Manual for Diving Safety

1 Manual for Diving Safety Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego Original Printing, 1954 Fourteenth Revision, Aug. 2012 Rev. 08/12 2 FOREWORD The research Diving program at the 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 teaching 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 of California-owned scuba equipment. This led to the President's Office restricting Diving to those who had been trained through the program at Scripps.

2 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 2011 revision of that document.

3 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 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. 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.

4 In November 1982, scientific Diving was exempted from the OSHA Commercial Diving Standard based upon the documented history of self regulation in the scientific community. The following is taken from the State of California General Industry Safety Orders [Title 8 Article 152] and the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Standards for Commercial Diving Operations [29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart T] noting the specific exception and necessary requirements for that exception. Scientific Diving is defined (29 CFR Part ) as Diving performed solely as a necessary part of a scientific, research, or educational activity by employees whose sole purpose for Diving is to perform scientific research tasks. OSHA has granted an exemption for scientific Diving from commercial Diving regulations under the following guidelines (Appendix B to CFR 29 Part 1910 Subpart T): a.

5 The Diving Control Board consists of a majority of active scientific divers and has autonomous and absolute authority over the scientific Diving program's operatons. b. The purpose of the project using scientific Diving is the advancement of science; therefore, information and data resulting from the project are non-proprietary. c. The tasks of the scientific diver are those of an observer and data gatherer. Construction and trouble-shooting tasks traditionally associated with commercial Diving are not included within scientific Diving . d. Scientific divers, based upon the nature of their activities, must use scientific expertise in studying the underwater environment and therefore, are scientists or scientists-in-training. e. In addition, the scientific Diving program shall contain at least the following elements (29 CFR Part ): 1.

6 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, with the majority of its members being active divers, which 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 Rev. 08/12 3 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 .

7 This Manual was modified to comply with the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Standards for Scientific Diving first published in 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 Scientific Diving Program at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. It applies to all divers operating under SIO/UCSD auspices, including visiting divers, and to those campus officers responsible for the management and administration of the scientific Diving program. Rev.

8 08/12 4 Table of Contents VOLUME 1: GENERAL POLICY Section POLICY ON 8 8 The Diving Safety 8 The Diving Safety 8 8 University 8 Training and 8 8 Diving 8 AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE 8 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & Safety 8 8 9 THE Diving CONTROL 9 9 9 9 THE Diving Safety 9 Appointment and 9 9 Duties and 9 INSTRUCTIONAL 10 10 10 Section Diving 11 GENERAL 11 Diving 11 Solo Diving 11 Emergency 11 Enclosed and Confined 11 Diver's 11 Dive Tables and Dive 11 Depth 11 Refusal to 11 Termination of the 11 Shipboard

9 Scientific Diving 12 SCIENTIFIC Diving 12 Lead 12 Dive 12 Pre-dive Safety 12 Post-dive Safety 13 Flying After 13 Emergencies and Deviations from 13 Consequences of Violations of Regulations by University 13 RECORD KEEPING AND 13 Personal Diving 13 Record 14 Availability of 14 Required Accident 14 Rev. 08/12 5 Section SCIENTIFIC Diving TRAINING 15 GENERAL 15 15 15 15 Medical 15 Swimming and Skin Diving 15 15 Theoretical 15 Confined Water 16 Ocean or Open Water 16 16 Section SCIENTIFIC DIVER 17 TYPES OF 17 Diver-in-Training 17 Scientific Diver 17 Temporary Diver 17 Scientific Diving Reciprocity 17 DENIAL OF 17 WAIVER OF 17 DEPTH 17 Certification for 30-foot 17 Certification for 60-foot 18 Certification to 100- and 130-foot 18 Certification to Depths Over 130 18 MAINTENANCE OF 18 Minimum Activity to Maintain 18 Requalification of Depth 18

10 Medical 18 Diver First Aid 18 Diving Equipment 18 REVOCATION OF 18 18 Section Diving 19 GENERAL 19 19 19 19 Breathing Masks and 19 scuba 19 Floatation 20 Backpacks and Weight 20 20 Determination of Decompression Status: Dive Tables, Dive Computers. 20 Auxiliary 20 AIR QUALITY 20 COMPRESSOR 21 Design and Location of 21 Compressor Operation and Air Test 21 Section MEDICAL 22 MEDICAL 22 22 Frequency of Medical 22 Information Provided Examining 22 Rev. 08/12 6 Content of Medical 22 Conditions Which May Disqualify Candidates from 22 Laboratory Requirements for Diving Medical Evaluation and 23 VOLUME 2.