The University of Michigan Safe Diving Practices Larry “Harris’ Taylor, Ph.D. Diving Safety Coordinator 2016 Preface This manual has been prepared as a guide to safer diving for University of Michigan employees and students. It has been promulgated to fulfill requirements of The American Academy of Underwater Sciences Department of Labor & Public Health for the State of Michigan The University National Ocean Laboratory System This is not an instructional text for recreational or scientific diving classes or programs. This manual is intended for diving supervisors conducting diving operations under the auspices of the University of Michigan. This document builds upon the 1991 Manual prepared by Lee Somers, Ph.D. This manual is available from the Diving Safety Coordinator, Department of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health for the University of Michigan. Larry P. Taylor, Ph.D. Diving Safety Coordinator April 28, 2016 ii Table of Contents Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Purpose 1 1.2 Material for UM Divers 1 1.3 Diver Training for University Employees and Students 1 1.3.1 Basic University Diver Training 1 1.3.2 Advanced and Specialty Training 1 1.3.3 Persons Trained in Non-University Courses 2 1.3.4 AAUS Member Institution Divers 2 1.4 University of Michigan Diver Authorization 2 1.4.1 University of Michigan Employee or Student 3 1.4.2 Visiting Scientist or Guest Authorization 3 1.4.3 Authorization to Use Personal Diving Equipment 4 1.5 Authority and Control of Diving Operations 4 1.5.1 General 4 1.5.2 Delegating Diving Operation Control to Another Institution 5 1.5.3 Ultimate Responsibility and Authority in the Field 5 1.6 Requirements for Planning Diving Operations 5 1.6.1 General 5 1.6.2 Designated Person-in-Charge 6 1.6.2.1 Designation and Responsibilities 6 1.6.2.2 Qualification Requirements 6 1.6.2.3 Trip Dive Plan Responsibility 7 1.6.3 Required Safety and Support Equipment for Diving Operations 7 1.7 Planning Cruises Involving Diving Operations 8 1.7.1 University of Michigan Scientists and Divers 8 1.7.2 Visiting Scientists and Other Users of UM Vessels 8 1.7.3 Cruise Diving Supervisor 8 1.7.4 High-Pressure Cylinders and Air Compressors 9 Chapter 2 PLANNING SCUBA DIVING OPERATIONS 10 2.1 Selecting the Proper Mode of Diving 10 2.2 Preliminary Dive Planning 11 2.2.1 Overview 11 2.2.2 Survey of Activity or Task 11 2.2.3 Evaluation of Environmental Conditions 11 2.2.3.1 General 11 2.2.3.2 Sun 12 2.2.3.3 Cold 13 2.2.3.4 Ice Cover 13 2.2.3.5 Waves, Surf, and Currents 14 2.2.3.6 Underwater Visibility 15 2.2.3.7 Night 15 2.2.3.8 Atmospheric Conditions 17 2.2.3.9 Toxic Environments 17 2.2.3.10 Depth 17 iii 2.2.3.11 Ship Traffic 18 2.2.3.12 Type of Bottom 18 2.2.4 Selection of Diving Techniques 19 2.2.5 Selection of Divers and Assignment of Jobs 19 2.2.6 Selection of Equipment 19 2.2.6.1 Individual Diver Equipment 19 2.2.6.2 Team Equipment 20 2.2.7 Fulfillment of Safety Precautions 21 2.2.8 Establish Procedures and Brief Personnel 21 2.3 The Underwater Team 22 2.4 Preparation Prior to Diving Trip 23 Chapter 3 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES 25 3.1 Equipment and Underwater Emergencies 25 3.2 Adverse Environmental Conditions 25 3.3 Diver Illness or Injury 25 3.3.1 First Aid Manuals and Supplies 25 3.3.2 General Response 26 3.3.3 Accident Management Procedure 26 3.3.4 Fatal Diving Accident 28 3.4 Fire on University Vessel 29 Chapter 4 THE SCUBA DIVE 31 4.1 Limitations of a Scuba Diver 31 4.2 Trip Planning 32 4.3 Dive Buddy Selection 33 4.4 Dive Site Selection 34 4.5 Equipment Selection 34 4.6 Environmental Analysis 35 4.7 Risk-Benefit Analysis 35 4.8 Personal Space 35 4.9 Briefing by the Diving Supervisor 35 4.10 Finalizing The Dive Plan 36 4.11 Pre-Dive Equipment Assembly and Buddy Check 36 4.12 The Dive 37 4.13 Critical Analysis 38 4.14 Records 38 4.15 Conclusion 38 Chapter 5 DIVING IN LIMITED VISIBILITY 39 5.1 Risk-Benefit Assessment 39 5.2 Factors Determining Underwater Visibility 39 5.3 Diving Techniques 41 5.3.1 Navigation By Natural Features 41 5.3.2 Navigation by Compass 41 5.3.2.1 Compass Boards 42 5.3.2.2 Basic Navigation 43 iv 5.3.3 Maintaining the Buddy System 43 5.3.3.1 Use of a Buddy Line 44 5.3.3.2 Diver Separation 44 5.4 Tethered Scuba Diving 45 5.5 Summary 45 Chapter 6 BOAT DIVING 47 6.1 Small Boat Diving 47 6.1.1 Choice of Craft 47 6.1.2 Propulsion 48 6.1.3 Safety Equipment 48 6.1.4 Navigation Equipment 48 6.1.5 Knots for Line Handling and Attachment 49 6.1.6 Preparation of Boat 49 6.1.7 Launching 49 6.1.8 Handling Under Way 49 6.1.9 Anchoring and Mooring 50 6.1.10 Boat Maintenance 51 6.2 Safety Precautions 51 6.3 Lessons Learned 52 Chapter 7 DIVING AT NIGHT 53 7.1 Risk-Benefit Assessment. 53 7.2 Equipment for Night Scuba Diving. 53 7.2.1 Dive Lights 54 7.2.2 Environmental Protection Garment 57 7.3 Night Dive Procedures 57 7.3.1 Personnel Considerations 57 7.3.2 Dive Site Selection 57 7.3.3 Defining Dive Parameter 58 7.3.4 The Night Dive 58 7.4 Summary 61 Chapter 8 DIVE RECORDS 63 8.1 The Diver's Logbook 63 8.2 Information to be Documented 63 8.3 Official Document Requirement 64 8.4 Other Information 64 8.5 Using the Logbook 65 Appendixes 68 Appendix A: SCUBA DIVING EQUIPMENT 69 Individual Equipment 70 Mask, Fins, and Snorkel 70 Boots or Coral Shoes 70 Surface Swimmer's Personal Flotation Device 70 Environmental Protection 71 v Weight Belt 71 Knife 71 Scuba 71 Signal Devices 73 Underwater Light 73 Special Equipment 73 Tool and Spare Parts Kit 73 First Aid Kit 73 Transport Containers and Bags 74 Equipment Standardization 74 Team Equipment 74 Equipment Maintenance 74 Routine Post-Dive Procedures 75 Periodic Regulator Maintenance 75 Periodic Cylinder Inspection 75 Periodic Inflatable Lifejacket and Buoyancy Control Unit Inspection 75 Depth Gauges 75 Dive Computers 76 Knife 76 Record of Inspection and Repair 76 Long Term Storage 76 Appendix B: DIVING SUPERVISOR'S CHECKLIST 77 Appendix C: GENERAL SAFETY CHECKLIST 81 vi Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose This manual has been prepared as a guide to safe practices for University of Michigan diving operations in order to provide for the health and safety of divers and their support personnel. It is designed to meet the requirements of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, the Departments of Public Health and Labor, State of Michigan, and the University National Ocean Laboratory System. Since most University diving is primarily conducted using the scuba mode, this manual will focus on practices and procedures for scuba diving. Supplemental manuals for tethered scuba and surface-supplied diving are available from the Office of the Diving Safety Coordinator. 1.2 Resource Material for University of Michigan Divers This manual is not an instructional manual. It is designed for use by University authorized and qualified divers and diving supervisors. In addition to this manual the following reference documents are available from the Office of the Diving Safety Coordinator: A Standard for Diving Operations issued by the State of Michigan Departments of Public Health and Labor (1979) Standards for Scientific Diving Certification and Operation of Scientific Diving Programs by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (1987) The Diver Education Series by Lee Somers is available at Michigan Sea Grant Selected articles published by university divers available from the OSEH web site Selected Bibliographic materials on specific specialty areas of diving 1.3 Diver Training for University Employees and Students 1.3.1 Basic University Diver Training At this time, the university does not offer basic scuba training. Divers wishing to dive on university projects must get their basic training off-campus. Once they have completed their basic training, then mission-specific training can be done to bridge the gap between recreational certification and the more stringent requirements of those diving for a scientific diving program. The transition between recreational and scientific diving is facilitated by the university diving safety coordinator. 1.3.2 Advanced and Specialty Training Training in the use of specialized diving equipment and working under environmental conditions other that open water is contracted on an individual "as needed" basis. University approved instructors are available to provide the following additional training: Advanced Scuba Diving DAN Oxygen Provider Deep Diving (60 - 130 ffw) Dry Suit Diving Equipment Maintenance Oxygen Enriched Diving Rescue Diver River Diving Search & Recovery Tethered Scuba Diving Underwater Navigation Using a DPV Using multiple tank configurations The individual trainee and/or employment unit shall be responsible for all cost associated with training. The costs for the DAN Oxygen Provider class are covered by OSEH. 1.3.3 Persons Trained in Non-University Courses People trained in courses other than those offered and/or approved by the University of Michigan Diving Control Board shall be subject to evaluation upon application for University of Michigan Diving Authorization.