Occupational Health & Safety Service, Kings Gate Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU Tel 0191 208 6274 Diving Rules Document History Contents University Safety Policy Supplement Approved February 2007 Re-ratified January 2010 Amended July 2010 (format change) 1. Revocation... 3 2. Legal Framework... 3 3. Command Structure... 3 3.1. University Diving Officer (Diving Contractor)... 3 3.2. Diving Project Manager... 4 3.3. Diving Supervisor... 4 3.4. Divers... 4 4. Qualification of personnel... 4 4.1. Diving Supervisors... 4 4.2. Divers... 4 4.3. Volunteer and student divers... 5 5. Fitness to dive... 6 6. Duties of Diving Project Manager... 6 7. Duties of Diving Supervisor... 7 8. Volunteers and students... 8 9. Diving Project Plan... 8 10. Risk Assessments... 8 11. Decompression procedures... 9 11.1. Planning decompression needs... 9 11.2. Ascent procedures... 9 11.3. Therapeutic recompression facilities... 10 12. First Aid... 10 13. The Dive Team... 10 14. Diving Operations Logs... 10 15. Divers Log Books... 10 16. Incident Reporting... 11 17. Consultation and Advice... 11
Appendix 1 Diving Project Plan & Risk Assessment... 12 Appendix 2 Diving Operations Log... 15 Appendix 3 Divers Personal Log... 18 Appendix 4 Diver Competence Form... 20 Appendix 5 Diving Qualifications Summary... 22
1. Revocation This edition of the University Diving Rules comes into effect on 1 January 2007 and all previous editions are rescinded as of that date. 2. Legal Framework All persons who take part in diving activities while at work in the UK are required to comply with the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 (DWR 97), issued by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) which came into force on 1 April 1998. The University s policy is that all its employees, students and the public should receive the same level of health and safety protection wheresoever in the world they are operating. DWR 97 lays certain responsibilities on the Diving Contractor (the employer), the diving supervisor, the divers and all persons engaged in a diving operation. These responsibilities can be discharged by any means, but to assist this, the HSE has approved a series of Codes of Practice (ACOP s). One is specifically for Scientific and Archaeological Diving. This ACOP was drafted by a technical sub-committee of the Scientific Diving Supervisory Committee (SDSC) and has been approved by the HSE. Following the advice in the ACOP will ensure compliance with DWR 97. Failure to follow the procedures set out in the Scientific & Archaeological ACOP is not an offence, but the burden of proof is then on the contractor to show that they provide an equivalent or higher level of health and safety provision. The SA ACOP does not provide detailed guidance on diving techniques. To assist in the planning of scientific and archaeological operations the SDSC has published an advice notes in the past. The advice notes are currently undergoing revision in line with HSE 2014 revision of the Scientific and Archaeological Approved Code of Practice. The first version of the SDSC Advice Notes should no longer be used. 3. Command Structure The Vice-Chancellor, as head of the University, is ultimately responsible for all aspects of health and safety. He is able to delegate these and responsibility for the duties of the University as a Diving Contractor rest with the University Diving Officer. 3.1. University Diving Officer (Diving Contractor) The University Diving Officer is responsible for the discharge of all the duties specified for the Diving Contractor by DWR 97 [Regulations 6 & 7] and SA ACOP [p. 6-8]. The University Diving Officer will, after review of the diving project plan (Section 9, Appendix 1), appoint, in writing, a competent person to be the Diving Project Manager for any given project. The Diving Project Manager will be responsible for the day to day management of diving for that project.
3.2. Diving Project Manager For each diving project the University Diving Officer will appoint, in writing, a Diving Project Manager who will have day to day responsibility for the conduct of that project. This will include the production of the Diving Project Plan [Regulation 8 and SA ACOP p9-10]. The Diving Project Manager will appoint, in writing, a suitably qualified person to act as Diving Supervisor for each diving operation within the project. At any one time only one person will be so appointed for any Diving Operation. 3.3. Diving Supervisor A suitably qualified and experienced person will be appointed by the Diving Project Manager to discharge the duties of the Diving Supervisor (Section 8) [Regulations 9 & 10, SA ACOP p. 17-18]. The Diving Supervisor is responsible for all aspects of the conduct of that Diving Operation for which they have been appointed. They will exercise direct personal control of the Diving Operation and issue directions to divers and other persons as appropriate [Regulation 11]. The role of the Diving Supervisor is analogous in many ways to that of a Dive Marshall in sport diving situations. 3.4. Divers A diver is a person at work who dives. A dive being the entering into water or other liquid and, in order to survive in that environment, the person breathes air or any other gas at pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. A person not at work who dives is not a diver under the Regulations, but is a person who dives. See Section 8 for a consideration of the implications of this for students and volunteers. 4. Qualification of personnel 4.1. Diving Supervisors Whilst the supervisor need not be an in-date diver, they must be adequately trained or experienced in the operational and safety techniques which are to be used for that particular operation. To this end the supervisor will normally hold an approved diving qualification; hold an appropriate first aid certificate and, where appropriate, be competent in the administration of therapeutic oxygen. 4.2. Divers All divers must hold an approved diving competence qualification [Regulation 12 (1) a] and a valid certificate of medical fitness to dive [Regulation 12 (1) b]. Each Diver must have been approved by the Diving Project Manager (with advice from the Diving Officer if required) prior to undertaking any Diving Operation.
Divers have a number of responsibilities under DWR 97. These include: holding an approved qualification for diving; being competent to work safely; hold a valid certificate of medical fitness; complying with the directions of the Diving Supervisor and the Diving Project Plan; maintain a daily record of their dives which they should keep for at least two years. The following are commonly held approved training certificates: A Part IV (or greater) Certificate of Training issued by the HSE. Diving experience under the DOWR (1981) exemption DOW/1/81. A British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) Advanced Diver (previously 2 nd Class) qualification, a Scottish Sub-Aqua Club (SSAC) 2 nd Class Diver qualification, or PADI Dive master 3-star qualification from the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS). CMAS 3-star equivalent in a recreational agency / organisation whose qualifications are approved by HSE for the class of Recreational Diving. European Scientific Diver (ESD) SCUBA only. Advanced European Scientific Diver (AESD) SCUBA only. For a list of qualifications which may be acceptable for diving outside the United Kingdom in benign conditions, see Appendix 5. All HSE parts certificates issued under the Diving Operations at Work Regulations 1981 remain legally valid and do not have to be exchanged for the new certificates. In benign diving conditions overseas and as long as there is at least one person on the dive team with an approved training certificate, Newcastle University employees with the BSAC Dive Leader qualification, may be acceptable at the discretion of the Diving Officer and Diving Project Manager, if backed by sufficient and recent diving experience (SDSC advice notes). In benign diving conditions overseas and if always buddied by a diver with at least the BSAC Dive Leader qualification, a CMAS 2* equivalent qualification (e.g. the BSAC Sports Diver qualification or PADI Rescue Diver qualification) may be acceptable for a diver at the discretion of the Diving Officer and Diving Project Manager, if backed by sufficient and recent diving experience. 4.3. Volunteer and student divers Volunteer and Student Divers should have the BSAC Dive Leader qualification, although a grade equivalent to CMAS 2 star (e.g., BSAC Sports Diver qualification or PADI Rescue Diver qualification) may be acceptable in benign conditions overseas, at the discretion of the Diving Project Manager, if backed by sufficient and recent diving experience (SDSC advice notes). These qualifications must be currently validated, including an in-date medical, in the Volunteer Diver's logbook. Current membership of a diving organisation will also be required by Volunteer Divers for their third party diving insurance.
The Diving Project Plan should show that a Volunteer or Student Diver is diving with a suitably qualified team controlled by someone with at least a CMAS 3* level qualification (e.g., BSAC Advanced Diver, PADI Dive master) and include an outline of the other team members qualifications and anticipated roles. Note: Newcastle University staff cannot take part in Newcastle University work-related diving activities as volunteers 'in their own time' (e.g. on annual leave, at weekends or in the evening outside working hours). If a Newcastle University diver takes part in a Newcastle University Diving Project then that diver must be considered to be at work irrespective of when that dive is taking place. This is to ensure that all Newcastle University diving, for whatever purpose, is conducted according to DWR 97 with an appropriate Diving Project Plan under the control of a Diving Contractor / Diving Project Manager and Diving Supervisor. 5. Fitness to dive Each Newcastle University Diver will be medically examined and passed fit to dive by a doctor approved by the Health and Safety Executive, or if diving outside Britain, by a doctor approved by the Newcastle University Occupational Health Service. The latter shall be reviewed every 12 months by the University Occupational Health Service, or following any accident or illness which might prevent diving. Volunteer and Student Divers must have a valid certificate of medical fitness (using Newcastle University Occupational Health Service form provided) issued by a general medical practitioner using the medical standards for sports diving (e.g. BSAC, PADI). Selfcertification questionnaires are not acceptable. It is the duty of the Diver to inform the Diving Supervisor if he or she is unfit to dive. If the Diving Supervisor considers a person to be unfit to dive, he/she can instruct that person not to dive. 6. Duties of Diving Project Manager A diving project means any activity made up of one or more diving operations, in which at least one person takes part or will take part as a diver. It extends from the time when the first such person commences to prepare to dive until the last such person has left the water, chamber or other environment in which any part of the dive took place and has completed any required decompression procedures. This includes, where it may reasonably be anticipated that this will be needed, any therapeutic recompression. Projects in which only persons not at work dive do not fall within this definition. If however, these projects are organised by the University, they should be considered as diving projects for the purposes of these rules. Each diving project shall have a Diving Project Manager appointed in writing, by the University Diving Officer. The Diving Project Manager will Produce a Diving Project Plan for that project and submit it for approval the to the University Diving Officer (see Appendix 1). This should detail the composition of the diving team and the required competencies of its members.
Appoint, in writing, a suitable qualified or experienced person as a Diving Supervisor for each diving operation in the project Issue copies of the relevant portions of the Diving Project Plan to each diving Supervisor and ensure they are familiar with their responsibilities. Produce, in collaboration with the Diving Supervisor, a plan for that diving operation the daily diving plan. Ensure there are sufficient people with suitable competencies to carry out safety and without risk to health the diving project and any action (including first aid) which may be necessary. Ensure that sufficient and suitable plant is available to carry out safely, and without risk to health, the diving project. Ensure this plant is in a safe working condition. Ensure that a record containing the required particulars [Regulation 6(4); SA ACOP p. 18; Appendix 2) is kept for each diving operation and a copy forwarded to the University Diving Officer at the end of the project and in July each year for projects spanning more than one year. 7. Duties of Diving Supervisor The diving supervisor will exercise direct control over the diving operation for which they are appointed. The Supervisor may, whilst supervising the diving operation in respect of which they are appointed, give such reasonable directions to any person taking part in that operation or who may affect the safety of that operation as are necessary in order for them to; ensure that the diving operation is carried out, so far as is reasonably practicable, o without risk to health and safety of all those taking part in that operation and other persons who may be affected thereby (i.e. the public); o in accordance with the requirements and prohibitions imposed on them by or under any relevant statutory provisions (i.e. national legislation in the country in which the operation takes place) o in accordance, where this does not conflict with (i) and (ii) above with the diving project plan and the daily diving plan. before commencement of the diving operation, ensure that each person taking part is aware of the contents of the diving project plan which relate to that operation and competent to fulfil their allocated duties. The diving supervisor should collaborate with the Diving Project Manager in the production of a dive plan for the diving operation which is in accord with the Diving Project Plan and takes account of the prevailing conditions. This should be communicated to all persons involved in the diving operation i.e. during a briefing. before commencement of the diving operation, ensure that each person taking part is equipped with suitable and sufficient equipment to carry out their allocated tasks. Where this equipment is the personal property of the individual they must positively confirm its suitability and fit condition. This fact being recorded in the Diving Operations Log. enter into the Diving Operations Log the particulars required [Regulation 6(4); SA ACOP p. 18; Appendix 2]. The Supervisor shall NOT dive during the period for which they are appointed Supervisor unless this is specifically provided for in the Diving Project Plan.
8. Volunteers and students Students and volunteers are not at work and so projects in which only students or volunteers dive would not come within the Regulations. However, in applying its Health and Safety provisions equitably the University would expect all University diving projects to comply with these Rules. Students engaged in diving which contributes to any University programme of study (e.g. honours or MSc projects, MPhil or PhD programmes, occasional students) are required to comply with these Rules. Students carrying out recreational dives or diving during student expeditions and from which no material will be presented as part of a course of study are not covered by these Rules. Persons organising expeditions are urged to follow the SA ACOP and SDSC Advice Notes. Diving Projects may be carried out by any combination of employees, students or volunteers provided each person has the required competencies for their assigned role. These competencies must be detailed with the Dive Project Plan and Diving Supervisors must ensure that person s allocated tasks do have the required competencies. Diving Project Managers must be aware that volunteers may withdraw from a project at any time. If this occurs then the diving operation must be suspended until such time as another person with appropriate competencies can be appointed. 9. Diving Project Plan The Diving Project Plan is based on assessment of the risks to the health and safety of any person taking part or affected by a diving project. It shall consist of a record of the planning of the project including details of all information and instructions necessary to ensure health and safety are protected. It shall identify each operation which comprise the project, the nature and size of which must allow supervision by a single individual. A pro-forma is provided as Appendix 1 and worked examples are available on the Safety Office website (see also SDSA Advice Note Appendix 10.4). 10. Risk Assessments The principal generic risks associated with diving are: Drowning Loss of breathing gas Gas embolism Loss of contact with support team Risk assessments must include provisions for controlling any specific risks associated with the diving project. Appropriate diver qualifications and training (section 4) and complying with these Rules addresses the generic risks as follows:
Drowning All persons diving must be equipped with a suitable buoyancy device capable of lifting them from depth and supporting them at the surface with their airway clear of the water. Loss of breathing gas All persons diving must have access to an alternative supply of breathing gas independent of their primary system. This means either a pony/ spare air system or an Octopus from a buddy with a guaranteed means (e.g. buddy-line) of ensuring it is within easy reach at all times during the dive. Gas embolism Gas embolism can arise from burst lung or rapid decompression. The risk of the former during normal diving operations is low and diver training emphasises the risks of rapid ascents. The risk of decompression sickness (DCS) is controlled by the following of appropriate tables. All dive plans must make specific provision for decompression procedures including specifying the schedule (tables) to be used. Loss of contact Persons diving should be equipped with a means of indicating their location to the surface team e.g. a surface marker buoy. In enclosed locations, e.g. ponds, lagoons, this may be dispensed with, while in very open locations, e.g. offshore shoals, it should be supplemented by flags, personal flare systems. In certain circumstances the line of a marker may cause more hazard than the benefit conferred. This needs to be established in the Diving Project Plan. In general provision should be made for two-way communication between surface and diver. This may be via hard-wire or wire free voice communications or via rope signals on a lifeline or SMB line. Diving Project Plans should explicitly specify the means of diver-surface communications. 11. Decompression procedures 11.1. Planning decompression needs Diving projects carried out by Newcastle University personnel will normally be conducted using BSAC 88 decompression schedules and will not normally exceed a maximum depth of 30m. When diving projects utilise teams including personnel from other institutions the decompression procedures to be followed should be decided following the advice in SDSC Advice Notes Appendix 10.9, SDSC Technical Note 1, and this noted in the Diving Project Plan. 11.2. Ascent procedures Irrespective of the protocol adopted persons diving, except in an emergency, (i) should not carry out more than three ascents in a 24 hour period; (ii) should carry out at least a 1 minute precautionary stop at 6 m on all ascents and (iii) avoid dive profiles involving excursions to shallower depths followed by return to greater depth.
11.3. Therapeutic recompression facilities For dives involving no requirement for in-water decompression stops the diving project plan should identify a suitable, operational, two-compartment recompression chamber within six hours travelling time of the site. The Diving Project Plan must specify detailed arrangements for arranging transfer to the chamber in an emergency. In the event of diving in remote areas overseas without access to such a recompression chamber, details of extra precautions and special emergency procedure arrangements should be provided. For dives with planned in-water decompression requirements of less than 20 minutes a suitable, operational, chamber must be within 2 hours travel of the site. The dive project plan must include a formal written arrangement guaranteeing availability of the chamber during the period of the diving operation and the procedures for transfer to the chamber in an emergency. If in-water decompression requirements exceed 20 minutes a suitable, operational, therapeutic chamber must be available on site. 12. First Aid A first aid kit must be available at the dive site. The benefits of therapeutic oxygen to many diving related conditions means that it should be considered as part of the first aid kit. At all times at least one qualified first aider (and a qualified therapeutic oxygen administrator, if O2 is required to be available) and one assisting person must be available at the site. One of the persons may be the diving supervisor. 13. The Dive Team The minimum dive team will normally consist of : a person diving a standby-diver or buddy diver a supervisor and a surface attendant/helper The diving project plan must specify the competencies and duties of each. In benign conditions this may be reduced to three people subject to the results of the risk assessment (see guidance in HSE Diving Information Sheet No. 8). 14. Diving Operations Logs Diving supervisors must, on completion of each diving operation submit a Dive Operations Log to the Diving Project Manager (Appendix 2). The Diving Project Manager will submit Dive Operation Logs to the University Diving Officer at the end of each project or annually, in October, for projects extending over more than one year. 15. Divers Log Books All divers are required [Regulation 12(3)] to keep a daily log of their diving. A pro-forma
sheet for making a log book is provided [Appendix 3]. 16. Incident Reporting All incidents (accident or near misses) should be reported, using the online incident reporting database. Major, significant or serious near misses should be fully investigated so that you understand what happened and take action to learn any lesson and prevent a recurrence. OHSS are happy to offer assistance reporting and investigating incidents and offer incident investigation training. 17. Consultation and Advice The UNESCO (1996) Scientific Diving: A general code of practice and the SDSC (1998) Advice Notes for the Scientific and Archaeological Approved Code of Practice provide published advice on the conduct of scientific and archaeological diving. In addition persons planning diving projects are urged to discussion their proposals with the University Diving Officer at an early stage of the project planning process.
Appendix 1 Diving Project Plan & Risk Assessment For each project a Diving Project Plan and Risk Assessment must be completed before the start of the project. This is the primary risk assessment for the whole of the project. Copies must be made available to each Diving Supervisor, Diver and the Diving Contractor. Following on from this, a site and date specific risk assessment may also have to be undertaken, for each Diving Operation, to cover ephemeral risks and hazards. The Diving Project Plan should include a brief outline of the purpose of the diving project, the nature of the diving work to be undertaken, the dates when it is proposed to carry out the dives, and a description of the site(s) to be dived (preferably with a map). The risk assessment should cover all of the normal risks involved with diving and methods to control the risks although need not repeat information presented in these Diving Rules. The Diving Project Plan must include at least the following information:- The Diving Contractor and Diving Project Manager (named). The number/names of Diving Supervisors required. The number/names of Divers required (please include details of qualifications and photocopies of these; each diver should complete a Diver Competence Information Form see Appendix 4). The number/names of other personnel required and their duties. The equipment required. Any special competencies required from any personnel. The general risk assessment, including :- o sea conditions anticipated, o underwater visibility, o pollution, o depth, o temperature, o access, o breathing gas, o in-water and surface communications requirements, o emergency procedures such as recompression chamber access, o medical expertise, o medical equipment, o casualty evacuation plan. In addition, there must be prior consultation with, and effective means of communication with, all persons having control of information related to the safety of the Diving Operation (coastguard, harbormaster). Hard copies of the Diving Project Plan and Risk Assessments must be kept for at least two years after the completion of the Project/Operation. Photocopies of medical certificates should also be submitted.
This table must be completed to demonstrate how significant* hazards identified will be controlled. * Hazards that are different from the normal (those for which your training as a diver has equipped you routinely to deal with safely) and may cause harm or injury if extra precautions are not taken. List significant hazards Existing controls Action to be taken to achieve acceptable risk
Summary of Diving Project Plan and Risk Assessment Site/Location: Date of proposed operations: Operations covered by this assessment. / / Statement: In preparing this Diving Project Plan and Risk Assessment, I have consulted the Newcastle University Diving Rules and where necessary the: The Health and Safety Executive s Scientific and Archaeological Diving Projects Approved Code of Practice (ACOP), Diving at Work Regulations 1997 (DWR 97), and Scientific Diving Supervisory Committee s Advice Notes for the Scientific and Archaeological Approved Code of Practice (1998) to ensure that the hazards and risks associated with this diving project will be controlled as far as it is reasonably practical. Date: Diving Project Manager (print name): Signature. Approval: After reviewing the Diving Project Plan and Risk Assessment, I approve the Diving Project and in accordance with Newcastle University Diving Rules, Rule 3.2, I hereby appoint. to act as Diving Project Manager for the above project in., commencing on / / and terminating on / / The appointed Diving Project Manager is required to carry out the duties specified in Newcastle University Diving Rules, and in particular Rule 6. This includes the appointment of suitably qualified persons to discharge the duties of Diving Supervisor. Signed: Date: / / University Diving Officer and nominated Diving Contractor.
Newcastle University Diving Rules: Appendix 2 Diving Operations Log The following matter shall be entered in the diving operations log in respect of each diving operation: the name of the diving contractor; the dates on which and the period during which the diving operation was carried on; the name or other designation of the craft or work site in connection with which the diving operation was carried on and the location of that craft or work site; the name of the diving supervisor and the period for which he is acting in that capacity in respect of that diving operation; the names of the other persons engaged in the diving operation including those operating any diving plant or equipment and their respective duties; the arrangements for emergency support; the requirements for first aid personnel and equipment; the procedures followed in the course of the diving operation including details of the decompression schedule used; the maximum depth reached in the course of the operation for each diver; for each diver, in respect of each dive he makes, the time he leaves the surface, his bottom time (that is the period from the time he leaves the surface until he starts to ascend) and the time he reaches the surface; the type of breathing apparatus and mixture used; the nature of the diving operation; any decompression sickness, other illness, discomfort or injury suffered by any of the divers; particulars of any emergency which occurred during the diving operation and any action taken; confirmation that all equipment used has been checked immediately prior to the dive and conforms with the maintenance schedule; any defects that are discovered in any plant or equipment used in the diving operations; particulars of any environmental factors affecting the diving operation; any other factors relevant to the safety or health of the persons engaged in the operation. This applies to all diving operations including work in surface compression chambers for which equivalent records of exposure to pressure need to be kept. A hard copy of the log must be kept for at least two years following the date on the log.
Newcastle University Diving Rules: Newcastle University Diving Operations Daily Risk Assessment and Log * Delete where appropriate and specify where necessary Diving contractor: Newcastle University/Other* Action required: Yes/No* Dive location: Diving Project Manager: Shore/Vessel (name)* Breathing mixture: Air/Other*: Decompression schedule used: Tables/Computers*(State types) Description of work / title of Diving Project Tidal information (if this affects risk assessment): (time of slack water/hw/lw etc.) Date: Equipment used: SCUBA/Other *: Stage decompression: Yes/No * Special risks or variations to the Diving Project Plan which should be taken into account before diving ops take place (volunteer divers, personnel, qualifications, shipping movements etc.) Emergency Information (Coastguard, medical, recompression contacts in the event of an emergency) Emergency telephone Nos. Any emergency /incident: Yes/No* If 'Yes' to any of the above, give details: Decompression sickness/illness/adverse effects: Yes/No* See over for Diving Operations Log Adverse environmental factors: Yes/No* Equipment defects: Yes/No*
Newcastle University Diving Rules: Date: Diving Operations Log Diver Leave surface Reach surface Bottom time Max depth Equipment checked Diving supervisor Period of supervision Signature(s)
Newcastle University Diving Rules: Appendix 3 Divers Personal Log The following matters shall be entered in the diver's log in respect of each diving operation in which he takes part: (a) the name and address of the diving contractor; (b) the date; (c) the name or other designation and the location of the work site or craft from which the diving operation was carried on; (d) the name of the diving supervisor; (e) the maximum depth reached on each occasion; (f) the time he left the surface, his bottom time and the time he reached the surface on each occasion; (g) where the dive includes time spent in a compression chamber, details of any time spent outside the chamber at a different pressure; (h) the type of breathing apparatus and mixture used; (i) any work done by him on each occasion and the equipment (including tools) used in that work; (j) any decompression schedules followed by him on each occasion; (k) any decompression sickness or other illness, discomfort or injury suffered by him; (l) any other factor relevant to his safety or health. A diver's log with photograph and medical certificate is required by everyone exposed to pressure for the purpose of diving operations, including associated use in surface compression chambers but excluding those who may have to enter a chamber in an emergency. A hard copy of the log must be retained for at least two years following the date of the last entry in it.
Newcastle University Diving Rules: Daily Personal Dive Log Contractor Newcastle University Date Site Supervisor From To Shore/Vessel (name)* Breathing apparatus: SCUBA/Other*: Breathing mixture: Air/Other*: Decompression schedule Problems, injuries, etc. Nature of operation, tasks involved and equipment used: Dive partner(s) Leave surface Reach surface Bottom time Maximum depth Notes (including relevant personal health and safety factors) * Delete as appropriate and specify where necessary Diving Supervisor s signature
Newcastle University Diving Rules: Appendix 4 Diver Competence Form (This form must be completed by each diver participating in the Diving Project and submitted with the Diving Project Plan and Risk Assessment along with photocopies of diving qualifications and medical certificates. Copies should be retained by the Diving Project Manager.) Name: Date of birth: Sex: Height (cm): Weight (kg): M / F Diving qualifications & dates: / / Affiliated club/insurance: Total no. dives logged: Total no. night dives: Decompression diving Yes / No Deepest dive (m): Date/place of last dive logged: Please tick other qualifications/skills and enter dates achieved: Divers First Aid Life Saving Boat handling Oxygen Administration VHF Radio UW Video Other UW Photography UW (please specify) Communications Date diving equipment last serviced: / / Date of last medical examination: / /
Newcastle University Diving Rules: Expiry date of medical certificate: / / [For diving outside UK, normally valid for 5 years to age 40, 3 years to age 50, and 1 year thereafter.] Name and address of your doctor: Name, address, and telephone number of home contact: I confirm that the information given above is correct: Signed Date I have read the Newcastle University Diving Rules and the Diving Project Plan and Risk Assessment (Must be signed before beginning any diving work) Signed Date
University Safety Policy Supplement Appendix 5 Diving Qualifications Summary This table gives a rough guide to equivalent qualifications from a range of diving organisations. Qualifications are not exactly equivalent. The table below is by no means exhaustive. If your qualification is not present, please seek the advice of the Diving Officer or URL: www.hse.gov.uk/diving/qualifications/index.htm. Organisation Unsuitable for work related diving For specific benign conditions Lower skills levels Self-sufficient + rescue skills For all benign conditions + Dive leadership and management For all water conditions CMAS 1 Star 2 Star 3 Star + Organisation and rescue management BSAC Ocean Diver Sports Diver Dive Leader Advanced Diver PADI NAUI Advanced Open Water Diver Advanced Scuba Diver Rescue Diver Scuba Rescue Diver Dive master Dive master SAA Open Water Diver Club Diver Dive Leader Dive Supervisor - Dive Master SSI Advanced Open Water Diver Advanced Open Water Diver with "Stress and Rescue" Speciality Dive Control Specialist NASDS Advanced Open Water Diver Rescue Diver Dive Supervisor SDI Advanced Diver Rescue Diver Dive master SSAC Sports Diver Master Diver First Class Diver ITDA 2** Star Diver ITDA Sports 3*** ITDA Rescue Diver ITDA Advanced Diver