Diving Safety Manual Texas A&M University at Galveston 2019-2020
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Diving Safety Manual Texas A&M University at Galveston 2019-2020 Last Updated October 2019 1 Foreword This manual sets forth the policies, procedures and standards that govern training and diving operations of all personnel participating in diving programs associated with Texas A&M University at Galveston. It applies to all divers operating under University auspices, including all students in training, visiting divers, individuals who wish to dive from University facilities or vessels, divers who are using University equipment, and campus officials responsible for the management and administration of diving research, education and training. During the winter of 1976-77 Federal OSHA held hearings in New Orleans to allow for comment on proposed commercial diving regulations. Commercial divers were defined as employees who dive, and this included scientists and sport diving instructors (thus establishing an employer-employee relationship). The scientific diving community (which organized and became the AAUS) objected, but the final OSHA standard (29 CFR 1910, Subpart T) included diving scientists. OSHA was subsequently supplied with data demonstrating that the safety record of scientific divers was better than that of bankers, and that significant differences existed between working conditions of scientific divers and commercial divers. In 1979, at AAUS insistence, OSHA requested information concerning how the regulations were causing difficulties. In 1982, following extensive hearings, AAUS was granted an exemption from Federal OSHA's standards for commercial diving safety based on the excellent safety record of scientific diving and ability of the scientific diving community to be self-regulating. The exemption was challenged in court by the Carpenters and Joiners Union (to which commercial divers belong), and the court found in AAUS' favor in 1984. OSHA drew up final guidelines (50 FR 1046) exempting educational/scientific diving from the commercial diving standards. Under the exemption, scientific diving is defined as: diving performed solely as a necessary part of a scientific, research or educational activity by employees whose sole purpose is to perform scientific research tasks. Scientific diving does not include performing any tasks usually associated with commercial diving, such as: placing or removing heavy objects underwater; inspection of pipelines; cutting or welding; or the use of explosives. According to the final rule, a scientific diving program must: Fit the definition and have a diving program that includes a safety manual covering diving operations, procedures for emergency care, and criteria for training and certification, and Have a Diving Control Board (DCB), the majority of which are active scientific divers and have autonomous and absolute authority over the scientific diving program’s operations, including the authority to approve and monitor diving projects; review and revise the Diving Safety Manual; certify the depths to which a diver has been trained; take disciplinary action for unsafe practices; and assure adherence to the buddy system for scuba. 2 Emergency Procedures for Diving Operations at Texas A&M University at Galveston Immediately Call 911 in The Event of an Emergency In the event of a diving accident, be prepared to answer these questions for emergency services but do not delay contacting emergency services while obtaining the information: 1. Is the victim conscious or unconscious? 2. Do the symptoms indicate decompression sickness (bends) or air embolism? 3. Is the victim arriving by auto, ambulance or helicopter? If auto, give make, model, license number. 4. Victim's full name, age, sex, social security number, dive profile and estimated time of arrival. 5. Give your name and the victim's emergency contact information. 6. Transport the victim to the nearest hospital. After the victim is secured with medical professional, immediately communicate to the Dive Safety Officer (Recreational or Scientific) that approved the Dive Plan and/or Chair of the DCB a medical incident has occurred. The DSO will obtain further relevant information, and immediately communicate incident to Chair of the DCB. If the situation presents itself, do not speak with media representatives. Emergency radio frequencies Marine radio: channel 16 vhf fm, and channel 2182 khz single sideband Note: both frequencies are monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard Citizens Band - channel 9 Medical emergencies Administer appropriate first aid and arrange victim transport as soon as possible. If offshore, call the coast guard and request helicopter transport for the victim and the person administering first aid treatment. Transport to the nearest emergency department. Necessary information should be provided in advance to the receiving emergency department. Should the coast guard be unable to provide transportation, request that a call to 911 (EMS) be made to have an ambulance waiting at the nearest dock site. Pressure related medical emergencies If the victim has a suspected pressure related injury administer pure oxygen. If in doubt and the victim has been diving within the preceding 24 hours administer oxygen. Transport of pressure related victims should be to the nearest emergency department with an operational recompression chamber. Contact Divers Alert Network for hyperbaric chamber status and locations: 919-684-9111 emergency collect calls accepted, 1-919-684-2948 non-emergency. In order to avoid conflicts of policy, TAMUG divers are advised to carry a University emergency oxygen kit to all diving related activities. Situations have occurred where the policy of a host or resource partner required the delay in the administration of oxygen when injuries were not confirmed. This would violate TAMUG dive procedures but the situation may be avoided if Instructors, Divemasters or Lead Divers have access to an alternative oxygen source. In situation where this is not possible the project leader should discuss TAMUG policy on this issue in advance of arrival at the dive site. 3 Table of Contents Foreword ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Emergency Procedures for Diving Operations at Texas A&M University at Galveston ......................... 3 Definition of Terms ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Section 1: General Diving Policy ................................................................................................................. 12 1.10 Purpose and Definition of Scientific Diving Standards ...................................................................................................... 12 1.11 OSHA Scientific Diving Exemption ......................................................................................................................................................... 12 1.12 Review of Standards ................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 1.13 Policy resolving conflict between University policies and this Diving Safety Manual .............................................................................. 13 1.14 Policy resolving conflict between AAUS and this Diving Safety Manual ................................................................................................. 13 1.15 Policy regarding ambiguity between policies or references ....................................................................................................................... 13 1.16 Consequences of Violations of Regulations (Non-compliance) ................................................................................................................ 13 1.20 Operational Control ............................................................................................................................................................. 13 1.30 Diving Safety Oversight--Scientific and Recreational DSOs and Equipment Safety Officer ......................................... 13 1.31 Qualifications for Scientific and Recreational DSOs................................................................................................................................. 13 1.32 Qualifications for Equipment Safety Officer ............................................................................................................................................. 14 1.33 Scientific DSO-Duties and Responsibilities .............................................................................................................................................. 14 1.34 Recreational DSO-Duties and Responsibilities ......................................................................................................................................... 14 1.35 Equipment Safety Officer-Duties and Responsibilities ............................................................................................................................. 15 1.36 Inability to Perform Duties ........................................................................................................................................................................ 15 1.40 TAMUG Diving Control Board (DCB) ..............................................................................................................................