Scientific diving risk management procedure
1 Purpose
To ensure awareness and compliance with legal obligations by informing Departments of Diving Safety requirements.
2 Scope
This procedure applies to all staff, students, contractors and other personnel working under the management or control of the University of Melbourne, participating in diving using Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus for the purposes of teaching and learning or research.
Divers must be of a minimum age of 18 years to undertake diving activities at the University.
3 Legislation
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic)
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007 (Vic)
4 References
AS/NZS 2299.1 Occupational diving operations: Standard operational practice
AS/NZS 2299.2 Occupational diving operations: Scientific diving
AS/NZS 2299.3 Occupational diving operations: Recreational diving
AS 2815 Parts 1-4: Training and certification of occupational divers
AS 4005 (series): Training and certification of recreational divers
5 Responsibilities
5.1 Managers/Supervisors
Ensure that all staff participating in diving activities have current SCUBA or equivalent diver qualifications.
Confirm all relevant staff and students have had an annual medical for fitness to dive.
Ensure that appropriate risk assessments have been documented, and that adequate control measures are in place in accordance with OHS Risk Management Procedure.
Designate staff to be a Record Supervisor, to be responsible for maintaining dive records.
Designate an Equipment Supervisor, to be responsible for the storage, maintenance, testing and use of the equipment held by the Department.
5.2 Staff and Students
Comply with all directives issued by the department.
Pass an annual Australian Dive Medical for fitness to dive carried out by a certified medical practitioner.
Report all incidents as defined Section 4 Communication and Reporting as soon as possible after the event to the Dive Leader or Dive Coordinator.
6 Procedures and Guidelines
6.1Equipment
All diving equipment should be tested according to the manufacturer's specifications or annually.
All testing and maintenance shall be recorded in the departmental equipment log book.
Equipment should be checked by users, and any deficiencies or defects reported to the equipment supervisor immediately. This equipment should be removed from circulation to be repaired or disposed of.
Staff and students are not permitted to use privately owned SCUBA tanks or vests without the written authority from the Departmental Equipment Supervisor.
6.2 Diving Records and Certification
Departments who undertake diving activities must record these activities in a diving record book which is maintained by the designated staff member.
The information to be recorded is:
- Date
- Place
- Time
- Water Depth
- Purpose
Logs of individual activities should also be maintained by the staff or student.
All divers must have appropriate training and certification to undertake the proposed dive in accordance with the requirements for the level of complexity of the dive.
6.3 Australian Dive Medical
The Australian Dive Medical assesses the fitness and suitability of prospective scuba divers and ensures that the medical standards for diver fitness meet the standards of Australian Standards AS 4005.1 for recreational divers, and AS/NZS 2299.1 for occupational divers. It is a legal requirement for medical practitioners who perform diving examinations to adhere to these standards and to have had a level of training approved under the Standard.
6.4 Recommended Diving Practice
- Maintain readiness in accordance with the diving schedule
- Attend appropriate first aid courses and carry first aid kits
- Know the location of the nearest medical aid
- Plan the dive
- Ensure all equipment is checked thoroughly, including communications equipment
- Obey all boating and marine laws
6.5 Diving Incidents
Any diving incidents where a near miss or injury occurs must be reported as per the incident reporting procedure.
7 Document control
Established by: Administrative Committee on 18 August 1993, incorporating Diving Safety Rules 1983
Review due by: 23 February 2019
Version:1.4 (Updated 29/02/2016)
Approved by: Associate Director, Health & Safety on 23 February 2016