Diving Safety

General

All diving operations, both government and contractor, shall be performed in accordance with this manual. Failure to meet these requirements will cause for rejection or cessation of operations.

Exceptions

Diving shall not be used as a work method if the work objective can be more safely and efficiently accomplished by another means.

Live Boating

Live boating will not be used without prior specific acceptance by the Designated Diving Coordinator (DDC).

Training

Documentation shall be in compliance to OSHA Diving Standards (29 CFR 1910.410)

Must show that dive team members have successfully completed training to the appropriate level

Accepted Training Providers

Commercial diving school, military schools, Federal school or an Association of Commercial Diving Educators (ACDE) accredited school

In-house training program meeting requirements of ANSI/ACDE-01 or in the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) Consensus Standards

For scientific divers (using SCUBA or SSA) shall be in compliance with 29 CFR 1920.410 and meet requirements of American Academy of Underwater Scientists (AAUS)

Training Substitution

In substitution for a training certificate, an ADCI member company may show proof of a dive team members qualification or experience by submitting a valid ADCI Card for the appropriate training level issued by the current employer.

Minimum Diver Experience

1 year commercial experience in applicable position

Completed at least 4 working dives with similar decompression techniques as contract

Must demonstrate at least 1 of the 4 qualification dives done in pat 6 months prior to contract award date

DDC w ill ensure divers meet training and qualification requirements of EM 385-1-86

CPR First Aid

Each dive team member shall have current certification in CPR, first aid, the use of emergency oxygen systems, and if provided on the dive site, use of AED.

Dive Inspectors

Contract diving operations will be monitored and/or inspected by personnel qualified as Dive Inspectors.

Dive Inspectors Hold current USACE

training certificate as Dive Inspector, Diver/Dive Supervisor, Dive Safety Administrator, or Dive Coordinator.

Use of trained monitors/inspectors with other credentials will be considered on a case by case basis and approved by the DDC in writing.

Contractor Requirements

Safe Practices Manual Dive Operations Plan AHA to cover all aspects job Emergency Management Plan Dive Personnel Qualifications

Above requirements w ill be reviewed and accepted by two of the follow ing:

DDC ADC DSR

Pre-Dive Conference

Prior to initial work on each dive operations, a Pre-Dive Conference shall be held with key personnel designated by the DDC .

Diving Operations

Staging area selected based on: Ease of diver access to water Hazards to diver in route from surface to

work area Ability of standby diver to immediately

access water and quickly reach diver If used, ability to protect top side members

from weather, operational and other hazards

Standby Diver

A standby diver will be provided whenever a diver is in the water to serve as immediate emergency assistant to the primary diver.

Shall be fully equipped to dive and readily available while primary diver is in water.

SCUBA Operations SCUBA diving operations

shall not be conducted: Depths > 100 ft (30.5m) Dives outside the no-

decompression limits Against currents exceeding

one knot Enclosed or physically

confined spaces Using closed/semi-closed

circuit SCUBA Visibility < 3ft Areas with pressure

differential When diver dont have

direct access to surface

Buoyancy Compensation Device (BCD)

Each diver shall be equipped with a BCD capable of maintaining the diver at the surface in a face-up position.

Weight Belts

Each SCUBA diver shall be equipped with a weight belt or assemble capable of quick release.

Depth Gauge/Knife

Each SCUBA diver shall be equipped with a depth gauge and knife.

SCUBA Tank Testing

SCUBA tanks used on government projects must be visually inspected internally at least annually and hydrostatically tested at least once every 5 years.

Surface Supplied Air (SSA) Operations

SSA operations shall not be conducted at depths >190 ft (57.9m).

Exceptional exposure dives, defined by US Navy Diving Manual, shall not be conducted except in emergency lifesaving situations.

Tenders

Each diver shall be continuously tendered while in the water with one diver per tender regardless of depth.

Mixed-Gas Diving Operations

Dual lock, multi-place, recompression chambers with a trained competent operator shall be available and ready for use at the dive location for any mixed-gas dive.

Primary Breathing Gas

Each diving operation shall have a primary breathing gas supply sufficient to support divers for the duration of the planned dive, including decompression.

Reserve Breathing Gas Supply

Each diver shall have a reserve breathing gas supply integral or in-line with the primary air source sufficient to safely recover the diver in the event of failure of the primary breathing gas supply.

Reserve breathing gas supply

In-water Stage

An in-water stage shall be provided for divers without access to a bell for dives deeper than 100 ft (30.4m) or outside the no-compression limits.

Diving Compressors

Air compressor systems used on-site as a direct source to SSA divers shall be equipped with a volume tank with a check valve on the inlet side, a pressure gauge, a relief valve and a drain valve.

Breathing Supply Hoses

Hoses shall be suitable for breathing gas service or shall be specifically manufactured for SSA use.-

Scientific Snorkeling

Scientific snorkeling will be allowed only for environmental assessments such as fish surveys, stream surveys,, and the like. It will not be used for structural inspection.

Questions????

Diving SafetyGeneralExceptionsLive BoatingTrainingAccepted Training ProvidersTraining SubstitutionMinimum Diver ExperienceCPR First AidDive InspectorsDive InspectorsContractor RequirementsPre-Dive ConferenceDiving OperationsStandby DiverSCUBA OperationsBuoyancy Compensation Device (BCD)Weight BeltsDepth Gauge/KnifeSCUBA Tank TestingSurface Supplied Air (SSA) OperationsTendersMixed-Gas Diving OperationsPrimary Breathing GasReserve Breathing Gas SupplyIn-water StageDiving CompressorsBreathing Supply HosesScientific SnorkelingSlide Number 30