TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Topics | Sections |
|---|---|
| OVERVIEW | 10.1 What is the purpose of this chapter? 10.2 What is the scope of this chapter and the Dive Operations Handbook? 10.3 What are the authorities for this chapter? 10.4 What is the overall policy? |
| RESPONSIBILITIES | 10.5 Who is responsible for diving safety in the Service? |
OVERVIEW
10.1 What is the purpose of this chapter? This chapter:
A. Provides policy and procedures for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) diving safety program, and
B. Establishes the Service’s Dive Operations Handbook that divers and their managers must use when performing dives to accomplish scientific work and research on behalf of the Service.
10.2 What is the scope of this chapter and the Dive Operations Handbook? This chapter and the Dive Operations Handbook cover Service divers and dive operations. The policy, requirements, and procedures in these documents apply to employees, volunteers, and cooperating personnel who engage in or oversee Service diving operations.
10.3 What are the authorities for this chapter? See the Dive Operations Handbook, section 1.2, for a list of authorities.
10.4 What is the overall policy? The safety of divers is the prime consideration in all diving activities. Supervisors and managers do not promote, nor should divers attempt, difficult or hazardous tasks that compromise diver safety. We conduct diving operations in accordance with the requirements described in 29 CFR 1910, Subpart T; 485 DM 27, Underwater Diving Safety; this chapter; and the accompanying Dive Operations Handbook. Divers must adhere to the diving safety requirements in the Dive Operations Handbook during all diving operations.
RESPONSIBILITIES
10.5 Who is responsible for diving safety in the Service? See Table 10-1. For more detailed duties and responsibilities, see chapter 2 of the Dive Operations Handbook.
Table 10-1: Responsibilities for Diving Safety
| These employees… | Are responsible for… |
|---|---|
| A. The Director | Ensuring safety programs are in place that protect Service employees and other personnel when working on behalf of the Service. |
| B. The Assistant Director – Management and Administration | Overseeing the establishment and administration of overall policy and guidance for the proper and safe management of diving operations throughout the Service. |
| C. Regional Directors; the Chief, Office of Law Enforcement; and the Director, National Conservation Training Center | Implementing the requirements in this chapter and theDive Operations Handbookwithin their areas of responsibility. |
| D. The Chief, Safety Operations, [under the Joint Administrative Operations (JAO) organization] | (1) Recommending revisions to this policy, as necessary; and (2) Providing technical assistance to the responsible JAO Safety Managers/Specialists. |
| E. JAO Safety Managers/Specialists | (1) Advising managers and Collateral Duty Safety Officers about the diving program in their Regions, (2) Interpreting program requirements and working to resolve Regionwide issues and questions, (3) Providing technical assistance and guidance to diving operations to help personnel comply with this chapter, and (4) Evaluating compliance of a station’s diving program with this chapter and the handbook. |
| F. Service’s National Diving Control Board | (1) Developing, maintaining, and updating this chapter; (2) Developing and maintaining liaisons with other organizations that have diving programs; (3) Adjudicating appeals from divers whose diving authorization has been denied or suspended; (4) Reviewing Regional programs and assessing training needs; (5) Recommending new equipment and techniques; and (6) Reviewing requests for variance from diving safety requirements in this chapter and the Dive Operations Handbook, as submitted through the Regional Dive Officer. |
| G. Regional Dive Officers (RDO) | (1) Reviewing all diving-related activities within their Regions to ensure compliance with this chapter and the Dive Operations Handbook and all national and Regional diving program policies, procedures, and standards, and notifying the appropriate Project Leader and the National Diving Control Board of any deficiencies; (2) Periodically inspecting diving equipment storage and any existing dive facilities (may delegate this responsibility to a Field Diving Officer); (3) Planning and coordinating diver training programs to meet the Regions’ diving needs; (4) Maintaining files of Regional diving activities, including current diver qualifications; (5) Investigating any significant occurrence of equipment failure or problems, and ensuring that their Regional divers and the National Diving Control Board are aware of necessary actions; (6) Promoting Regional diving operations and assisting Project Leaders in ascertaining how the Regional diving safety programs can help meet their objectives, which includes helping them to assess the need to establish a diving program; (7) Nominating Field Diving Officers, who must be approved through line management, to assist administratively and operationally in managing the diving safety programs within their geographic areas on an as-needed basis; (8) Keeping abreast of technological advances and problems with diving equipment and methods and advising divers within their Regions and the National Diving Control Board of this information; (9) Coordinating and authorizing diving activities and proficiency standards with other cooperating agencies with whom we may conduct joint operations; (10) Issuing initial diving authorizations and annual reauthorizations in accordance with the requirements in this chapter and the Dive Operations Handbook (may delegate this responsibility to a Field Diving Officer); (11) Coordinating or conducting qualification/training dives with prospective Service divers; (12) Reporting any dive-related accident that occurs in their geographic areas to the servicing Safety Manager/Specialist and assisting with followup investigations and reports; (13) Serving as the chair of the National Diving Control Board when called upon to do so; and (14) Suspending diving operations that they consider to be unsafe or unwise. |
| H. Field Diving Officers | (1) Evaluating field diving operations within an assigned geographic area in accordance with the Dive Operations Handbook, national and Regional policies, procedures, and standards, and bringing any deficiencies or potential problems to the attention of the Regional Dive Officer and appropriate line management; (2) If assigned by the Regional Dive Officer, conducting proficiency training dives and reviewing mastery of individual diver skills. Field Diving Officers may only do this if they have a minimum of 100 dives, 5 years of diving experience, and mastery of dive skills in the dive environment and equipment for which they are authorized; (3) Ensuring that all divers understand procedures for routine and emergency measures prior to any diving activities; (4) Ensuring that authorization, training, and proficiency requirements and records for all active divers within their geographic areas are maintained, and providing required certification documentation to the Regional Dive Officer; (5) Immediately reporting any Service dive-related incident/accident that occurs in their geographic areas to the Regional Dive Officer and the servicing Safety Manager/Specialist and assisting with followup investigations and reports; and (6) Maintaining records of all dive logs for their geographic areas. |
| I. Divers | (1) Ensuring that their diver training certification, medical examination, CPR, first aid, and oxygen administration training requirements are current and that appropriate documentation and training records are on file with their Regional Dive Officer or Field Diving Officer, as applicable; (2) Maintaining a dive log and sending it annually to their Regional Dive Officer; (3) Maintaining an appropriate level of physical fitness to ensure full capability to dive. If there is any change in their physical ability to dive, they must notify their Field Diving Officer, Regional Dive Officer, or both; (4) Reporting any dive-related accident or injury immediately to their supervisor, Field Diving Officer, or Regional Dive Officer; (5) Maintaining equipment in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions and maintenance records as required; (6) Determining if they can accomplish a dive within their abilities and in a safe manner. The primary responsibility for diver safety lies with the individual diver. Each diver must exercise the responsibility and privilege to refuse to dive if, in the diver's judgment, conditions are unsafe or unfavorable and would exceed the individual’s training or the Dive Operations Handbook’s requirements. A diver must not attempt to dive if the diver is not in the proper mental or physical condition for diving; (7) Notifying their field supervisor/Project Leader, other supervisor, Field Diving Officer, or Regional Dive Officer if they are experiencing any adverse health effects; and (8) Participating in the Department’s random drug testing program. |