§197.410. Dive procedures.
46 C.F.R. § 197.410
The diving supervisor shall insure that—
Before commencing diving operations, dive team members are briefed on—
The tasks to be undertaken;
Any unusual hazards or environmental conditions likely to affect the safety of the diving operation; and
Any modifications to the operations manual or procedures including safety procedures necessitated by the specific diving operation;
The breathing gas supply systems, masks, helmets, thermal protection, when provided, and bell lifting equipment, when a bell is provided or required, are inspected prior to each diving operation;
Each diver is instructed to report any physical problems or physiological effects including aches, pains, current illnesses, or symptoms of decompression sickness prior to each dive;
A depth, bottom time profile, including any breathing mixture changes, is maintained at the dive location for each diver during the dive, except that SCUBA divers shall maintain their own profiles;
A two-way voice communication system is used between—
Each surface-supplied diver and a dive team member at the dive location or bell (when provided); and
The bell (when provided) and the dive location;
A two-way communication system is available at the dive location to obtain emergency assistance;
After the completion of each dive—
The physical condition of the diver is checked by—
Visual observation; and
Questioning the diver about his physical well-being;
The diver is instructed to report any physical problems or adverse physiological effects including aches, pains, current illnesses, or symptoms of decompression sickness or gas embolism;
The diver is advised of the location of an operational decompression chamber; and
The diver is alerted to the potential hazards of flying after diving;
For any dive outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 130 fsw, or using mixed-gas as a breathing mixture—
A depth, time, decompression profile including breathing mixture changes is maintained for each diver at the dive location;
The diver is instructed to remain awake and in the vicinity of the dive location decompression chamber for at least one hour after the completion of a dive, decompression, or treatment; and
A dive team member, other than the diver, is trained and available to operate the decompression chamber; and
When decompression sickness or gas embolism is suspected or symptoms are evident, a report is completed containing—
The investigation for each incident including—
The dive and decompression profiles;
The composition, depth, and time of breathing mixture changes;
A description of the symptoms including depth and time of onset; and
A description and results of the treatment;
The evaluation for each incident based on—
The investigation;
Consideration of the past performance of the decompression table used; and
Individual susceptibility; and
The corrective action taken, if necessary, to reduce the probability of recurrence.
The diving supervisor shall ensure that the working interval of a dive is terminated when he so directs or when—
A diver requests termination;
A diver fails to respond correctly to communications or signals from a dive team member;
Communications are lost and cannot be quickly reestablished between—
The diver and a dive team member at the dive location; or
The person-in-charge and the diving supervisor during liveboating operations; or
A diver begins to use his diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, as amended by USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58289, Sept. 29, 2014]
Authority
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1509; 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703, 6101; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
Source
Source: CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, as amended by USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58289, Sept. 29, 2014]