ALERT

Industry: Diving Age: 36 years Experience: 12 years Area: Central BC Diver killed during maintenance work

A commercial diver was drawn into a 30" diameter aerator intake pipe while attempting to locate the screens for two fire pump intakes. The pulp mill hired a diving company to inspect and clean two intake screens in their industrial effluent pond. Both parties thought that the work had been planned and all identified. The pumps for the two intakes to be worked on had been identified and locked out. , after entering the water with zero visibility, thought he had located the fire pump intakes when he was drawn into a nearby aerator intake pipe. The screen for this intake pipe had broken off and the diver was pulled, head first, 80 feet up the pipe. As the aerator intake pipe had not been identified on the drawings used, the 35,000 litre per minute aerator pump had not been locked out. There were no visual markers on the surface of the pond to identify the aerator or fire pump intakes.

Safe work practices: Before diving, a detailed must be conducted by a qualified person, with specific knowledge of the worksite, to determine all hazards • Ensure there are accurate drawings (preferably on a master drawing) indicating all underwater equipment, piping, intakes, etc. for all • Ensure all underlying hazards have visual indicators (flagging or signage) on the surface • Ensure risk assessments, safe work procedures, lockout procedures, pre-work meeting documents, and accurate drawings are available and used by project co- ordinators and diving contractors working in underwater environments

FATALITY 00–14 The WCB has a wide range of health and safety information. For copies of this poster or other health and safety related literature and videos contact: WCB Publications and Videos Section by calling 604 276-3068 or toll-free ª within BC 1 800 661-2112, or email your request to [email protected]. For assistance and information on workplace health and safety, call toll-free within BC 1 888 621-SAFE (7233) or visit our web site at www.worksafebc.com. Are you planning diving operations at your workplace?

Divers employed within British Columbia are required to comply with the requirements of Part NOTE: Recreational certification is not 24 of the Occupational Health & Safety acceptable for occupational diving Regulation. The responsibility for compliance rests purposes in British Columbia. not only with the employer of the divers but also with the owner of the site who contracts with the diving company. Dive Supervisor The following are key points from Part 24 and the A knowledgeable and competent Workers Compensation Act. must supervise each occupational diving operation. The supervisor shall be competent in Diving Competency the techniques being used, shall remain on site and be in direct control of the diving operation. Each occupational diver must meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z275.4-97 Minimum Crew Competency Standard for Diving Operations. Documentation specific to each certification must A minimum crew of three shall be present at each be available at the dive site. diving operation and shall include at least 2 divers and a divers’ tender. The minimum crew Each diver, dive supervisor, and diver’s tender requirement will change according to depth, must be qualified in Cardiopulmonary equipment usage, and degree of hazard and other Resuscitation (CPR) and therapy. conditions. Documentation must be available at the dive site regarding those qualifications. Diving Notice Of Project (D.N.O.P.) Each occupational diver must be qualified medically fit to dive. The only acceptable medical A D.N.O.P. must be submitted to the WCB a documentation is that which is provided by the minimum of 24 hours prior to commencement of WCB of British Columbia. The medical certification some diving operations. Refer to Part 24.9 for must be available at the dive site. specific requirements.

☛ Self-Contained Underwater Standby Diver Apparatus (Scuba) Restrictions A standby diver shall be on the dive site at all Restrictions have been placed on the use of times and able to render assistance when diving SCUBA for occupational diving purposes. SCUBA operations are in progress. The standby diver shall cannot be used for underwater , be able to enter the water in one minute. demolition, salvage and recovery, jetting, blasting, welding or cutting, penetrations or in other areas Specific if the diver is exposed to a hazard such as differentials of , excessive flows, confined This requirement deals specifically with the spaces, contaminated environments or entrapment. requirements for lockout, hazardous mechanisms, Surface supplied must be used intakes, pipes, tunnels and contaminated in place of SCUBA. environments.

Depth Restrictions Owner Responsibility SCUBA shall be limited to a depth of 130 feet and Owners who contract diving companies to work at the use of air as respirable medium restricted to their site must provide, to the diving company, 165 feet. Beyond 165 feet the diver shall breathe information necessary to control hazards. Also the mixed gases and shall have on-site approval from owner must ensure that diving activities are the WCB to use such gases. coordinated. For further information contact your nearest Safe Dive Procedures WCB office or the WCB Diving Coordinator at 604-276-3100. Every employer engaged in diving operations must prepare and publish a set of site-specific safe which must be available at the dive site. These procedures are based on a comprehensive evaluation of hazards to divers.