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

Diving Hazards

18.47 No employer shall permit a diver to approach a work place that may be hazardous because of the operation of machinery or equipment, unless the machinery or equipment is secured against inadvertent movement and made inoperable for the duration of the dive.

18.48 If there is a risk that a diver could be entrapped, the employer shall ensure that

• (a) a two-way voice communication system between the diver and the diver’s tender is provided; and

• (b) a second dive team, equipped to rescue a diver in the event of an emergency, is present at the dive site.

Use of Explosives

• 18.49 (1) The initiation of underwater explosive charges at a dive site shall be under the direct control of the dive supervisor.

• (2) A two-way voice communication system shall be provided when explosives are being used at a dive site, unless the voice communication system itself would pose a hazard.

Hyperbaric Chambers

18.50 Every employer shall ensure that a hyperbaric chamber meeting the requirements of CSA Standard CAN/CSA Z275.1-93, Hyperbaric Facilities, published in English in December 1993 and in French in January 1995, as amended from time to time, for Class A (double-lock type) hyperbaric chambers, is available and in operable condition whenever

• (a) a decompression dive is occurring; or

• (b) the depth of a dive is to exceed 40 m.

18.51 Every employer shall ensure that a hyperbaric chamber is operated by a qualified person.

Alternative Energy Sources

• 18.52 (1) Every employer shall ensure that a second source of power capable of supplying sufficient power to operate all essential diving equipment is available in the event of failure of the primary power source.

• (2) Every employer shall ensure that the second source of power referred to in subsection (1) is capable of

  • (a) being rapidly brought on line; and

  • (b) operating all equipment essential to the diving operation.

Surface Supply Type 2 Dives

18.53 Sections 18.54 to 18.62 apply to surface supply type 2 dives.

18.54 Where the planned depth of a dive does not exceed 40 m, there shall be at least three persons present at the dive site, of whom

• (a) at least two are divers, one of whom is a standby diver; and

• (b) at least one is a diver’s tender.

18.55 The diver’s tender or the standby diver of a diving operation, the depth of which does not exceed 40 m, shall be designated as the dive supervisor.

18.56 Where the planned depth of a dive exceeds 40 m, there shall be at least four persons at the dive site, of whom

• (a) at least two are divers, one of whom is a standby diver;

• (b) one is the dive supervisor; and

• (c) one is the diver’s tender.

18.57 Every employer shall ensure that, except in an emergency, each surface supply diver in the water has a separate diver’s tender.

• 18.58 (1) The voice communication system provided between a diver and the surface shall

  • (a) allow the diver’s breathing to be heard at the surface; and

  • (b) include a recording system where the maximum depth of the dive is greater than 55 m.

• (2) An emergency signal system must be in effect during a diving operation to supplement the primary communication system.

18.59 A reserve breathing supply appropriate for the dive shall be carried by each diver.

18.60 Every employer shall ensure that nonreturn valves are

• (a) fitted to all diving helmets and surface supply diving masks; and

• (b) checked daily before the commencement of diving operations in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

18.61 Every employer shall ensure that every life support umbilical incorporates a lifeline rigged to prevent stress on the air line.

18.62 Every employer shall ensure that, in a liveboating operation,

• (a) a method that will prevent the lifeline or life support umbilical from becoming entangled in the propellers is used;

• (b) the diver’s tender is a qualified person for the type of tending used; and

• (c) the vessel operator is a qualified person.

Type 2 Scuba Diving

18.63 Sections 18.64 to 18.67 apply to type 2 dives in the course of which divers use scuba.

18.64 In a diving operation where the diver is tethered to the surface by a lifeline or float, there shall be at least three persons present at the dive site, of whom

• (a) one is a standby diver; and

• (b) one is a diver’s tender.

18.65 In a diving operation where the diver is not tethered to the surface by a lifeline or float, there shall be a through-water, two-way voice communication system between the divers and between the divers and the surface, and at least four persons present at the dive site, of whom

• (a) three are divers, one of whom is a standby diver; and

• (b) one is a diver’s tender.

18.66 One of the employees on the surface shall be designated as the dive supervisor of the scuba diving operation.

• 18.67 (1) Subject to subsection (2), dives shall be limited to a depth not exceeding 40 m.

• (2) A diver may dive to a depth greater than 40 m for the purpose of saving a life provided that, where conditions permit, the diver is

  • (a) secured by a lifeline; and

  • (b) tended by a diver’s tender.