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Commercial Diving Safety

Safe At Work Ontario

Disclaimer: This resource has been prepared to help the workplace parties understand some of their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and regulations. It is not legal advice. It is not intended to replace the OHSA or the regulations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE SEE FULL DISCLAIMER

Injuries sustained by commercial divers are usually fatal. A lack of operational and contingency planning is often the root cause of diving accidents. Divers are at risk if hazards are not identified and adequately handled, and if emergency management measures and procedures are not in place.

Some general duties of workplace parties

Employers

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and the Regulation for Diving Operations require every employer, owner and constructor associated with a diving operation to:

  • prepare an operational and contingency plan in writing with input from the appointed diving supervisor(s), and
  • ensure that all the workers associated with the diving operation are adequately informed about the plan.

The operational plan must:

  • describe the tasks and methods used and how to perform them safely, and
  • state how potential hazards are identified and handled.

The contingency plan must include the site-specific measures and procedures to manage a diving emergency. These include:

  • dive crew training in administering 100 per cent oxygen therapy to an injured diver
  • having enough oxygen at the dive site to provide 100 per cent oxygen therapy to an injured diver until emergency services arrive
  • having an adequate first aid kit available
  • having adequate equipment to facilitate immediate removal of an unconscious diver from the water
  • making suitable arrangements for evacuating an injured diver to an appropriate medical facility, and
  • having on site effective two-way voice communications with emergency services.

Supervisors

Diving supervisors’ duties under the OHSA include, but are not limited to:

  • ensuring that the operational and contingency plans are followed
  • briefing all workers associated with the diving operation on the operational and contingency plan and procedures
  • ensuring that the dive site is adequately equipped to deal with emergencies
  • ensuring that each diver is competent and fit to perform the work
  • ensuring that diving is not conducted in hazardous water flow conditions.

Workers

Workers’ duties under the OHSA include, but are not limited to:

  • understanding the diving operations plan and the contingency plan
  • being aware of potential hazards at the dive site
  • being trained in administering first aid and medical oxygen
  • reporting hazards to their supervisor, and
  • knowing their right to refuse unsafe work.

Protecting workers

It is the responsibility of employers, owners, constructors and supervisors to ensure that all workplace parties comply with the provisions of the OHSA and the prescribed regulations. There are many factors to consider for safe diving practices.

Obligations under the OHSA and regulations

  • The employer must ensure that all persons who participate in a diving operation are competent. [O. Reg. 629/94, section 4.1(2)].
  • All divers, tenders, and dive supervisors must be certified in basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and oxygen administration. [O. Reg. 629/94, section 4.1(2)] as well as (Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Z275.4-02, clause 3.3).
  • The employer, constructor and owner must ensure that a written operational plan and a written contingency plan for the diving operation are prepared, with input from one or more of the diving supervisors [O. Reg. 629, section 7].
  • The diving supervisor must ensure that the operational plan and the contingency plan for the diving operation are followed; [O. Reg. 629/94, clause 12(3)(a)].
  • The diving supervisor must brief all workers on the operational plan, the contingency plan and the procedures to be followed during the diving operation; [O. Reg. 629/94, clause 12(3)(b)].
  • The employer, constructor and owner must ensure that a water control facility within one kilometre of the dive site is notified of the diving operation before it commences. [O. Reg. 629/94, clauses 9(1)(b) and 9(1)(c)].
  • Employers must ensure that the diving equipment to be used in the diving operation is adequate; [O. Reg. 629/94, section 15].
  • The employer and the diving supervisor must ensure that any oxygen supply system used in the diving operation is adequate [O. Reg. 629/94, section 31].
  • The employer , the owner and the diving supervisor must ensure that a diver does not encounter a hazardous water flow, [O. Reg. 629/94, section 54].
  • The diving supervisor must ensure that the dive site is adequately equipped with a first aid kit, an oxygen system capable of delivering 100 per cent oxygen to an injured diver for the time it would take emergency services to arrive, and an adequate means of communicating with emergency services, [O. Reg. 629/94, section 17(2)].
  • The diving supervisor must ensure that there is adequate means of access to, and egress from, the water, and also that there is an effective means of recovering an unconscious diver from the water, [O. Reg. 629/94, section 17(2)].
  • The diving supervisor must ensure that a diver does not dive in hazardous water flow conditions near or in a pipe, tunnel, duct, other confined space, or an operating underwater intake, or at a water control structure. [O. Reg. 629/94, section 54].

Health and safety considerations and best practices

  • Identify the dive site hazards (especially sources of pressure differences) and make the underwater site safe to work in.
  • Inform all diving operation workers about the operational and contingency plan.
  • Ensure that diving personnel are competent for the type of work planned.
  • Ensure that there are enough competent diving personnel for the work.
  • Ensure that the diving equipment is adequate and in good operating condition.
  • Equip the dive site with an adequate first aid kit and a therapeutic oxygen system that can provide an injured diver with 100 per cent pure oxygen until emergency services arrive.
  • Ensure that dive crew members are trained to administer oxygen therapy to an injured diver.
  • Ensure that primary and secondary air supplies are sufficient for the diving operation.
  • Equip the dive site with adequate access to, and egress from, the water.
  • Ensure that an injured or unconscious diver can be removed immediately.
  • Equip the dive site with an effective means of communicating with emergency services.

More information about safety on construction projects

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Call 1-877-202-0008 anytime to report workplace health and safety incidents or for general inquiries about health and safety at the workplace.

 

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