Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)

The results of fitness-to-dive examinations shall be recorded in the medical file of the diver and be kept at the examining Designated Medical Practitioner in accordance with accepted medical practice prescriptions and principles. A certificate to certify the diver's fitness to dive may be provided to the diver and/ or the company, but it is essential that the particulars are entered in the logbook of the diver and stamped, Care should be taken not to divulge medical confidential information.

The level 2 Designated Medical Practitioner should request copies of these examinations (if not performed by him). This will ensure that he can provide appropriate medical support for the diving team and is intimately familiar with the medical conditions of the team. The information should be used to trend health effects related to specific risks present in the workplace. Examples of these include trending of lung function tests, hearing thresholds and blood results (e,g. Biological Exposure Indices ). Many of these will need to be performed in consultation with an occupational medicine practitioner. Any abnormalities found should prompt a workplace visit and investigation, with an update of the HIRA and implementation of specific risk mitigation strategies.

All designated medical practitioners performing medical examinations should forward the following information regarding examination to the Southern African Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Association (SAUHMA):

This applies to examinations for all persons covered by the diving regulations, namely divers, diving supervisors, system's technicians, instructors, etc.

9.4.3        Records of occupational health examinations

Records of occupational health assessments shall be recorded in the medical file of the person and be kept at the office of the occupational medicine practitioner. This would include records of biological monitoring and/ or records of medical surveillance.

Some of these records must be kept for extended periods, e.g. 40 years (see other regulations). A certificate to verify the diver's fitness for work (in addition to diving fitness) must be provided to the company.

9.4.4        Records of occupational diseases

Any occupational diseases should be reported in accordance with the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act. The diagnosis of an occupational disease also requires a workplace investigation, update of the HIRA and implementation of specific risk mitigation strategies.