Commercial Diving Regulations and Procedures

Becoming a commercial diver is appealing to many people. Not only it is it exciting and technically challenging, it can be fun and the pay is great. Unfortunately, it is also a very dangerous occupation, which is why commercial diving regulations are so strict. It is critical for commercial divers to be aware of and understand these regulations, so they know if their employer has violated them and put their lives in jeopardy.

Regulations Pertaining to Commercial Dive Team Members

OSHA requires that all members of commercial dive teams have basic scuba diving along with first aid training. Every commercial dive team member should be adequately trained in scuba diving procedures, the proper use of tools needed to complete their jobs, emergency and safety protocol, and CPR certified. Employers of commercial dive teams are required to have a safe practices manual, which must be made available to employees at each commercial diving site. Regulations that apply to commercial divers ensure preparedness and reduce the occurrences of deadly accidents.

Regulations Governing Commercial Diving Procedures

OSHA requires that procedural checklists be used in commercial diving before, during, and after each dive. Before a dive, employers should verify that there is access and transportation to a hospital, a physician trained in dive medicine, and a decompression chamber. Employers and divers must also inspect the equipment to ensure it is safe and functioning properly. Commercial dive team members must be briefed and their physical state should be evaluated prior to diving. During a dive, communication between a surface team member and each diver is critical. After every dive, a written record should be made, the physical conditions of all divers should be checked, and divers must be given medical treatment as necessary.

Additional Considerations and Diving Regulations

There are numerous regulations that apply to the specific scuba equipment that should be used and mandated procedures that must be followed for mixed-gas diving and also surface-supplied air diving. Employers must comply with all applicable regulations to reduce the chances of accidents and injuries to commercial divers.

When a commercial diver is hurt on the job, he or she should consider speaking with a commercial diving accident attorney to determine if their employer contributed to or caused the injury by violating commercial diving regulations. For more information about the laws governing commercial diving, call 877-622-3223 today to schedule a no-cost consultation with the experienced commercial diving accident attorneys at Stevenson & Murray.