Title 46

SECTION 197.410

197.410 Dive procedures.

§ 197.410 Dive procedures.

(a) The diving supervisor shall insure that -

(1) Before commencing diving operations, dive team members are briefed on -

(i) The tasks to be undertaken;

(ii) Any unusual hazards or environmental conditions likely to affect the safety of the diving operation; and

(iii) Any modifications to the operations manual or procedures including safety procedures necessitated by the specific diving operation;

(2) 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;

(3) 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;

(4) 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;

(5) A two-way voice communication system is used between -

(i) Each surface-supplied diver and a dive team member at the dive location or bell (when provided); and

(ii) The bell (when provided) and the dive location;

(6) A two-way communication system is available at the dive location to obtain emergency assistance;

(7) After the completion of each dive -

(i) The physical condition of the diver is checked by -

(A) Visual observation; and

(B) Questioning the diver about his physical well-being;

(ii) 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;

(iii) The diver is advised of the location of an operational decompression chamber; and

(iv) The diver is alerted to the potential hazards of flying after diving;

(8) For any dive outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 130 fsw, or using mixed-gas as a breathing mixture -

(i) A depth, time, decompression profile including breathing mixture changes is maintained for each diver at the dive location;

(ii) 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

(iii) A dive team member, other than the diver, is trained and available to operate the decompression chamber; and

(9) When decompression sickness or gas embolism is suspected or symptoms are evident, a report is completed containing -

(i) The investigation for each incident including -

(A) The dive and decompression profiles;

(B) The composition, depth, and time of breathing mixture changes;

(C) A description of the symptoms including depth and time of onset; and

(D) A description and results of the treatment;

(ii) The evaluation for each incident based on -

(A) The investigation;

(B) Consideration of the past performance of the decompression table used; and

(C) Individual susceptibility; and

(iii) The corrective action taken, if necessary, to reduce the probability of recurrence.

(b) The diving supervisor shall ensure that the working interval of a dive is terminated when he so directs or when -

(1) A diver requests termination;

(2) A diver fails to respond correctly to communications or signals from a dive team member;

(3) Communications are lost and cannot be quickly reestablished between -

(i) The diver and a dive team member at the dive location; or

(ii) The person-in-charge and the diving supervisor during liveboating operations; or

(4) A diver begins to use his diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply.

[CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, as amended by USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58289, Sept. 29, 2014]

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