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

18.32 Every submersible pressure gauge and every depth gauge shall be inspected by a qualified person

• (a) before being used for the first time;

• (b) thereafter at intervals not exceeding 12 months; and

• (c) whenever the gauge is thought to be defective.

• 18.33 (1) Where an employee finds a defect in any diving equipment, including pressure gauges and depth gauges, that may render it unsafe for use, the employee shall immediately report the defect to the employer.

• (2) An employer shall mark or tag as unsafe and remove from service any diving equipment, including pressure gauges and depth gauges, that may be used by employees where a defect may render it unsafe for use.

18.34 A dive shall be terminated in accordance with the dive plan referred to in subsection 18.9(1) or when

• (a) a dive team member requests termination;

• (b) a diver loses contact with or fails to respond correctly to a communication from a diving partner;

• (c) a diver loses contact with or fails to respond correctly to a communication from the diver’s tender;

• (d) a diver’s primary breathing supply fails; or

• (e) a diver becomes aware of any sign of a malfunction of equipment or any sign or symptom of diver distress.

18.35 Every employer shall ensure that, on completion of a dive, a diver remains under observation for a period of time sufficient to ensure the health and safety of the diver.

• 18.36 (1) An employer shall not allow a diver to fly at an altitude greater than 300 m above the altitude of the dive site unless the following period of time has elapsed:

  • (a) 12 hours following a no-decompression dive;

  • (b) 24 hours following a decompression dive; or

  • (c) such time as is specified by a physician who treated the diver for a pressure-related injury.

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an emergency air evacuation.

• (3) In the event of an emergency air evacuation, provision shall be made to furnish the diver with oxygen, and the flight altitude and in-flight conditions shall be those recommended by the attending physician or dive supervisor.

• 18.37 (1) Every diver shall report to the employer any occurrence that has caused a diving-related injury to the diver.

• (2) The employer shall investigate the occurrence reported pursuant to subsection (1) and keep a written record of its findings.