J206 Diving Operations

GUIDANCE NOTE Diving Operations Code: J206 Issue: A

INTRODUCTION

The main set of regulations that applies to diving are the Diving at Work Regulations (DWR).

The Diving at Work Regulations cover all dives when one or more divers are at work, whether employed or self-employed. The regulations apply to everyone: from the client, for whom the work is being done, to the diver undertaking the work. Everyone involved has a responsibility to take measures to ensure the health and safety of those taking part in the diving project, so far as is reasonably practicable.

A “diving project” is the term used for the overall diving job, whether it lasts for 2 hours or 2 months. Depending on the size of the diving project it can be made up of a number of “diving operations”. A diving operation is the portion of the diving project which can be safely supervised by one person. A supervisor must be appointed for each diving operation.

As the diving contractor, this company has the main responsibility under the Diving at Work Regulations to ensure a safe diving project. The diving contractor should ensure that the diving project is planned, conducted and managed in a safe way.

All diving operations shall be governed by this company’s diving rules, the implementation of which shall be the responsibility of the appointed dive supervisor. The dive supervisor shall confirm their understanding and acceptance of the dive rules in writing. The dive rules are detailed within this procedure for reference and shall be displayed and explained to those involved in dive operations as part of the pre-dive briefing.

All divers at work will be competent for the diving they plan to do or any emergencies they may have to deal with, and hold a qualification approved by the HSE.

The diving contractor is responsible for:

Assessing risk and ensuring that a diving project plan is prepared. Ensuring that the dive team are made aware of the plan. Ensuring that there are suitable and sufficient divers, and that they are competent in both diving and the actual work that they are undertaking, such as tools and their use. Ensuring that the place from which the diving is to be carried out is suitable and safe. Providing sufficient and suitable plant and equipment, and ensuring that it is correctly certified and maintained. Ensuring that adequate arrangements exist for first aid and medical treatment. Ensuring that diving project records are kept. Ensuring that all other relevant regulations are complied with.

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DIVING RULES

A minimum four-man dive team shall be employed for all working situations consisting of a supervisor, diver in water, standby diver and linesman/plant operator. The linesman may be supplied by the client but must be under the total control of the dive supervisor. The diver in water shall wear a lifeline at all times. The diver in water shall have communication with the surface at all times. This shall normally be full voice communication but shall never be less than hand line and standard rope signals. Each dive shall be planned between the supervisor and diver in water to lay down procedures to avoid in-water hazards. Full consideration shall be given to the hazards involved in any construction industry activity, in addition to the particular hazards of the underwater worksite. In-water times, when not dictated by decompression requirements, shall ensure that the diver does not suffer exhaustion or excessive cold. The dive supervisor shall not dive without appointing another diver as temporary supervisor and handing over responsibility for the operation. Plant and equipment shall be regularly checked and maintained to a high standard. The British Standards lay down the minimum allowable times between tests but equipment can suffer abuse and can therefore require additional tests. All divers shall have in-date medical and training certificates and a log book in full compliance with SI No: 399 Health and Safety Diving Operations at Work Regulations - as amended by the Diving Operations at Work (Amendment) Regulations. An accurate record of all dives shall be maintained on the standard company diving operations log. Although this organisation will make every effort to ensure safety through procedures and provision of the correct plant and equipment, each diver must take every care of themselves and other personnel in accordance with the company safety policy.

DIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Wherever possible, the diver must have full voice communication with the surface. However, if voice communication is not possible, the minimum standard to be maintained is by the following rope signals:

Signals – Attendant to Diver

General Signals

1 pull To call attention – Are you all right?

2 pulls Am sending down a rope’s end or as previously arranged

3 pulls You have come up too far, go down slowly until we stop you

4 pulls Come up

4 pulls and 2 bells Come up, hurry up, or come up to the surface for decompression

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Direction Signals

1 bell Search where you are

2 bells Go to the end of the distance line of the jackstay

3 bells Face shot then go right

4 bells Face shot then go left

5 bells Come into your shot or turn back on jackstay

Signals – Diver to Attendant

To call attention, made bottom or reached end of jackstay 1 pull or left bottom

2 pulls Send me down a rope’s end, or as previously arranged

3 pulls I am going down again

4 pulls May I come up?

4 pulls and 2 bells I want to come up, assist me up

Succession of pulls EMERGENCY SIGNAL*

*This must be more than 4 pulls and is only to be used in great emergency. It need not be answered but must be obeyed immediately.

Succession of 2 bells Am fouled and need the assistance of another diver

Succession of 3 bells Am fouled but can clear myself if left alone

Working Signals

1 pull Hold on or stop

2 pulls Pull up

3 bells Lower

4 bells Take up slack lifeline. You are holding me too tight

5 bells Have found, started or completed work

DIVE EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE ARRANGEMENTS

All items of equipment shall be assessed as suitable by a competent person and records of testing, calibration and maintenance retained on site.

Communications will be via hard wired systems giving direct contact with the supervisor.

Inspections of dive equipment will be undertaken before and after every dive with routine maintenance scheduled and performed by the project dive equipment technician. Records of these inspections and maintenance shall be held in line with the company’s QA procedure for plant and equipment maintenance generally.

This organisation shall ensure that suitable and sufficient plant and equipment is available to carry out diving operations safely and to take actions as necessary in a foreseeable emergency.

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DIVE PERSONNEL TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

All divers shall have an HSE approved diver training certificate (original copy must be seen).

All divers shall posses a certificate of medical fitness to dive. Divers must see an HSE approved medical examiner at intervals not exceeding 12 months, for an assessment of their fitness to work underwater for the next 12 months. (They may decide to take the medical up to 1 month before the expiry date. This certificate is valid for 12 months from the original expiry date, and not from the date the medical was taken.)

An accurate record of all divers shall be maintained on the standard company diving operations log. Divers will record individual dive details in their personal log books. These details will be confirmed as correct by the signature of the dive supervisor.

When the diver undertakes diving and assessment, they must also gain a first aid at work qualification (unless they already have one).

It is an ACoP (Approved Code of Practice) requirement that all divers in offshore diving operations hold a current HSE approved first aid at work certificate.

In some very remote inland/inshore diving locations and in all offshore diving operations there must be a qualified diver medic in the team.

DIVE RISK ASSESSMENTS

All dive operations must be covered by a dive-specific risk assessment detailing all the risks considered pertinent to the operation. This assessment shall be prepared by the dive supervisor and reviewed periodically through the course of the operation to ensure it adequately considers the risk present at the time. If further risks are identified prior to the commencement of a particular operation, these shall be entered onto the risk assessment governing the particular dive.

Project specific and general dive risks are listed, and control measures described on a standard risk assessment pro-forma, which shall be completed by the dive supervisor prior to every dive. Those risks which are considered to be pertinent to a particular dive operation are ticked and signed against by the supervisor before commencement of the dive and will form part of the pre-dive brief.

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