Commercial diving involves a diverse group of individuals and companies involved in a wide range of activities. These workers are exposed to the same hazards anyone would if they spent extended periods of time underwater, such as drowning, respiratory and circulatory problems, and hypothermia. The number of dives, length of time spent underwater, lack of visibility, and the strenuous nature of the task increase the risk of this type of activity. Additionally, commercial divers are often exposed to construction or demolition type hazards such as cutting, welding, material handling, cleaning, operation of heavy equipment, and general work with power tools.

Commercial diving hazards are addressed in specific standards for the general industry, shipyard employment, marine terminals, longshoring, and the construction industry.

OSHA Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards and directives (instructions for compliance officers) related to commercial diving.

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910 Subpart T, Commercial diving operations
  
  • 1910.401, Scope and application
  • 1910.402, Definitions
  • 1910.410, Qualifications of dive team
  • 1910.420, Safe practices manual
  • 1910.421, Pre-dive procedures
  • 1910.422, Procedures during dive
  • 1910.423, Post-dive procedures
  • 1910.424, SCUBA diving
  • 1910.425, Surface-supplied air diving
  • 1910.426, Mixed-gas diving
  • 1910.427, Liveboating
  • 1910.430, Equipment
  • 1910.440, Recordkeeping requirements
  • Appendix A, Examples of conditions which may restrict or limit exposure to hyperbaric conditions
  • Appendix B, Guidelines for scientific diving

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart A, General provisions
  • 1915.6, Commercial diving operations. Commercial diving operations shall be subject to 1910 Subpart T.

Marine Terminals (29 CFR 1917)

• 1917 Subpart A, Scope and definitions
  • 1917.1, Scope and applicability. 1910 Subpart T applies to marine terminals.

Longshoring (29 CFR 1918)

• 1918 Subpart A, Scope and definitions
  • 1918.1, Scope and application. 1910 Subpart T applies to longshoring operations.

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart O, Motor vehicles, mechanized equipment, and marine operations
  • 1926.605, Marine operations and equipment. Commercial diving operations shall be subject to 1910 Subpart T.
    
    
• 1926 Subpart Y, Commercial diving operations
  • 1926.1071, Scope and application
  • 1926.1072, Definitions
  • 1926.1076, Qualifications of dive team
  • 1926.1080, Safe practices manual
  • 1926.1081, Pre-dive procedures
  • 1926.1082, Procedures during dive
  • 1926.1083, Post-dive procedures
  • 1926.1084, SCUBA diving
  • 1926.1085, Surface-supplied air diving
  • 1926.1086, Mixed-gas diving
  • 1926.1087, Liveboating
  • 1926.1090, Equipment
  • 1926.1091, Recordkeeping requirements
  • Appendix A, Examples of conditions which may restrict or limit exposure to hyperbaric conditions
  • Appendix B, Guidelines for scientific diving

Directives

• 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart T – Commercial Diving Operations. CPL 02-00-151, (2011, June 13). Provides guidelines for the occupational safety and health standards for commercial diving operations, 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart T.
  
  
• Search all available directives.

Hazards and Solutions

Commercial divers are exposed not only to the possibility of drowning but also to a variety of occupational safety and health hazards such as respiratory and circulatory risks, hypothermia, low visibility, and physical injury from the operation of heavy equipment under water. The type, length, frequency of dive and the type of operation increase the already high risk of this strenuous work. Additional hazards are also associated with the actual work, such as underwater cutting and welding, materials handling, hull scrubbing, and use of hand and power tools. The following references aid in recognizing and controlling commercial diving hazards.

• A common type of health hazard associated with commercial diving is "Dysbarism". Dysbarism is a generic term applicable to any adverse health effect due to a difference between ambient pressure and the total gas pressure in tissues, fluids, or cavities of the body ^(1-7). [more...]
  
  
• Examining Fatal Shipyard Accidents. OSHA Video. Provides animated re-enactments of fatal accidents investigated by OSHA.
  
  
• DAN (Divers Alert Network). Duke University, Office of Information Technology.

Safety and Health Programs

An effective safety and health program depends on the credibility of management's involvement in the program, inclusion of employees in safety and health decisions, rigorous worksite analysis to identify hazards and potential hazards, including those which could result from a change in worksite conditions or practices, stringent prevention and control measures, and thorough training. It addresses hazards whether or not they are regulated by government standards. The following resources provide information that can help employers develop and implement a safety and health program.

• Job Hazard Analysis. OSHA Publication 3071, (2002). Also available as a 497 KB PDF, 50 pages. Explains what a job hazard analysis is and offers guidelines to help employers conduct their own step-by-step analysis.
  
  
• Safety & Health Management Systems. OSHA eTool. There are four crucial questions you should be asking when it comes to safety and health programs. The detailed answers are found in the four modules of this eTool.
  
  
• $afety Pays Program. OSHA. Assists employers in estimating the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses and the impact on a company's profitability.
  
  
• Safety and Health Management Program Guidelines; Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines. OSHA Federal Register Notice 54:3904-3916, (1989, January 26). These safety and health program management guidelines are for use by employers to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.
  • Elements of an Effective Safety and Health Program. OSHA Slide Presentation. Summarizes safety and health program guidelines.
• Safety and Health Add Value. OSHA Publication 3180. Also available as a 200 KB PDF, 6 pages. Describes how safety and health add value to your business, your workplace, and your life.
  
  
• For additional information, see OSHA's Injury and Illness Prevention Programs Safety and Health Topics Page.

Additional Information

• Organizations involved in diving medical emergencies include:
  
  • USA - Navy Experimental Diving Unit, (904) 230-3100.
  • USA - Naval Medical Research Institute, (301) 295-1839.
  • Canada - Diving Division of the Defense and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine, (416) 635-2000.
  • England - Institute of Naval Medicine, [44] 1705 722-351.
  • General information may also be obtained from the following:
    • Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (301 942-2980)
    • National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (504- 366-8871)
      
      
• Navy Experimental Diving Unit. US Navy, Supervisor of Salvage (SUPSALV). NEDU acts as an information clearinghouse for both the military and the public/commercial sectors; publishes technical and scientific reports; and cooperates in research and development with academia and industry in hyperbaric materials, technology, medicine, and physiology.
  
  
• Hammerhead Press. Provides books for scuba, technical, professional & commercial (deep-sea) divers, as well as free articles on commercial diving topics.

Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF and PPT materials.