| 14.1.1. | Where a diving operation is carried out at night, a lamp or other device must be attached to the diver to indicate his or her position when he or she is on the surface. |
| 14.1.2. | The surface area and the bell from which the diving is taking place and the underwater working area must be illuminated well. If such illumination is undesirable, it may be switched off during the diving operation, but be immediately available in the case of an emergency. |
| 14.2. | Water intakes, discharges and differential pressure environments |
| 14.2.1. | The employer must establish with the client whether there are any underwater obstructions or hazards in the vicinity of the proposed diving project. |
| 14.2.2. | If there are any intakes or discharges, suitable measures must be taken to ensure that these cannot operate while divers are in the water unless the divers are adequately protected by a suitable physical barrier. Such measures should be part of a work control system, such as a permit-to-work system, and could include mechanical isolation. |
| 14.2.3. | Underwater approaches to operating intakes, exhausts, and water-control structures shall be declared hazardous locations for diving operations. Operating intakes and exhausts include those units which do not currently function, but which are capable of being operated at any time. |
| 14.2.4. | Divers diving in these environments shall only use surface-supplied equipment with voice communications and be tendered from a position outside the hazardous area at all times. |
| 14.2.5. | As far as is reasonable practicable, the free length of the umbilical should be restricted to prevent the diver from entering the hazard zone |
| 14.2.6. | When a diver is required to approach any underwater intake pipe, tunnel, or duct, he must be provided with means to identify the intake in such a manner as to distinguish it from any other similar intake in the location. |
| 14.2.7. | The diver must not approach any intake until the flow through it is stopped or controlled. Provisions shall be made so that the flow cannot be re-established until the diver leaves the water or until the diving supervisor has declared the diver clear of the location. |
| 14.2.8. | When the flow cannot be stopped, the safety of a diver approaching the intake must be assessed by the determination of flow patterns using direct measurement; calculation, or other means acceptable to the diving supervisor. |
| 14.3. | Restricted surface visibility |
Restricted surface visibility caused by, for example, by fog or driving rain may affect the safety of the operation. The dive plan should identify when operations will need to be suspended because of restricted visibility .
The dive plan should consider the presence of currents and the limitations they impose on the diver's operational ability. While other parameters must also be taken into account, tide meters may provide accurate information on the tidal current at different depths and can be used to assess the diving conditions.
| 14.5. | Diving near ROV operations |
| 14.5.1. | There are a number of safety considerations that need to be taken into account when divers are working with, or in the vicinity of, ROVs, and guidance is available. These considerations include entanglement of umbilicals, physical contact, electrical hazards, etc. The dive plan will need to include solutions for these hazards. For example, umbilicals could be restricted in length, and electrical trip mechanisms or guards could be employed. |
| 14.5.2. | If there is an ROV operation taking place in the vicinity, established communications should always exist between: |
| (a) | The diving supervisor and the ROV supervisor. (When an ROV is used in a diving operation the diving supervisor has ultimate responsibility for the safety of the whole operation). |
| (b) | The diver and the ROV pilot (this is normally routed through the diving supervisor). |
| 14.6. | Underwater obstructions |
Diving operations can be complicated by the number of lines deployed during operations: equipment guide lines, clump weights and wires and diver's and bell umbilicals, swim lines etc. This situation is however often simplified by the level of detailed planning involved in the operation, resulting in all involved parties having a clear understanding of responsibilities and expectations.
| 14.7. | Risks from the environment |
The safe and efficient deployment and operation of divers is dependent upon suitable environmental conditions. For any given situation the combination of these conditions can be dramatically different and it is the responsibility of the diving supervisor to assess all available information before deciding to conduct, to continue or to finish diving operations. The operations manual must contain clear limits for hazards from the environment.
At no time should a diving supervisor allow contractual pressure to compromise the safety of personnel during ongoing or planned diving operations.
| 14.7.1. | Water depth and characteristics |
Water characteristics may have a significant effect and the following factors should be taken into account when assessing the use of a diver on a given task:
| (a) | Visibility - Poor visibility can alter the effectiveness of the operation. Diving operations near or on the bottom can stir up fine grained sediment which may reduce visibility, particularly in low or zero current situations. |
| (b) | Temperature - Extreme temperatures (both high and low) may affect the reliability of equipment and impose particular hazards on personnel. |
| (c) | Pollutants - The presence of man-made and natural petroleum products around oil fields can cloud optical lenses and may damage plastic materials. Equally gas can affect visibility, block sound transmission and cause sudden loss of buoyancy. Special precautions should be taken to protect the divers if pollutants are present as well as protecting personnel who may handle the divers or their equipment during launch I recovery and during maintenance. |
| (d) | Shallow water - Divers are very sensitive to water movement and great care has to be taken in shallow water where surge of the water can have a major effect on the ability of a diver to remain in a particular position. |
The sea state can affect every stage of a diving operation.
Rough seas increase the risk to the divers, and may make rescue operations impossible or unacceptably dangerous
The cost and efficiency of operations can be adversely altered by the effects of weather. While divers under water may not be directly affected by the various effects of weather, these can have an effect on diving operations in a number of different ways:
| (a) | Wind speed and direction can make the diving operation difficult. |
| (b) | Rain and fog will cause a reduction in surface visibility, possibly creating a hazard at the surface. |
| (c) | Bad weather can affect surface workings, particularly with adverse combinations of wind, rain, etc.; |
| (d) | Hot weather can cause overheating. In particular, umbilicals stored on deck are more susceptible to overheating by warm air or direct sunlight. |
| (e) | Extreme heat, including direct sunlight (or cold) can cause the temperature inside deck chambers to rise (or fall) to dangerous levels. In such conditions the internal temperature should be monitored and kept at a comfortable level. |
| (f) | Extreme heat (including direct sunlight) or cold can adversely affect the diver acting as standby who will be static but dressed in most of his diving equipment. Arrangements should be made to keep the standby diver sheltered, at a comfortable temperature and well hydrated. |
| (g) | Electric storms or lightning may be a hazard to exposed personnel or equipment. |
Operations should, therefore, be carefully monitored with regard to the safety of both personnel and equipment.
| 14.7.4. | Hazardous marine life |
In some parts of the country divers may come in contact with marine life which will pose a hazard. Prior to commencing diving operations, it should therefore be established if there is any known local hazard of marine life. If so, suitable emergency and contingency plans should be put in place.
| 14.7.5. | Other considerations |
A diving supervisor should only allow a diving operation to begin after he has carefully considered all relevant environmental criteria, their interaction with each other, and other factors including the deployment equipment, the system's readiness, crew readiness and the nature and urgency of the tasks.
| 14.8. | Support locations and control points |
Divers are required to operate from different locations with varying levels of support. Due consideration must be given to the effect each location will have on the safety and efficiency of an operation.
Prior to mobilisation it is recommended that a suitable person (this may be the diving supervisor) should inspect the site and decide on the optimum location for the system. The level of services should also be assessed.
While it is not necessary for the various components of the diving system to be placed in a single location, care should be taken when considering hose or cable runs which exceed standard system lengths. Hose and cable runs should be protected from physical damage and should not cause a hazard to personnel.
Due account should be taken of voltage and/or pressure drops due to length, and communications between different locations considered.
| 14.9. | Transportation through the air-water interface |
Diving activities shall not be carried out from a diving station located more than 3m above the water unless the divers are transported through the air-water interface by a suitable stage, ladder, or wet bell.
Whichever method is chosen, provision must be made for the recovery and transport of an unconscious diver.
| 14.10. | Hazardous mechanisms |
Before a diver approaches a worksite that may be made hazardous due to operation of mechanisms, specific care must be taken to ensure that such mechanisms are secured against inadvertent movement before the diver enters the water and kept secured by means of proper lockout procedures.
Where explosives are handled in diving operations, the employer shall refer to the recommendations and regulations of the appropriate authority for their transportation, storage, and use.
| 14.12.1. | Liveboating presents severe hazards to the diver and must be avoided as far as is reasonably practicable. |
| 14.12.2. | Liveboating from a surface vessel shall not be conducted at night or in rough seas or from vessels with insufficient manoeuverability. |
| 14.12.3. | Controls that will prevent the diving umbilical or tether from becoming entangled in the propellers shall be employed. |
| 14.12.4. | The tender for a liveboating operation shall be competent to perform this type of tending. The tender shall be in direct voice contact with the diving supervisor. |
| 14.12.5. | When liveboating is necessary and the divers use Scuba, the use of a lifeline may be more hazardous than alternative arrangements. |
Deep diving applies to diving operations for depths greater than 50 metres and includes bell, saturation, bounce (non-saturation), and submersible lockout diving as well as sea bottom habitat dives. This information is covered in the offshore code.
Where surface mixed gas and saturation diving techniques are used, the employer and the diving supervisor shall refer to the Offshore Code of Practice.
| 14.14. | Diving in contaminated waters |
When diving in contaminated waters (biological, chemical, physical.), the employer will ensure that all the relevant Regulations are complied with, as well as any specific local authority regulations that may be applicable.
| 14.15. | Diving in confined spaces |
It is the duty of the employer to identify all confined spaces present at a diving project and ensure that the requirements of confined space entry stipulated in the General Safety Regulations are complied with.
The employer must also take cognizance of risks associated with differential pressure situations as well as the risks associated with possible entrapment and manage these risks appropriately.
