Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304)

17.12 Signs shall be posted in conspicuous places at all entrances to a fire hazard area

• (a) identifying the area as a fire hazard area; and

• (b) prohibiting the use of an open flame or other source of ignition in the area.

PART XVIIIDiving Operations

Definitions

18.1 The definitions in this section apply in this Part.

contaminated environment

contaminated environment means

• (a) a point of discharge of effluent from a sewer, a water or sewage treatment plant or an industrial plant;

• (b) a site where chemical or biological effluent has accumulated; or

• (c) the site of an oil or radioactive spill. (environnement contaminé)

decompression table

decompression table means a table or set of tables that shows a schedule of rates for the safe ascent of a diver from depth in order to minimize the risk of decompression sickness. (table de décompression)

dive supervisor

dive supervisor means a qualified person who has been designated by the employer to be in charge of a diving operation at the dive site, including the health and safety of its divers. (chef de plongée)

diver

diver means a qualified person who performs work under water. (plongeur)

diver’s flag

diver’s flag means the rectangular red flag set out in Schedule I, each side of which is not less than 50 cm in length, that has a white diagonal stripe extending from the tip of the hoist to the bottom of the flag. (pavillon du plongeur)

diver’s tender

diver’s tender means a qualified person who attends to a diver for the duration of a dive. (assistant du plongeur)

hyperbaric chamber

hyperbaric chamber means a pressure vessel and associated equipment designed to subject humans to greater-than-atmospheric pressures. (caisson hyperbare)

International Code Flag A

International Code Flag A means the white and dark blue flag set out in Schedule II, which is not less than 1 m in height. (pavillon A du code international)

liveboating

liveboating means the support of a diving operation from a vessel that is not at anchor, made fast to the shore or a fixed structure, or aground. (plongée avec bateau-soutien)

no-decompression limit

no-decompression limit means the maximum time that can be spent at a depth without requiring a decompression stop. (limite de remontée sans palier)

surface supply dive

surface supply dive means a diving operation where a diver is supplied with breathing mixtures by a life support umbilical from the surface. (plongée non autonome)

therapeutic recompression

therapeutic recompression means the treatment of a diver in a hyperbaric chamber in accordance with generally accepted tables and practices. (recompression thérapeutique)

type 1 dives

type 1 dives means diving operations

• (a) the primary purpose of which is

  • (i) to conduct scientific, archaeological or other research operations, or

  • (ii) to gather evidence or information relating to a crime;

• (b) that

  • (i) do not require decompression,

  • (ii) do not involve diving in the vicinity of underwater pressure differentials,

  • (iii) are not related to the search, construction, repair or inspection of ships, bridge piers, wharves, dry docks, underwater tunnels, or water control and water intake facilities, and

  • (iv) do not involve using underwater welding or cutting equipment; and

• (c) the depth of which does not exceed 40 m. (plongées de type 1)

type 2 dives

type 2 dives means diving operations other than type 1 dives. (plongées de type 2)

Application

18.2 This Part does not apply to diving operations to which the Canada Oil and Gas Diving Regulations, the Nova Scotia Offshore Area Petroleum Diving Regulations or the Newfoundland Offshore Area Petroleum Diving Regulations apply.

• 18.3 (1) Division I applies to type 1 dives and type 2 dives.

• (2) Division II applies to type 2 dives.

DIVISION IType 1 Dives and Type 2 Dives

Written Procedures

• 18.4 (1) Every employer shall establish written procedures and requirements that are to be followed and met by employees involved in diving operations and that specify which of those procedures and requirements

  • (a) apply to each type of dive in which the employees are likely to engage, including the qualifications of the dive team members;

  • (b) are to be implemented or met to counter any known hazards, including those arising out of contaminated or potentially contaminated environments, low visibility, hazardous water flow conditions and entrapment; and

  • (c) deal with emergency situations and the evacuation of dive team members.

• (2) Every employer shall review the procedures referred to in paragraph (1)(c) at least once a year and, if necessary, revise those procedures.

• (3) The procedures and requirements referred to in subsection (1) shall be available to all employees involved in diving operations.

Instruction and Training

• 18.5 (1) Every employer shall ensure that an employee required to dive has received instruction and training with respect to

  • (a) the types of dives in which the employee is likely to participate; and

  • (b) the equipment that the employee is likely to use.

• (2) Every employer shall ensure that an employee involved in diving operations demonstrates on an annual basis that the employee is competent to perform the types of dives in which the employee is likely to participate.

• (3) Every employer shall ensure that persons who are not employees and who dive with employees demonstrate that they are competent to perform the types of dives in which they will participate.

• 18.6 (1) Every employer shall ensure that an employee required to dive has been trained in first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and in the recognition of the symptoms and the management of diving-related injuries.

• (2) Where oxygen equipment for therapeutic purposes is provided at the dive site, the employer shall ensure that an employee required to dive or act as a diver’s tender is trained in its use.

Medical Evaluations

• 18.7 (1) Every employer shall ensure that an employee required to dive has

  • (a) received a medical examination within the last two years; and

  • (b) been declared fit to dive, or fit to dive with specified restrictions, by the examining physician.

• (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the examining physician shall use as a guideline the factors and tests listed in Appendices A and B of CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z275.2-92, Occupational Safety Code for Diving Operations, published in English in April 1992 and in French in February 1994, as amended from time to time.

• (3) Where the physician examining the employee pursuant to subsection (1) declares the employee fit to dive with specified restrictions, the employer shall not permit the employee to dive otherwise than in accordance with the specified restrictions.

• (4) Every employer shall ensure that a diver who has been treated for a pressure-related injury or illness does not dive unless written clearance for further diving is given by a physician.

Fitness to Dive

• 18.8 (1) If a diver considers himself or herself unfit to dive owing to illness, fatigue or any other cause, the diver shall inform the employer of that fact.

• (2) An employer who has been notified pursuant to subsection (1) shall not permit the employee to dive.

Dive Plan

• 18.9 (1) Every employer shall ensure that, for each dive, the dive team develops a dive plan that identifies the surface and underwater conditions and hazards likely to be encountered, including those arising from contaminated environments and underwater pressure differentials, and that specifies

  • (a) the duties of each dive team member;

  • (b) the diving equipment to be used;

  • (c) the breathing supply requirements, including the reserve supply;

  • (d) the thermal protection to be used;

  • (e) the repetitive dive factor;

  • (f) the no-decompression limit;

  • (g) the emergency procedures to be followed;

  • (h) the communication methods to be used;

  • (i) for a type 1 dive that is a scuba dive, whether there is a need for a diver’s tender;

  • (j) the circumstances in which the dive must be terminated;

  • (k) the procedures to be followed to ensure that machinery, equipment or devices that could create a hazard have been locked out; and

  • (l) whether lifelines must be used.

• (2) In the case of a type 1 dive, the dive plan referred to in subsection (1) shall also specify whether there is a need for a standby diver.

• (3) In the case of a type 2 dive that requires decompression, the dive plan referred to in subsection (1) shall also specify the decompression schedule to be used.

Dive Team

• 18.10 (1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4) and Division II, every employer shall ensure that a dive team consisting of at least two divers is present at every dive site.

• (2) One member of the dive team referred to in subsection (1) shall be designated as the dive supervisor.

• (3) A diver’s tender shall be present at any surface supply dive.

• (4) A dive boat operator shall be present at any dive carried out from a boat or vessel.

18.11 Every employer shall ensure that, for the duration of a surface supply dive, the diver’s tender devotes his or her entire time and attention to the work of a diver’s tender.

18.12 Every employer shall ensure that, for the duration of a type 2 dive carried out from a boat or vessel, the dive boat operator devotes his or her entire time and attention to the work as a dive boat operator.

18.13 A standby diver shall be present at all times when type 2 dives are in progress.

18.14 Where a standby diver is needed pursuant to subsection 18.9(2) or section 18.13, the standby diver shall

• (a) be trained and equipped to operate at the depth at which and in the circumstances in which a submerged diver is operating;

• (b) be readily available to assist the submerged diver in the event of an emergency; and

• (c) not dive or be required to dive except in an emergency.

Emergency Assistance

18.15 Every employer shall, for the purposes of paragraph 18.9(1)(g), arrange for

• (a) assistance in the event of an emergency;

• (b) medical support on a 24-hour-a-day basis and a suitable means of communication between the dive site and that medical support; and

• (c) evacuation of a diver to a hyperbaric chamber if necessary.

Pressure-related Injury

18.16 Every employer shall ensure that, when a diver shows any indication of a pressure-related injury or requires therapeutic recompression,

• (a) the necessary first-aid treatment is initiated; and

• (b) the medical support referred to in paragraph 18.15(b) is notified immediately.

Decompression

18.17 Diving operations, repetitive dives and the treatment of divers shall be carried out in accordance with generally accepted decompression tables and procedures.

Identification of Dive Site

18.18 Every employer shall ensure that the following flags are conspicuously displayed at or in close proximity to the dive site whenever diving operations are conducted in areas of marine traffic:

• (a) the International Code Flag A, hoisted from any vessel, boat or platform used in support of a dive in such a manner as to ensure all-round visibility of the dive site; and

• (b) one or more diver’s flags from a white buoy which may be equipped with

  • (i) a light, in which case the light shall be yellow and flashing, and

  • (ii) reflecting material, in which case the reflecting material shall be yellow.

Supervision

18.19 Every diving operation shall be conducted under the supervision of a dive supervisor.