dry suit or other buoyancy-changing equipment, and dry suits or other buoyancy-changing equipment not directly connected to the helmet or mask. A buoyancy compensator used for SCUBA diving must have an inflation source separate from the breathing-gas supply. SCUBA diving requires the use of a personal flotation device capable of maintaining the diver at the surface in a face-up position; this device also must be capable of oral inflation, have an exhaust valve, and have a manually activated inflation source independent of the breathing-gas supply.

16.10.5 Compressed gas cylinders

1. Employers must follow the OSHA standards for general industry that regulate the design, construction, and maintenance of compressed gas cylinders In addition, the cylinders must be stored in a ventilated area away from excessive heat, and must be secured from falling. When the cylinders are in use, they must be equipped with a shut-off valve and a protective cap. The protective cap is not required when the cylinders: are designed with recessed shut-off valves, are connected to a manifold.

16.10.6 Decompression chambers

1. Decompression chamber shall be built and maintained in accordance with the ASME Code, or an equivalent standard.

2. Decompression chambers must have: a means of maintaining

the atmosphere below 25 per cent oxygen by volume; noise mufflers on the intake and exhaust lines (to facilitate communication and to protect against hearing loss) that are regularly inspected and maintained; suction guards on the exhaust line openings; and a means for extinguishing fire. Ignition sources and combustible material must be kept to a minimum inside the chamber.

3. Appropriate means to maintain the oxygen level below 25 per

cent may include a ventilation system or an overboard dump system. An overboard dump system exhausts the occupant’s expired breathing gases from the built-in breathing system (BIBS)


(used for breathing purposes inside a decompression chamber) to prevent a build-up of oxygen inside the chamber above 25 per cent by volume.

16.10.7 Gauges and timekeeping devices

1. To monitor a diver’s depth-time profile, a gauge indicating diver

depth that can be read at the dive location is required for all dives. To maintain accuracy, each mechanical depth gauge must be dead-weight tested or calibrated against a master gauge every 6 months, and when a discrepancy larger than 2 per cent of full scale occurs between any two equivalent gauges. Also, a timekeeping device must be kept at the dive location for recording time intervals during each dive to maintain an accurate depth-time profile for each diver. For depth and pressure gauges that are digital, employers must comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations for verifying accuracy.

16.10.8 Masks and helmets

1. Surface-supplied air and mixed-gas masks and helmets must have a non-return valve, that closes readily and positively, at the attachment point between the helmet or mask and hose, as well as an exhaust valve. Surface-supplied air and mixed-gas masks and helmets must have a minimum ventilation rate capability of 4.5 acfm for any depth at which they are used, or the capability of maintaining the diver’s inspired carbon dioxide partial pressure below 0.02 ATA when the diver is producing carbon dioxide at a rate of 1.6 standard litres per minute (LPM).

2. The purpose of this helmet and mask provision is to ensure that

breathing gas is supplied to the diver at a rate sufficient to meet the breathing requirements of the diver, and to dilute or flush exhaled breathing gas from the diver’s mask or helmet. Employers to ensure that appropriate ventilation rate is maintained during operational use.

16.10.9 Oxygen safety

1. Equipment used with oxygen or breathing-gas mixtures

containing over 40 per cent oxygen (by volume) must be designed for oxygen service. Components (except umbilicals) exposed to oxygen or breathing-gas mixtures containing over 40 per cent oxygen (by volume) must be cleaned of flammable materials before use. Oxygen systems over 125 psig and compressed air systems over 500 psi must have slow-opening shut-off valves (such as a needle valve).

2. Equipment exposed to oxygen is cleaned of flammable materials

and hydrocarbon contaminants before placing that equipment


into oxygen service. Similarly, before new or replacement components are placed into service in an oxygen-cleaned system, they also must be cleaned before being connected to the system.

16.10.10 Weights and harnesses

1. The requirements for weights and harnesses do not apply when

a diver wears heavy gear. In all other cases, each diver must be equipped with a weight belt or assembly that has a quick-release feature.

16.11 Emergency and Contingency Plans

16.11.1 Emergency Plans

1. Emergency procedures are the actions or procedures needed to regain control of a situation and prevent or minimize injury to the diver or support personnel.

2. Accidents and emergencies require a quick response if they are to be prevented from becoming more serious. Before starting diving operation, the diving contractor should make detailed planning and assessment for possible emergencies at all depths and locations and the availability of emergency services. He should also ensure that there are effective means of communication between the diving location, the people who has control of the location and the emergency services.

3. If a diving operation is being carried out without a recompression chamber on site, the diving contractor has a specific responsibility to locate the nearest chamber prior to the operation, and to make arrangements to use the chamber in the event of an emergency.

4. General emergency procedures and any procedures specific to the operation as well as information on the arrangements for emergency services should be provided in the contractor manual which should be accessible to all diving team members.

5. The diving contractor’s operations manual should contain a section laying out the actions required of each member of the diving team in the event of a foreseeable emergency occurring during operations.

6. The following list, which is not exhaustive, identifies the type of possible emergencies to be considered:

Dealing with an injured, lost diver or unconscious diver

Fire in a chamber or around the dive system


Evacuation from a vessel or fixed/floating structure which is on fire or sinking (emergency evacuation)

Loss of pressure in chambers or bell

Faulty or broken equipment adverse environmental conditions

Loss of communications

Fouled or entrapped diver

Oxygen toxicity

7. In addition to the general safety requirements concerned with the prevention of injury or illness to divers, it must always be borne in mind that:

A diver should not go, and must never remain underwater if he does not feel well

Any loss of consciousness underwater may prove fatal

Any illness occurring during or after a dive must be assumed to be due to the dive until it is proved otherwise; and

Taking drugs or alcohol prior to dive is prohibited

8. All divers should have training and experience in first aid and basic underwater medicine so that, in a medical emergency, all diving team members have sufficient knowledge to proceed with appropriate treatment or corrective action in consultation with the diving supervisor. A diver should possess a valid certificate in first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, issued by organizations such as IMCA, ADCI or equivalent organizations.

9. For diving operations beyond the no decompression limit or in remote locations where the assistance of a medical practitioner cannot be obtained quickly, one member other than the supervisor (Dive Medic) of the diving team should have further training and experience in diving rescue and first aid, and be able to go underwater to perform rescue operation without compromising the team.

10. Medical instructions and equipment should be provided at the diving location to enable all diving team members to carry out first aid or to save life in an acute situation. All accidents and incidents requiring first aid or medical intervention should be accurately recorded in the diving operations log book.

11. A seriously injured or ill diver should be subjected to a brief structured examination before treatment is started and any findings should be reported to the diving supervisor.

16.11.2 Contingency Plan

1. A contingency plan and appropriate procedures, which have

been risk assessed, should be in place.


2. The plan should demonstrate that in an emergency, where the

compression chamber is not located on the site, a diver will be able to be transported and recompressed to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, their safety. If the diving project plan relies on the support of any emergency services, then that plan should be subject to continued assessment and take into account any factors which may affect such support (for example changing weather conditions).

3. If a situation arises where a diver may need hyperbaric treatment at a chamber provided by another chamber owner, then provision for this should be made in the plan.

4. If the diving contractor is responsible for transporting the injured diver to a hospital or other place, their duty will continue until the diver is admitted to the hospital or other place.

5. In addition, plans/procedures should include:

Recovery of an injured or unconscious diver

Fire in a chamber or around the diving system

Fire on board the vessel, small craft or on the quayside

Evacuation from the vessel or quayside in the event of fire or explosion

Loss of pressure in the recompression chambers

Faulty or broken equipment

Approach of severe weather

16.12 Accident Reporting

16.12.1 General Requirements`

1. Diving accidents or incidents are defined as an injury or diving illness occurring during or as a result from the dive or hyperbaric exposure. A diving incident is any adverse consequence that caused or could have caused injury to personnel and/or damage to equipment, facilities, or the environment.

2. Accidents in diving operations can range from minor injuries and

mishaps to life threatening injuries or decompression illness, even loss of life. All accidents and incidents, regardless of the severity or whether or not the employee is injured, must be reported to the command control centre thru control tower. All diving accidents requiring medical treatment or resulting in a serious injury or death will be reported in accordance with the Code form.

3. Accident Prevention measures should be given maximum

importance which may be achieved by regular Risk Assessment,


Safety Audits, medical screening etc. One should not wait for a serious injury to occur before appropriate steps are taken to control a hazard. Action taken after a “near miss” can prevent future injuries and losses resulting from damage. However, any HS&E accident/incident at the workplace needs to be addressed adequately by the occupier.

16.12.2 Duty to Notify

1. All diving accidents must be reported immediately to the Port Control and include the following initial information:

Nature of the incident

Extent of injury, including symptoms and time of onset

Treatment and results

Possible cause

Actions taken to prevent or minimize the injury or illness

16.12.3 Investigation of Accidents

1. Diving company shall investigate accidents with a view to determining their cause and to determining the action that should be taken to prevent any similar accident in the future. The formality and depth of the investigation should be proportional to the severity or potential severity of the accident. The names of witnesses should be recorded and any relevant photographs taken should be identified, captioned and dated. The investigation should consider all the relevant evidence. This may include the site where the incident occurs, systems of work, responsibilities and people involved, including their physical or mental condition, training and competencies. It is important to investigate not only the direct cause of an accident, but also to determine the underlying cause or causes, which are often the real cause of an accident.

2. EHS shall investigate major incident from authority point of view

and appropriate enforcement measures shall be initiated which may be in the form of Warning, Penalty or sanctions.

16.12.4 Accident/Incident Records

1. Diving Company shall establish and maintain an accident/incident

record system at the workplace and shall make this record available to EHS. This system shall contain the following information

Nature of accident

Description and cause

Name/details of worker affected

Treatment given

Days of absence


Corrective action taken

16.12.5 EHS Inspections

1. EHS Officers conduct random inspections of the diving activities happening within the jurisdiction and any contravention to the provisions of the regulation, Inability by the diving company to ensure accident free operations shall invite sanctions/penalties from the Authority, especially where it is established that adequate safeguards were not taken to prevent the accident/incident.

16.13 References

1. IMCA D 014 Rev. 1 – October 2007 2. ADCI Sixth Edition 2011 3. HSE Diving at Work Regulations 22nd October 2012 4. OSHA Guidelines for Commercial Diving Operations