Title: Introduction to the NOAA Diving Program and Diving Regulations & Policies
1Introduction to the NOAA Diving Program and
Diving Regulations Policies
- Presented by the NOAA Diving Center
- Seattle, Washington
2Global View
- Regulatory Authority
- History of NOAA regulations
- Applicability of regulations and exceptions
- NOAA Diving Program (NDP) organizational
structure - NDP advisory boards
- Eligibility and maintenance of certification
- NDP diver classifications
- Certifications
- Reciprocity
- Logging dives
- Reportable diving incidents
- Safety rules highlights
- OSHA Diving Regulations
- OSHA Scientific Exemption
- Compliance
- NOAA Scientific and Working Diving Manuals
- NAO 209-123
3Introduction
- Need Value Regulations bring order to events
and help ensure safety. NOAA divers need to know
and adhere to various regulations that affect how
they dive. - Effect You will conform to all applicable
regulations because you understand their purposes
and the benefits of compliance.
4 NOAA Diving Program
- Two major programs support undersea research
within NOAA - The NOAA Diving Program (NDP)
- The Ocean Exploration Research (previous NURP)
- The NDP supports intramural research efforts
conducted primary by NOAA personnel - The NURP supports extramural research efforts
conducted by scientists from academic institutions
5Why dive?
- Trying to learn about the oceans and the plants
and animals that live there using surface-based
sampling techniques is like an alien trying to
learn about life on earth using a scoop bucket
from a spacecraft. - The results would be misleading and inaccurate
6In-Situ Research
- Theres no substitute for in-situ (in place)
research conducted by humans that can see, feel,
and touch these plants and animals in their own
environment - No machine built to date can replace the divers
hands, eyes, and brain
7Program Mission Statement
- To ensure that all NOAA diving operations are
conducted safely, efficiently, and economically
in support of NOAA's goals and objectives.
8 Program Goals
- To establish standards and procedures for
conducting safe diving operations - To provide professional, comprehensive, and
innovative instruction - To provide safe, state-of-art, and well
maintained dive equipment - To provide guidance and expertise to the diving
community - To investigate new diving technologies and
techniques - To foster cooperative working relationships with
other research diving programs - To promote NOAA and the Dive Program through
educational outreach
9Guiding Documents
10NOAA Dive Unit Locations
11What do NOAA divers do?
NOAA Diving Program Seattle, Washington, USA
12Who dives for NOAA?
- NOAA scientists, technicians, professional
mariners, educators, and managers - With more than 450 active divers, NOAA has the
largest complement of divers of all civilian
agencies in the U.S.
NOAA Diving Program Seattle, Washington, USA
13Science Tasks
- Observing and monitoring
- Gathering data
- Photographing flora and fauna
- Counting, measuring and collecting samples
- Tasks meet criteria outlined in 29
CFR1910.401(a)(2)(iv)(B), for scientific
exemption.
NOAA Diving Program Seattle, Washington, USA
14Working Tasks
- Ship husbandry
- Search recovery
- Installation
- Maintenance repair
- Test evaluation
- Inspection survey
- Tasks are subject to 29 CFR 1910, Subpart T
NOAA Diving Program Seattle, Washington, USA
15 Training Proficiency Tasks
- Tasks conducted during initial or refresher
training - In order to remain on the active dive roster,
NOAA divers must perform a minimum of one (1)
dive every six (6) weeks
NOAA Diving Program Seattle, Washington, USA
16 Number of NOAA Divers1990 thru 2009
17 Science vs. Working Divers
2001 - 2008
18SECO ReportedDive-Related Incidents
19 NOAA Diving Program Organizational Structure
Diving Safety Officer
20 NOAA Diving Control Safety Board
Dave Dinsmore NOAA Diving Program Manager
Seattle WA
Bill Gordon OMAO DDO , Seattle, WA
Greg McFall NOS LODO, Savannah, GA
Ray Boland NMFS DDO, Honolulu, HI
Andy David (Chair) NMFS LODO, Panama City, FL
Mitchell Tartt NOS DDO, Silver Spring, MD
Douglas Schleiger DCM, Seattle, WA
CDR Joel Dulaigh, USPHS NDC Diving Medical
Officer Seattle, WA
Steven Urick NOAA Diving Safety Officer Seattle,
WA
21 NOAA Diving Center Organizational Structure
_ _____ __ _____ ___ _______ _________
NOAAs Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
(OMAO)
21
21
22The NOAA Diving Center
- Administrative headquarters
- Training
- Equipment maintenance distribution
- Field support
- Dive unit inspections
NOAA Diving Program Seattle, Washington, USA
23Regulatory Authority
- NOAA divers must adhere to several sets of
regulations, standards and policies specifically
related to diving - 29 CFR 1910, Subpart T (OSHA Commercial Diving
Regulations) - NOAA Diving Regulations (aka NOAA Administrative
Order 209-123), - NOAA Scientific Diving Standards and Safety
Manual, - NOAA Scientific Diving Standards and Safety
Manual, and - OMAO Policies (0300 series)
24History of NOAA Diving Regs
- The first set of NOAA diving regulations was
implemented in February 1972 - Subsequent revisions
- August 12, 1974
- November 30, 1983
- March 29, 1991
- May 2, 2003
- September 22, 2011
25NAO 209-123 Purpose
- The Order establishes requirements, policies,
responsibilities, and authorities for the
development, implementation, and oversight of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) Diving Program (NDP). - The purpose of this order is to ensure all NOAA
diving operations are conducted in a manner that
will maximize protection of divers from
accidental injury and/or illness.
26NAO 209-1213 Scope
- The Order applies to
- All NOAA employees engaged in diving activities
during official duty hours (i.e., when receiving
financial compensation for work performed) and
Non-NOAA personnel performing dives under the
direct supervision of a NOAA Divemaster or Lead
Diver, where compressed gas is breathed in a
hyperbaric environment. - All diving activities conducted by NOAA divers
and reciprocity partners, during official duty
hours, regardless of the types of tasks performed
underwater (i.e., working or scientific).
27NAO 209-123 Exceptions
- NOAA divers may deviate from the requirements of
this Order provided the deviation is necessary to
prevent or minimize a situation which is likely
to cause death, serious physical harm, total loss
of property, or major environmental damage and
the Divemaster or Lead Diver notifies the NOAA
Diving Program Manager, Line/Staff Offices Diving
Officer, NOAA Diving Safety Officer and Unit
Diving Supervisor of the deviation within 24
hours of the onset of the emergency situation
(e.g., a situation whose immediacy precludes
otherwise required consultation and approval by
the NOAA Diving Control and Safety Board to
prevent, minimize or address a critical,
time-sensitive situation which is likely to cause
death, serious physical harm, total loss of
property, or major environmental damage.)
28NAO 209-123 Stnds Procedures
- This Order authorizes the issuance of Safety
Manuals to augment the policies, procedures, and
guidelines in this Order and is intended to
maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the
NDP by providing for the timely development and
issuance of programmatic guidance to the NOAA
diving community. - Safety Manuals shall apply to all individuals and
Programs involved with the NDP and have the same
force, effect, and authority as this Order.
29Standards and Safety Manuals
- NOAA Scientific Diving Standards and
Safety Manual
(NSDSSM) - Approved 14 August 2008
- Covers standards, policies, and procedures
for
conducting scientific dives - NOAA Working Diving Standards and
Safety Manual
(NWDSSM) - Approved 14 July 2011
- Covers standards, policies, and procedures
for
conducting working dives
30Scientific Diving Manual
- Administration
- Personnel
- Certification and Training
- Standards and Procedures
- Equipment
- Medical Standards
- Nitrox Diving
- Staged Decompression Scuba Diving
- Mixed Gas Diving
- Rebreathers
- Emergency Procedures
- Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements
- Appendices
31Working Diving Manual
- Administration
- Personnel
- Certification
- Training
- Standards and General Procedures
- Diving Procedures
- Equipment
- Medical Standards
- Emergency Procedures
- Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements
- Appendices
32NOAA Dive Certification
- Whos eligible to become NOAA certified to dive?
- NOAA employees (GS, CAPS, WG, WM, and NOAA Corps)
and contractors - Non-NOAA personnel (e.g., contract-employees,
volunteers) - Minimum NOAA diving qualification requirements
- Pass a NOAA diving physical examination
- Pass a NOAA swim test
- Pass written test(s)
- Pass skills checkout
- Current CPR, First Aid and Oxygen Administration
33Classifications of NOAA divers
- NOAA diver classifications
- Observer Diver
- Volunteer Diver
- Scientific Diver
- Working Diver
- Advanced Working Diver
- Master Diver
- Scientific divers are limited to tasks associated
with observation and data collection - Working divers are not limited by the tasks to be
performed
34Maintenance of dive certification
- Requirements for maintaining dive certification
- Maintain dive proficiency by
conducting a minimum of 3
dives per quarter - Maintain current CPR, First Aid,
and Oxygen Administration - Pass annual watermanship
assessment - Complete annual medical
history report
- Maintain a current diving physical
- Age 18-47 every 5 years
- Age 48 every 4 years
- Age 49 every 3 years
- Age 50-59 every 2 years
- Age 60 every 1 year
Note Remember a dive physical is not cleared
until it has been approved by the NDC Diving
Medical Officer
35Recertification-1
- 3-6 month lapse diver must perform a
training-only, basic checkout dive with the UDS
or designee. Based on the divers performance
during the checkout dive, the UDS may require
additional academic or practical training in
order to recertify.
36Recertification-2
- 6-12 month lapse diver must perform a
training-only, basic checkout dive with the UDS
or designee. LODO/SODO shall determine if the
diver has met the recertification requirements
and either authorize the diver to return to
diving status or specify any additional
requirements needed to reauthorize. - 12 months lapse diver must complete a refresher
training program specified by the LODO/SODO.
37Suspension Revocation-1
- NOAA dive certifications may be temporarily
suspended or permanently revoked for cause by the
NDPM, LODO/SODO, UDS, or on-site DM. - Examples of infractions leading to temporary
suspension - Failure to comply with requirements for
maintaining certification - Improperly using or maintaining NOAA-provided
diving equipment - Failure to comply with the standards, policies
and procedures - Reporting to the dive station mentally or
physically impaired due to alcohol or other
substance abuse - Surfacing from a dive with less than 500 psi in
scuba cylinders
38Suspension Revocation-2
- Examples of infractions leading to revocation
- Flagrant violation of NOAA standards,
regulations, and policies (e.g., diving solo
without a tender, diving after notification of a
lapsed physical exam without obtaining
reauthorization) or - A not-fit-for-dive duty determination has been
made by the Chair, NDMRB, following the
conclusion of an Individualized Assessment (See
NOAA Diving Medical Standards and Procedures
Manual).
39Appeal Process
- Suspended divers may appeal the decision to the
NDCSB within 30 days of receipt of notification. - Terminated divers may appeal the decision to the
OMAO Director within 30 days of receipt of
notification.
40Use of NOAA-Issued Dive Gear
- NOAA divers must use the following NOAA-issued
equipment on all duty dives - Regulator set, depth and pressure gauges
- Reserve Air Supply System
- Buoyancy compensator
- NOAA divers may use NOAA-issued equipment for
non-duty dives provided they - Sign NOAA Diver Agreement for Off-Duty Use and
Liability Waiver - Complete Off-Duty Proficiency Skills Checklist
Note Use of personal BCs are considered on a
case-by-case basis
41Reciprocity
- Reciprocity allows NOAA divers to dive with these
pre-approved institutions and vice-versa. NOAA
has reciprocity with over 100 non-NOAA
institutions and organizations - NOAA divers needing to dive with a reciprocity
organization must complete and email a Request
for
Letter of Reciprocity to Jennifer Carriere
at
the NDC a minimum of 1-week prior to dive
operations - Reciprocity divers needing to dive with NOAA must
present a signed Letter of Reciprocity from the
reciprocity divers Diving Safety Officer to the
NOAA Unit Diving Supervisor
Form available at www.ndc.noaa.gov
42Reportable Injuries
- All work-related injuries, whether the direct, or
indirect result of diving, must be reported in
compliance with DOC and NOAA policies - Examples of reportable diving injuries include
- Fatalities
- Injuries requiring recompression therapy
- Injuries, whether work-related or not, requiring
hospitalization or that otherwise may affect an
individuals fitness to dive - Any injury requiring more than basic first-aid,
or hospitalization of any kind must be reported
to the UDS/NDC!
43Other Reportable Incidents
- Occasionally incidents occur that do not result
in a reportable injury, but that nevertheless may
warrant awareness by NDP officials - Examples include
- Equipment malfunction or failure (e.g., ScubaPro
regulator) - Near miss or close call incidents that could
have resulted in a fatality or serious injury - Evidence of poor judgment by a NOAA diver
44Diver Responsibilities-1
- Adheres to the standards contained within this
manual when conducting working dives. - Refuses to dive when in their judgment conditions
are unsafe, or if they would be violating the
precepts of their training or the requirements in
this manual. - Maintains good physical condition and a high
level of diving proficiency. - Reports to the DM or LD any changes of a physical
or psychological nature that may adversely impact
their or their buddys fitness to dive. - Will not begin or continue a dive if problems
exist of a physical or psychological nature that
can compromise the safety of the diver or dive
team.
45Diver Responsibilities-1
- Ensures diving equipment used is maintained in a
safe operating condition. - Is accountable for NOAA-issued equipment.
- Adheres to the buddy system, actively monitors
buddy status including, but not limited to,
cylinder pressure, and intervenes to the maximum
extent practicable to ensure the safety of the
dive team. - Refrains from the use of illegal drugs.
46NDP Safety Rules
- No solo diving
- A Designated Person-In-Charge and standby
diver must be topside for all working dives - A support person must be topside for all
scientific dives, and a standby diver must be
topside for all science dives and prepared to
render assistance unless otherwise authorized by
the Unit Diving Supervisor - Diving depths are limited to 130 feet unless
approved by the NOAA Diving Control Safety
Board (NDCSB) and diving is limited to the USN
no-decompression limits unless approved by the
NDCSB - Over-bottom dives require direct reference with
surface
47NDP Safety Rules cont.
- Dives beyond a comfortable swimming distance from
shore, in current and/or arduous egress require a
support boat and operator/tender - A means must be available to safely remove an
injured diver from the water - Form 64-3 Dive Safe Ship Operations Checklist
is to be used during ship-related dive activities - The location, means of accessibility, and contact
information for the nearest operational
recompression chamber must be obtained before
diving
48NDP Safety Rules cont.
- All divers must be trained and current in CPR,
first aid, and oxygen administration - Oxygen resuscitator for non-breathing victim must
be on-site - Use of dive equipment other than open-circuit
scuba and/or breathing mixtures other than air or
nitrox, requires approval of the NDCSB - Air compressors must be tested for air quality
every 6 months - Regulators will be inspected and overhauled
annually
49NDP Safety Rules cont.
- Scuba cylinders inspected annually and
hydrostatically tested every five (5) years
(Stickers available from NDC) - Minimum diver-worn equipment required includes
floatation device, depth gauge, pressure gauge,
dive timer, and alternate air source - Equipment used with breathing gases containing
gt40 oxygen must be cleaned and maintained for
oxygen service - NOAA certified divers shall undergo yearly
refresher training in oxygen administration,
recognition treatment of diving accidents and
injuries, and decompression tables, and conduct
in-water rescue exercises (on NDC website and
MOCDOCs)
50NDP Safety Rules cont.
- Two-way communications capable of contacting
emergency assistance from the dive site - The NOAA Reserve Air Supply System (RASS) must be
worn on all OSHA working dives and on selected
NOAA scientific dives. - A formal written dive plan must be completed and
submitted to the appropriate Unit Diving
Supervisor, or his designee, for review, approval
and signature prior to each separate dive
operation.
51NDP Safety Rules cont.
- A copy of the Dive Accident Management Plan must
be submitted to the appropriate Unit Diving
Supervisor, or his designee, for review and
approval prior to each separate dive operation. - A formal written pre- and post-dive checklist
must be completed by the on-site Divemaster or
Lead Diver prior to each diving day. - A formal pre- and post-dive briefing must be
completed prior to and at the completion of each
dive by the Divemaster or Lead Diver.
52NDP Safety Rules cont.
- All divers must surface from dives with a minimum
of 500 psi in their scuba cylinders. Failure to
do so will result in temporary suspension. - All NOAA divers must demonstrate basic dive
proficiency by completing a checkout dive and
in-water rescue skills, including the retrieval
of an unconscious diver from the water to a
vessel or shore, twice a year.
53OSHA DIVING REGULATIONS
54Background overiew
- In 1978, Occupational Safety Health
Administration (OSHA) implemented
regulations governing commercial
diving operations - Applies to all NOAA employees performing
dives on official work
time - Specific requirements covering all
aspects of diving (e.g.
equipment, air requirements,
safety and operational procedures) - Extremely limiting for scuba operations
55Scuba diving highlights
- Max depth 130 fsw, dives gt100 fsw, outside
no-deco limits, or using mixed-gas (e.g. nitrox)
require a chamber on-site - Requires a standby diver plus topside supervisor
for all dives - 1 diver requires 1 standby diver 1 supervisor
3 total - 2 divers require 1 standby diver 1 supervisor
4 total - Requires a diver-carried, independent gas supply
for emergency breathing - Breathing media limited to compressed air
- Requires diver(s) be line-tended in current gt1
knot
56Exemptions
- In 1984, OSHA granted exemption to their diving
regulations for certain limited activities - 29
CFR 1910 - Instructional purposes (e.g. NAUI, PADI, SSI,
YMCA) for open-circuit, no-decompression air
diving only - Search, rescue, and public safety by a government
agency - Research, development, or related purposes on
human subjects - Scientific diving under the control of a diving
program
57Scientific exemption
- Requirements
- A Diving Safety Manual covering operational
emergency procedures, and diver training and
certification criteria - A Diving Control Board with the majority of its
members being active divers - Limitations
- The tasks of a scientific diver are those of an
observer and data gatherer - Does not include tasks traditionally associated
with commercial diving
58Scope of scientific Exemption
- OSHA Scientific Exemption does not regulate
- Maximum depth of a scientific dive
- Type of equipment worn on a scientific dive (e.g.
open-circuit, closed-circuit, surface-supplied) - Breathing gas medium used on a scientific dive
(e.g. air,
nitrox, heliox, trimix) - NOAA Diving Program meets the requirements
for the scientific
diving exemption since it has - NOAA Scientific Diving Standards Safety
Manual, and - Diving Control Safety Board
59Exemption requirements
- In order to qualify for the scientific exemption,
certain criterion must be met. - The following list of questions is presented to
help NOAA divers and their supervisors determine
whether underwater tasks constitute a scientific
dive. - A negative answer to any one of these questions
would potentially disqualify the task from being
conducted under the exemption.
60Exemption requirements cont.
- Can the tasks be accomplished using simple hand
tools (e.g., small hammers, pliers, chisels,
wrenches, cameras, measuring tapes, nets,
collection jars) weighing lt25 pounds underwater? - Do the tasks require the expertise of a scientist
or scientist-in-training? - Can the tasks be accomplished with minimal
physical exertion?
61Exemption requirements cont.
- Can the tasks be accomplished in short duration
(e.g., lt1-hour) per dive? - Do the tasks involve observation of natural
phenomena or responses of natural systems and/or
gathering of data for scientific analysis? - If the tasks require moving or lifting objects,
do the objects weigh lt100 pounds underwater? - Will the tasks result in the advancement of
science?
62Non-exempt tasks
- NOAA divers may be required to perform both
scientific and commercial diving tasks - Typical non-scientific tasks include
- Ship husbandry
- Placing removing heavy objects
- Underwater cutting
- Use of power tools or hand tools
- Heavy salvage
- Construction
63Compliance
- When performing commercial diving tasks, the OSHA
Diving Regulations must be followed - Remember, when using scuba equipment for
non-scientific diving tasks - Breathing gas limited to compressed air
- Must have a reserve breathing supply
- Cannot dive gt100 fsw or outside no-decompression
limits - Must have two people topside-- standby diver and
Divemaster - Standby divers must be accompanied by another
diver or line tended - Must line tend diver(s) in currents greater than
1 knot
64Compliance cont.
- Failure to comply with OSHA commercial diving
regulations exposes federal programs to written
citations and non-federal programs to monetary
fines - It is the responsibility of every NOAA diver to
know and comply with the NOAA and OSHA diving
regulations
65Key Points - 1
- NOAA divers must adhere to both the NOAA and OSHA
diving regulations - All NOAA employees and non-NOAA employees using
NOAA dive gear or diving from NOAA owned vessels
are subject to the NOAA diving regulations - The NOAA Diving Control and Safety Board
establishes policies and standards for the NDP - The NOAA Diving Medical Review Board makes
recommendations concerning medical standards and
policies
66Key Points - 2
- NOAA diver classifications include Observer,
Scientific, Working, Advanced Working, and Master
diver - The primary difference between scientific diver
and working diver is the tasks that they are
authorized to perform - Maintenance of diving certification requires
regular performance of dives, physical exams, and
CPR, First Aid, and oxygen administration
training - Failure to meet dive proficiency requirements
results in temporary suspension pending
completion of a recertification program
67Key Points - 3
- Certifications may be temporarily suspended or
revoked for non-compliance with applicable
regulations, standards and policies - Divers must log official duty dives
- NOAA divers may use SEP dive equipment for
non-duty dives - NOAA federal employees are eligible for dive pay
- All diving incidents are required to be reported
- NDP has reciprocity with many other diving
programs
68Key Points - 4
- Any injury requiring more than basic first-aid,
or hospitalization of any kind must be reported
to the UDS/NDC - Some NOAA divers perform work that falls outside
the OSHA scientific exemption, and therefore must
comply with the OSHA commercial diving
regulations - OSHA commercial diving regulations require
equipment and topside support beyond that
required by the NDP - The NOAA Scientific Diving Standards Safety
Manual prescribes standards for scientific dives.