DIVING SAFETY MANUAL

 

Revised 2002 

 Original Printing 1954

 

 

F O R E W O R D

 

 

The research diving program of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego (SIO, UCSD) is the oldest of its type in the country.  The first non-military class in the U.S. which taught the use of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) was held by scientists for scientists on the Scripps campus during the summer of 1951.

 

In 1952 two individuals died using university-owned scuba equipment.  This led to the President's Office restricting diving to those who had been trained through the program at Scripps.  A statewide committee was formed to address the problems of training, equipment standards, air purity, physical examinations, recordkeeping, and diver certification.

 

These committee members were physicians, environmental health and safety specialists, biologists, physicists, engineers, most of whom were themselves divers.  Their progress, the increasing availability of diving equipment and development of training and certification procedures led President Sproul in 1953 to accept the use of research diving as a viable means of conducting academic research within the university.  The committee published its first set of Rules and Regulations covering the use of diving in 1954.  This manual represents the 1998 revision of that document.  It should also be noted that in 1953 Los Angeles county sent three individuals to Scripps for diver training.  This trio then developed the Los Angeles underwater instructors program, the oldest such instructor certification program in the U. S.

 

The university decentralization of the early 1960's led to development, by the Scripps Diving Officer of programs on each of the other campuses.  At the request of the President's Office, the Diving Officer also developed the first "University Guide for Diving Safety."  This document, first published in March 1967, allows reciprocity between the various campuses, and is reviewed yearly by the campus Diving Safety Officers.

 

The safety record of research diving within the university is an enviable one and is the product of continued monitoring by the campus diving authorities.

 

Scientific diving was recently exempted from the OSHA Commercial Diving Standard based upon the documented history of self regulation in the scientific community.

 

 

The following is a quote from the State of California Title 8 Article 152 General Industry Safety Orders with the specific exception and necessary requirements for that exception.

 

 

             (E)     Scientific diving operations under the direction and control of a diving program containing at least the following elements:

 

                        1.         Diving safety manual which includes at a minimum:  procedures covering all diving operations specific to the program;  procedures for emergency care, including recompression and evacuation; and criteria for diver training and certification.

 

                        2.         Diving control (safety) board, composed of active research divers, shall at a minimum have the authority to:  approve and monitor diving projects; review and revise the diving safety manual; assure compliance with the manual; certify the depths to which a diver has been trained; take disciplinary action for unsafe practices; and, assure adherence to the buddy system (a diver is accompanied by and is in continuous contact with another diver in the water) for SCUBA diving."

 

This manual was modified to comply with the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Standards for Scientific Diving and Certification and Operations of Scientific Programs which was published April of 1987.  The AAUS document represents the minimal safety standards for scientific diving at the present state of the art.

 

The policies, procedures and standards set forth in this Diving Safety Manual are intended to govern the training and diving operations of all personnel participating in the Research Diving Program at SIO, UCSD.  It applies to all divers operating under University auspices, including visiting divers, and to those campus officers responsible for the management and administration of the research diving program.

 

                                                                                               

                                                                                   

James R. Stewart

Chief Diving Safety Officer Emeritus

 

 

                                                                            

Wayne Pawelek

Diving Safety Officer

 

T A B L E  O F  C O N T E N T S

 

 

 

 1.00   POLICY ON DIVING

 

            1.10    PURPOSE

 

                        1.11    The Diving Safety Program

                        1.12    The Diving Safety Manual

 

            1.20    SCOPE

 

                        1.21    University Auspices

                        1.22    Training and Certification

                        1.23    Equipment

                        1.24    Diving Rules

 

            1.30    AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHANCELLOR

 

            1.40    ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY OFFICE

 

                        1.41    Authority

                        1.42    Responsibilities

 

            1.50    THE DIVING CONTROL BOARD

 

                        1.51    Composition

                        1.52    Authority

                        1.53    Responsibilities

 

            1.60    THE DIVING SAFETY OFFICER

 

                        1.61    Appointment and Qualifications

                        1.62    Authority

                        1.63    Responsibilities

 

2.00    TRAINING

 

            2.10    ELIGIBILITY

 

            2.20    MEDICAL EVALUATION

 

            2.30    RELEASE AND WAIVER

 

            2.40    SWIMMING AND SKIN DIVING TESTS

            2.50    POOL TRAINING

 

            2.60    OCEAN OR OTHER OPEN WATER TRAINING

 

            2.70    WRITTEN EXAMINATION

 

 

3.00    CERTIFICATION

 

            3.10    TYPES OF CERTIFICATION

 

                        3.11    Eligibility

                        3.12    Diver-in-Training Permit

                        3.13    Scientific Diver Certificate

                        3.14    Temporary Certified Diver Certificate

 

            3.20    OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE

 

                        3.21    Training

                        3.22    Denials of Certificate

                        3.23    Waiver of Specific Requirements

                        3.24    Registration

                        3.25    CPR Certification

 

            3.30    DEPTH CERTIFICATION

 

                        3.31    Certification for 30-foot Depth

                        3.32    Certification for 60-foot Depth

                        3.33    Certification to 100- and 130-foot Depths

                        3.34    Certification to Depths over 130 Feet

 

            3.40    MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION

 

                        3.41    Term of Certification

                        3.42    Diving Activity

                        3.43    Medical Examination

                        3.44    Recertification

                        3.45    Requalification

 

            3.50    REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATION

 

4.00    DIVING EQUIPMENT

 

            4.10    GENERAL POLICY

 

            4.20    RECORDKEEPING

 

                        4.21    Diving Equipment

                        4.22    Compressor Equipment

 

            4.30    SCUBA REGULATORS

 

                        4.31    Approval

                        4.32    Inspection and Maintenance

 

            4.40    SCUBA CYLINDERS

 

            4.50    AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT

 

            4.60    BREATHING MASKS AND HELMETS

 

            4.70    BREATHING AIR STANDARDS

 

            4.80    COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS

 

                        4.81    Design and Location of Compressor

                        4.82    Compressor Operation and Air Test Records

                        4.83    Certification and Testing of Commercial Sources

 

            4.90    OXYGEN SAFETY

 

5.00    DIVING REGULATIONS

 

            5.10    CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

 

                        5.11    Depth Limitations

 

            5.20    DIVING PROCEDURES

 

                        5.21    Buddy System

                        5.22    Diver's Flag

                        5.23    Flotation Device

                        5.24    Timing Devices and Depth and Pressure Gauges

                        5.25    Enclosed or Confined Spaces

                        5.26    Dive Tables

                        5.27    Depth Limits

                        5.28    Refusal to Dive

                        5.29    Termination of the Dive

 

            5.30    SPECIALIZED DIVING TECHNIQUES

 

                        5.31    Rebreathers

                        5.32    Hookah

                       

                        5.33    Surface Supplied Diving

                        5.34    Saturation Diving

                        5.35    Night Diving

                        5.36    Blue-water Diving

                        5.37    Dive Computers

 

            5.40    DIVING OPERATIONS

 

                        5.41    Emergency Procedures

                        5.42    Lead Diver

                        5.43    Dive Plans

                        5.44    Pre-dive Safety Checks

                        5.45    Post-dive Safety Checks

                        5.46    Flying After Diving - Recommended Guidelines

                        5.47    Emergencies and Deviations from Regulations

                        5.48    Consequences of Violations of Regulations by                                                           University Campus

 

            5.50    RECORDKEEPING AND REQUIREMENTS

 

                        5.51    Personal Diving Log

                        5.52    Record Maintenance

                        5.53    Required Accident Reporting

 

APPENDIX A    Glossary of Terms

APPENDIX B    Diver Emergency Procedures Information Sheet

APPENDIX C    Ascent Recommendations

APPENDIX D    American Academy of Underwater Sciences Guidelines for Use of       Dive Computers

APPENDIX E    Nitrox Diving Guidelines

APPENDIX F    Aquarium Diving Operations

APPENDIX G    Checkout Dive and Training Evaluation
 

S E C T I O N   O N E

 

 

 Policy on Diving

 

 

1.10    PURPOSE

 

            1.11    The Diving Safety Program

 

                        The purposes of a diving safety program are to insure that all

                        diving under the auspices of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography,

                        University of California, San Diego (SIO, UCSD) is conducted in a                  manner most likely to minimize accidental injury or occupational                illness, and to set forth rules, regulations and standards for training                        and certification which will allow a working reciprocity between                         campuses, other institutions, state and federal agencies or               organizations engaged in scientific diving.

 

            1.12    The Diving Safety Manual

 

The purpose of this Diving Safety Manual is to set forth the basic underwater diving safety policy, organization, regulations and procedures for safety in diving operations on this campus.

 

1.20    SCOPE

 

            1.21    University Auspices

 

            Underwater diving under the University auspices is limited to diving in connection with:

 

                                    Employment

                                   Research

                                   Academic work (instructional)

Training and certification for required University diving

 

            1.22    Training and Certification

 

                       Any person diving under University auspices is required to observe the provisions of this Manual.  Diving is not permitted by individuals until they have met the requirements for diving pertinent to the level of the proposed activity.

 

           

 

            1.23    Equipment

 

All diving under University auspices shall be done with equipment, regardless of ownership, which conforms to the standards set in Section Four of this Manual.

 

            1.24    Diving Rules

 

The regulations herein shall be observed at all locations, whether or not owned by the University, where diving is carried out under the University auspices.

 

1.30    AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHANCELLOR

 

Maximum authority and operational responsibility for the conduct of the diving safety program on the San Diego campus is vested in the Chancellor.  He/she is responsible for providing surveillance of campus diving activities, interpreting University policies, and developing additional campus policies, regulations and standards consistent with University policies.

 

1.40    ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICE

 

            1.41    Authority