The purpose of these public safety diving guidelines is to ensure that all public safety diving is conducted in a manner that maximizes protection of public safety divers from accidental injury and/or illness. in addition, this document sets forth guidelines for training and certification which will allow a working reciprocity between member organizations. Fulfillment of these purposes shall be consistent with the furtherance of safety.
The purpose of this document is to set forth minimal guidelines for public
safety diving programs, the organization for the conduct of these programs, and
the basic regulations and guidelines for safety in public safety diving
operations. This document further establishes a framework for reciprocity
between member organizations which adhere to these minimum guidelines. in
addition, this document shall serve as a model for a member organization's
required diving manual (see Section 1.14). This document has been developed and
written by adapting the guidelines set forth in the scientific diving standards
of the
In adopting the guidelines set forth in this document, [INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] assumes no liability not otherwise imposed by law. Each diver is assumed under this guideline to be voluntarily performing activities for which he assumes all risks, consequences, and potential liability. Each diver is responsible for maintaining a level of knowledge and training to enable an informed appraisal of the calculated risks involved in any diving activities undertaken, in producing this document[INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] assumes no liability for the activity or liability of any person who may use this document or from which any consequences may arise. The editors and [INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] make no claim that use of this document will eliminate or reduce the severity of injuries incurred as a result of public safety diving activities. All reasonable efforts have been made to in crude state-of-the-art information as of the date of publication. The editors and [INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] make no claim that the practices and guidelines set forth within will remain constant.
The purpose of a member organization's public safety diving manual is to provide for the development of and implementation of guidelines and guidelines that will enable each member organization to meet requirements of local environments and conditions as well as to comply with the [INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] public safety diving guidelines. The member organization's diving manual shall include but not be limited to:
a. Safety guidelines for the diving operation
b. Responsibilities of the dive team members
c. Equipment use and maintenance guidelines and
d. Emergency guidelines.
An annual report and review of diving activities should be prepared and submitted to [INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] by each member organization. At this time, any recommendations for modifications of these guidelines should be submitted to [INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] for consideration.
Public safety diving is considered to be all diving performed by individuals necessary to and part of a police, fire, or public safety activity conducted in conjunction with any project under the jurisdiction of any public or private institution or similarly recognized organization, department, or group.
For the purpose of these guidelines, the auspices of a member organization include any public safety diving operation in which a member organization is connected because of ownership of any equipment used, locations selected, or relationship with the individuals concerned. This includes all cases involving the operations of employees of member organizations or employees of auxiliary organizations where such employees are acting within the scope of their employment, the operations of other persons who are engaged in public safety diving of a member organization, or are diving as members of an organization recognized by [INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] member organizations.
[INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] requires that no person should engage in public safety diving unless that person holds a certification issued by the Diving Officer of the member organization pursuant to the provisions of this manual (see Sections 3.00 and 4.00). Examples of recognized certifications are:
All diving equipment used by public safety divers, apprentice public safety divers, trainees, or individuals diving on a temporary public safety diving permit, regardless of ownership, shall conform to the standards set forth in this document.
The regulations herein should be observed at ail locations where public safety diving is conducted.
Reciprocity may exist between member organizations. A Public Safety Diver currently certified under the auspices of one member organization in good standing may be so recognized by any other member organization. Reciprocity may be extended to individuals possessing the necessary training and experience which is appropriate for the diving to be undertaken.
Each member organization which operates a public safety diving program shall appoint a Diving Officer and a Diving Control Board.
The responsible administrative officer of the member organization has the ultimate authority for the public safety diving program and its related activities. However, only the Diving Supervisor may make decisions relating to the conduct of actual diving operations unless his orders are superseded at the scene by the Diving Officer.
Guideline recommendations relating to the diving program of each member organization shall be made to the responsible administrative officer or his designee. The development of these recommendations is the joint responsibility of the Diving Officer and the Diving Control Board.
The administration of the member organization's diving program will reside with the Diving Control Board.
All personnel involved in diving instruction under the auspices of the member organize lion shall be qualified for the type of instruction being given. Regardless of the certifies lions held by a potential instructor, the Diving Control Board must evaluate the candidate to ensure instructional skills commensurate with the intended instruction.
instructions personnel will be selected by the Diving Officer working with the Diving Control Board to conduct preliminary screening of applicants for instructional positions.
All divers within a member organization's diving program shall pass a diving medical examination as delineated in Section 7.00. The expiration date of the examination will appear on the diving certificate. A medical evaluation by an approved physician to determine continuing fitness to dive is required after each illness or injury requiting hospitalization of more than 24 hours: after any episode of unconsciousness: or after treatment in a hyperbaric chamber following a diving accident or other serious illness.
No person shall engage in diving operations under the auspices of a member organization's public safety diving program unless he holds a current certificate or permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this document. Public safety diving shall not be conducted unless emergency guidelines have been established to initially treat and transport a diverts) to an operational hyperbaric chamber or appropriate emergency medical facility.
All diving conducted under the auspices of the member organization shall be planned and executed in a manner as to ensure that every diver involved maintains constant, effective communication with at least one other comparably equipped, certified public safety diver in the water. This buddy system is based upon mutual assistance, especially in the case of an emergency. Dives should be planned around the competency of the least experienced diver. If loss of effective communication occurs within a buddy team, all divers within that team shall surface and reestablish contact except as specified in Section 2.40. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis in the event of a rescue or other exigent circumstances. The solo, line-tended diver shall be considered an exception to the solo diving prohibition. However, both the diver and the tender shall be sufficiently trained in this technique prior to their operational use of this type of solo diving. During a solo, line tended diving operation, a standby diver in addition to the line tender shall be utilized.
Where an enclosed or confined space is not large enough for two divers, a diver shall be stationed at the underwater point of entry and an orientation line shall be used. Cavern and cave diving shall only be conducted by personnel with appropriate training and certifications. The standards of either the National Association for Cave Diving (NACD) or the National Speleological Society Cave Diving Section will be followed at all times.
Both the "diver down" and international Alpha flags shall be prominently displayed during all public safety diving operations.
Each diver shall on every dive possess the capability of attaining and maintaining post live buoyancy. An inflatable exposure suit by itself shall not be used as the sole source of buoyancy.
Both members of the diving pair must have an underwater time keeping device, an approved depth indicator, and a submersible tank pressure gauge. Divers may delegate the determination of their depth and dive time to a surface tender or other individual appropriately equipped to perform such functions.
An appropriate dive table or dive computer must be available at the dive location:
The public safety diving certificate will authorize the holder to dive to the depth entered on the certificate. The certificate must bear the signature of the member organization's Diving Officer.
a. May exceed his depth certification by one step only if accompanied by a diver certified to a greater depth or
b. May exceed his her depth certification by more than one step only when accompanied by the Diving Officer or a person designated by the Diving Officer, either of whom must be certified to the depth to be dived.
a. To safety reach the surface, including decompression time or
b. To safety reach an additional air source at the decompression station.
Hookah divers shall comply with all scuba diving guidelines in this document. Hookah diving shall not be conducted at depths greater than 66 feet sea water (3 ATA).
Surface supplied divers shall comply with all scuba diving guidelines in this document except Section 2.21. Surface supplied diving shall conform to US Navy standards.
For each dive, one individual shall be designated as the Diving Supervisor. He shall be in an appropriate location at the dive site or the dive location during the diving opera lion. The Diving Supervisor shall be responsible for:
a. Dive objectives:
b. Any unusual hazards or environmental conditions likely to affect the safety of the diving operation
c. Any modifications to diving or emergency guidelines necessitated by the specific diving operation and
d. Reporting any physical problems or adverse physiological effects including symptoms of pressure related injuries.
a. Diving mode
b. Surface and underwater conditions and hazards
c. Breathing gas supply
d. The real protection
e. Diving equipment
f. Dive team assignments
g. Residual inert gas status of dive team members
h. Decompression schedules and altitude corrections
i. Entry and exit guidelines and Emergency guidelines.
Before conducting any diving operations under the auspices of the member organize lion, the Diving Supervisor for a proposed diving operation should consider the following information:
a. Each diver shall conduct a functional check of his diving equipment in the presence of the dive buddy or tender
b. it is the diver's responsibility and duty to refuse to dive if in his judgment, conditions are unsafe, unfavorable, or if he would be violating the precepts of his training or the guidelines of this document or the member organization's diving manual.
c. No diver shall be required to be exposed to hyperbaric conditions against his will except when necessary to prevent or treat a pressure related injury.
d. No diver shall be permitted to dive for the duration of any known condition which is likely to adversely affect the safety and health of the diver or other dive team members).
Each public safety diver shall be trained, qualified, and certified for the diving mode being used. Each diver shall have experience or training in the following:
a. The use of the instruments and equipment appropriate to the diving activity to be conducted:
b. Dive planning and emergency guidelines:
c. Diver rescue techniques, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, oxygen administration, and other diving related first aid
d. Diving related physics and physiology as well as recognition of pressure related injuries.
With the completion of a dive, each diver shall:
Any public safety diver may deviate from the requirements of this document to the extent necessary to prevent or minimize a situation which is likely to cause death, serious physical harm, or major environmental damage. A written report of such actions must be submitted to the Diving Control Board by the Diving Supervisor explaining the circumstances and justifications for such action.
Failure to comply with the guidelines of this document may be cause for the restriction or revocation of the member organization's recognition by [INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME].
Failure to comply with the regulations of the member organization's diving manual may be cause for the restriction or revocation of the diver's public safety diving certificate by action of the member organization's Diving Control Board.
The Diving Supervisor shall maintain an appropriate diving log for each diving operation.
a. Name of diver, partner, and/or lead diver
b. Date, time, and location of dive
c. Diving modes used
d. General nature of diving activities:
e. Approximate underwater and surface conditions
f. Maximum depths, bottom time, and surface interval times
g. Diving tables or dive computers used and
h. Details of any accidents or potentially dangerous incidents.
a. Description of symptoms, including severity and time of onset and
b. Description and results of treatment.
2.63 RECORD MAINTENANCE The Diving Officer or his designee shall maintain permanent records for each individual diving under the auspices of the member organization. The file shall include evidence of certification, log sheets, results of current physical examinations, waivers, reports of disciplinary actions by the member organization's Diving Control Board, and other pertinent information deemed necessary. Proof of such record keeping shall be made available to [INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] upon request.
a. Medical records shall be available to the attending physician of a diver or former diver when released in writing by the diver.
b. Records and documents required by this document shall be retained by the member organization for the following periods:
All diving accidents requiring recompression or resulting in serious injury shall be reported to the member organization's Diving Officer. The member organization's regular guidelines for accident reporting, including those required by [INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] shall be followed. Additional information deemed necessary by either the Diving Control Board or the Diving Officer may be required. in addition, the member organization must meet the following reporting requirements:
The public safety diver applicant shall be certified by a licensed physician to be medically qualified for diving before proceeding with the training as designated in Section 3.20 (see Section 7.00 and Appendices 1 through 6).
The applicant for training shall successfully perform the following tests or their equivalent in the presence of the Diving Officer or an examiner approved by the Diving Officer:
At the completion of training, the trainee must satisfy the Diving Officer or the approved instructor of his ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. in addition, the following skills must be demonstrated in a pool or other sheltered water:
Before the completion of training, the trainee must pass a written examination that demonstrates knowledge of at least the following:
The trainee must provide proof of CPR certification at the basic life support (BUS) level from either the American Heart Association (ALA) or the American Red Cross (ARC).
The trainee must provide proof of at least standard first aid (SFA) certification from the American Red Cross.
At the completion of training, the trainee must satisfy the Diving Officer or the designated instructor of his ability to perform the following minimum skills in open water:
This permit signifies that a diver has completed a minimum of 60 hours of training with at least 15 ocean or open water dives and possesses a nationally recognized advanced diving certification.
Individuals who are eligible for an apprentice public safety diver permit include:
a. Possess a nationally recognized advanced diving certification
b. Provide proof of at least 60 hours of diver training with a minimum of 15 open water training dives
c. A medical examination as outlined in Section 3.11
d. A basic life support certificate as outlined in Section 3.23
e. A standard first aid certificate as outlined in Section 3.24 and
f. An appropriate sheltered water skills evaluation by the Diving Officer or an approved instructor which would indicate the applicant's ability to perform the skills outlined in Section 3.21.
The following are considered minimal standards for public safety diver certification.
Only a person diving under the auspices of an organization that subscribes to the practices of [INSERT DIVE TEAM NAME] is eligible for public safety diver certification.
Application for certification shall be made to the Diving Officer on the form prescribed by the member organization.
Each applicant for public safety diver certification shall submit a statement from a licensed physician based upon an approved medical examination which attests to the n applicant's fitness for diving (see Section 7.00 and Appendices 1-6). This statement shall be on the form prescribed by the member organization.
The applicant must hold an Apprentice Public Safety Diver Permit (see Section 3.00) completed within the last four months.
Submission of documents and participation in aptitude examinations does not automatically result in certification. The applicant must convince the Diving Officer that he is sufficiently skilled and proficient to be certified. This skill will be acknowledged by the signature of the Diving Officer. Any applicant who does not possess the necessary judgment for all diving activities may be denied member organization public safety diving privileges.
The diver must complete additional theoretical and practical training beyond the Apprentice Public Safety Diver Permit level for a minimum cumulative time of 150 hours.
Requirements of Sections 4.21 and 4.22 may be waived by the diving officer if the person in question has demonstrated proficiency in diving and can measurably contribute to a planned dive. A statement of the temporary diver's qualifications she:: be submitted to the Diving Officer as a part of the dive plan. Temporary certification shall be f restricted to the planned diving operation and shall comply with all other policies, regulations, and standards of this manual, including medical requirements.
The Public Safety Diving Certificate with authorize the holder to dive to the depth Indicated on the certificate. The diver must make application to the Diving Officer for depth certifications to 130 feet. Certification to 150 feet must be approved by the Diving Control Board upon application by the diver.
This is the initial certification based upon successful: completion of training listed in section 3.00.
A diver holding a 30 foot certificate may be certified to a depth of 60 feet after successfully completing while under supervision 12 logged training dives to depths between 31 and 60 feet for a minimum, cumulative bottom time of 4 hours.
A diver holding a 60 foot certificate may be certified to 100 feet by logging 6 dives between 61 and 100 feet. These qualification dives shall be validated by the signature of two authorized individuals who are divers certified to at least 100 feet. The diver shall demonstrate proficiency in the use of the appropriate dive table or applicable dive computer.
A diver holding a 100 foot certificate may be certified to 130 feet by logging 6 dives between 101 and 130 feet. These qualification dives she:: be validated by the signature of two authorized individuals who are divers certified to at least 130 feet. The diver shall demonstrate proficiency in the use of the appropriate dive table or applicable dive computer.
A diver may be certified to a depth of 150 abet the completion of 6 dives near 150 feet. Dives shall be planned and executed under close supervision of a diver certified to this depth. The diver must also demonstrate a knowledge of the special problems of deep diving and of special safety requirements. Diving to depths deeper than 150 feet is not authorized.
During any 12 month period, each certified public safety diver must log a minimum of 12 dives. At least one dive must be logged near the maximum depth of the diver's certification during each six month period. Divers certified to 150 feet may satisfy these requirements with dives to 130 feet or deeper. Failure to meet these requirements may be cause for revocation or restriction of certification.
Depth certifications which have lapsed due to lack of diving activity may be renewed by guidelines adopted by the member organization's Diving Control Board.
All certified public safety divers shall pass an annual medical examination performed by a licensed physician. This physician should be trained in diving undersea medicine. After each major iciness or injury, a diver shall submit to a medical interview or examination before resuming diving activities.
A diving certificate may be revoked or restricted for cause by the Diving Officer or the Diving Control Board. Violations of guidelines set forth in this manual or other governmental subdivisions not in conflict with this document may be considered cause for revocation. The Diving Officer shall inform the diver in writing of the reasons) for revocation. The diver will be given the opportunity to present a rebuttal in writing. All such written statements and requests as identified in this section are formal dock merits which will remain a part of the diver's file.
If a diver's certificate expires or is revoked, he may be recertified after complying with such conditions as the Diving Officer or the Diving Control Board may impose. The diver Shall be given an opportunity to present his case to the Diving Control Board before conditions for recertification are stipulated.
All equipment shall meet standards as determined by the Diving Officer and approved by the Diving Control Board. Only those makes and models of equipment specifically approved by the Diving Officer and/or the Diving Control Board shall be used and by divers with appropriate training. Ail unit equipment shall be standardized and compatible. All Inspections, tests, and maintenance must be accomplished by a technician or facility approved by the Diving Officer and/or the Diving Control Board. Equipment that is subjected to extreme usage under adverse conditions should require more frequent testing and maintenance.
Each equipment modification, repair, test, calibration, or maintenance shall be logged including the date and nature of work performed, serial number of item, and the name of the person performing the work for the following equipment:
Scuba regulators used in the public safety diving program shall be inspected prior to the first use and every 6 months thereafter.
Breathing masks and helmets shall have:
Scuba cylinders shall be designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Unfired Pressure Vessel Safety Orders.
Breathing air for all diving activities shall meet the following
specifications as well as the air quality standards of the appropriate
jurisdiction in which the member organization's public safety dive team
operates:
a. Minimum oxygen atmospheric
b. Oxygen content Special mixtures must be specified upon the advice of a
competent authority and approved by the Diving Control Board. All divers and
support personnel on a dive in which special mixtures are used shall be
appropriately trained.
c. Maximum carbon monoxide .... 0.001 % (10 ppm)
d. Maximum carbon dioxide 0.10 % (1000 ppm)
e. Dust, oil and water absent
f. Odors and vapors absent
a. Low pressure compressors used to supply air to the diver shall be equipped with a volume tank with a check valve on the inlet side, a pressure gauge, a relief valve, a drain valve.
b. Compressed air systems over 500 psig shall have slow opening shut off valves.
c. All air compressor intakes shall be located away from areas containing exhaust or other contaminants.
a. Gas analyses and air tests shall be performed on each member organization controlled, breathing air compressor at regular intervals of no more than 100 hours of operation or six months whichever occurs first in order to ensure compliance with minimum breathing air standards. The results of these tests shall be entered in a formal log and maintained.
b. A log shall be maintained showing operation, repair, overhaul, temperature cut-out maintenance (if applicable), and filter maintenance for each compressor.