To Assist in Meeting the Requirements of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995

A number of regulations place specific requirements on those persons involved in occupational diving activities. This guideline has, in part, been prepared to provide simple but concise information about the administrative procedures required to be adopted by occupational divers and persons involved in occupational diving activities to comply with the requirements of the HSE Regulations 1995.

It is not the intention that these guidelines will repeat technical or operational standards information in depth. Such information is readily available in documents held by the different sectors of the industry. It is expected that relevant Standards will be referred to for guidance by those involved in occupational diving to ensure excellent work practices are carried out in occupational diving activities.

Updates

See the full list of updates made to this document.

Also available separate appendixes

• Appendix 2: Application for Certificate of Competency PDF [size: 24KB]
• Appendix 3 & 4: Occupational Diver Medical Questionnaire and Occupational Diver Medical and COC Procedure Flowchart
  • pdf [size: 103KB]
  • word2003 [size: 222KB]
  • rtf file [size: 2.28MB]

Not Included in the Diving Guidelines

• NZ Occupational Diving Medical Examination PDF [size: 45KB]

Table of Contents

FOREWORD

PART 1: GENERAL

1.1 Scope
1.2 References
1.3 Definitions

PART 2: CATEGORIES OF OCCUPATIONAL DIVING

2.1 Construction Diving
2.2 Aquaculture Diving
2.3 Scientific Diving
2.4 Film and Photographic
2.5 Recreational Instructor/Tutor
2.6 Tourism Diving

PART 3: REQUIREMENTS FOR OCCUPATIONAL DIVERS

3.1 Medical Fitness to Dive
3.2 Procedure for Completion of Initial and Five-Yearly Medical Examinations
3.3 Procedure for Completion of Ongoing Medical Assessment
3.4 Certificate of Competence - General
3.5 Certificate of Competence - Construction Diving
3.6 Limited Certificates of Competence
3.7 Recreational Instructor/Tutor
3.8 Tourism and Film and Photographic Diving
3.9 Aquaculture Diving
3.10 Scientific Diving
3.11 Occupational Divers' Training Under Direct Supervision
3.12 Occupational Divers with Existing OSH Certificate of Competence
3.13 Application Procedure for a Certificate of Competence
3.14 Appeals
3.15 Dive Equipment
3.16 Notifiable Work

PART 4: OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR DIVING

4.1 Dive Organisation, Planning and Hazard Management
4.2 Emergency Procedures
4.3 First Aid
4.4 Identification of the Worksite
4.5 Activities of Others
4.6 Diving Equipment
4.7 Diving in Cold Water
4.8 Personnel For Diving Work
4.9 Minimum Dive Teams
4.10 Record Keeping
4.11 Diving at Increased Altitude
4.12 Travel To Altitude Following Diving
4.13 Air Purity
3.14 Dive Equipment Hygiene
4.15 Dive Tables
4.16 Dive Communications
4.17 Diving from Boats

PART 5: REQUIREMENT FOR THE PROVISION OF A RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER

5.1 Construction Diving
5.2 Limited Categories of Diving

PART 6: SNORKEL (SKIN) DIVING

PART 7: TECHNICAL DIVING

PART 8: TOURISM AND CHARTER OPERATORS

APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992

1.1 The Objects of the Act
1.2 Regulations and Other Guidance Materials
1.3 Employers' Duties
1.4 Hazard Management
1.5 Information for Employees
1.6 Training and Supervision of Employees
1.7 Safety of People Who are Not Employees
1.8 Employee Participation
1.9 Employees' and Self Employed Persons' Duties
1.10 Principals to Contractors
1.11 Persons who Control Places of Work
1.12 Sellers and Suppliers of Plant for Use in a Place of Work
1.13 Protection for Volunteers
1.14 Recording and Notifying Accidents and Serious Harm

Appendix 2: Application for Certificate of Competency
Appendix 3: Occupational Diver Medical Questionnaire
Appendix 4: Occupational Diver Medical and COC Procedure Flowchart