Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Regulations Australian Capital Territory Consolidated RegulationsAge limits
(1) No person under 20 years old or over 55 years old shall dive, and no person shall employ any such person to dive except that the upper age limit of 55 years old may be exceeded for divers with special qualifications who after special medical examination have been certified by a medical officer as being fit to continue to dive after having reached the upper age limit.
Instruction
(2) No diver and no attendant shall engage or be employed in a diving operation unless the person has received such instruction in the work that the person is capable of carrying out his or her duties safely.
(3) This instruction shall be such that it will impart a full working knowledge of the safe use of signals, compression and decompression tables, diving dress with its ancillary fittings and gear, of air pumps, pressure gauges and depth gauges.
Appointment of medical officers
(4) A legally qualified doctor shall be appointed to carry out the duties prescribed by this section as being the duties of a medical officer.
(5) The chief inspector shall be notified in writing of the name and address of the medical officer so appointed.
Preliminary medical examinations
(6) No person shall dive or be employed to dive unless on or after such date the person has been examined by an appointed medical officer, and has been certified by the medical officer as being fit to work in compressed air.
(7) The examination shall include an X-ray examination of the chest.
(8) The medical officer's report shall be kept and produced to an inspector on demand.
Supervision of health during diving work
(9) It shall be the duty of the medical officer to inform each diver at the time of a preliminary medical examination that any attack of ‘bends' (pains in the joints and limbs or abdomen), giddiness, vomiting or difficulty in breathing, disease of the heart, lungs, kidneys, genital organs, a chill, or any other disease that may come on the person during or after work may have the most serious consequences to his or her health and the person shall be instructed that immediately on noticing any such indisposition the person must report it to the medical officer, or to a medical orderly, or failing either, to the contractor or a responsible representative of the contractor.
(10) The symptoms and treatment of compressed air illness as set out in schedule 9 shall be exhibited in a conspicuous position in the divers' change room.
(11) A contractor shall not allow any person—
(a) known to be suffering from bends, cold in the head, sore throat, or any other illness or disease; or
(b) under the influence of intoxicating liquor;
to be employed under water as a diver.
(12) If divers are employed continuously in diving operations they shall be medically re-examined regularly at the following intervals:
(a) working at depths less than 60 feet—every 6 months;
(b) working at depths between 60 feet and 90 feet—every 3 months;
(c) working at depths in excess of 90 feet—every 4 weeks,
and unless so re-examined and found fit as mentioned in this section no person shall dive or be employed to dive.
(13) A diver who has been absent from work due to illness of any kind for more than 7 days, or has been absent from work due to any other cause, except for recreation, for a period of more than 3 weeks shall not dive or be employed to dive without first producing a certificate of fitness from the medical officer.
(14) No person shall dive or be employed to dive after 12 months or any lesser period that the medical officer may determine, has elapsed from the date of the last X-ray examination of his or her chest.
Compressed air workers' badge
(15) It shall be the duty of a contractor to supply to every diver in the contractor's employ a compressed air worker's badge.
(16) It shall be the duty of every diver at all times to wear a compressed air worker's badge.
(17) A compressed air worker's badge shall be made of non-corrodible metal and shall be arranged to be worn either in a coat lapel or suspended by a chain or cord placed around the neck.
(18) The badge shall be in the form of a disc, 1 1 / 4 inches in diameter and not less than 1 / 16 of an inch in thickness.
(19) The face shall bear the following inscription, arranged in the following way:
(20) Except in case of emergency, no person shall dive or be employed to dive under water in any period of 24 hours for longer than the total times and periods corresponding to the depth of dive set out in table 99.1:
Table 99.1 Safe diving periods for varying depths*
* "Safe diving period" means the time spent within any period of
24 hours from the beginning of the first descent to the beginning of the last
ascent.
(21) If, in the case of emergency, it is necessary for a diver to remain under water at a depth of 66 feet or over for a period of time exceeding the limits set out in table 99.1, the decompression of the diver shall be regulated in the way set out in schedule 7, table 7.1.
(22) When a diver is brought to the surface with stoppages in accordance with schedule 7, table 7.1, the diver shall not dive or be employed to dive again within 12 hours except in case of grave emergency.
(23) Should it be necessary for a diver to descend a 2nd time to a depth of 66 feet or over with an interval of less than 4 hours between the 2 descents, the following method of calculating the stoppages required shall be observed:
(a) read from schedule 7, table 7.2 the stoppages for the 2nd dive and from schedule 7, table 7.1, the stoppages required for a dive of duration equal to that of the 2 dives combined; and
(b) divide the number of stoppages by 2 for those at the greater depth check the diver for the periods shown for the 2nd dive, and for the remainder check the diver for the periods shown for the combined dive, and should there be an odd number of stoppages the greater number shall be used for the dive as combined.
(24) The tables shall be interpreted to give the diver the maximum time in the minimum depth of water.
(25) Stoppages at 20 feet and 10 feet are the most beneficial to the diver.
Decompression
(26) When the prescribed limits of time under water have not been exceeded, the stoppages in ascending shall be as shown in schedule 7, table 7.2.
(27) The stoppage points shall be determined by the attendant who shall be guided by the depth gauge readings after making due allowance for gauge error.
(28) The diver shall not be brought up from the bottom to the first stopping place at a rate faster than 1 foot in 1 second, and his or her ascent shall be at once checked if this rate is exceeded.
(29) While the diver is ascending, the diver must undertake as much gymnastic exercise as possible, especially using those muscles that were in use on the bottom.
Air supply
(30) The minimum quantity of air supplied to divers at various depths shall be as set out in table 99.2, except that during the descent the pump shall be operated at the maximum revolutions or the air supply shall be considerably increased:
Table 99.2 Quantity of air required by a diver at various depths
* These figures are based on a double-acting pump with cylinder diameter 4 inches, stroke 7 1 / 2 inches, working at 80%, efficiency.
† Handworked pumps are unsuitable at a depth
of 180 feet and over.
(31) Not more than 1 diver shall be supplied from each air line.
Air Pipe
(32) The air pipe shall be constructed of alternate layers of rubber and canvas and shall be reinforced with steel wire.
(33) The piping shall have been tested by the manufacturer and shall withstand a test pressure of 200 pounds per square inch without showing any appreciable increase in diameter.
(34) The manufacturer shall provide a certificate of test for each length of pipe manufactured.
(35) A length of about 50 feet of floating air hose may be attached to the diver's helmet to keep weight off the diver.
(36) No person shall dive or be employed to dive under water unless—
(a) a sufficient number of suitable and competent persons are also employed in attendance on the diver, so as to ensure his or her safety; and
(b) there is provided and used suitable and sufficient diving equipment consisting of helmets, corselets, waterproof dresses to completely enclose a diver's body, and warm clothing; and
(c) such equipment to include at least 1 diving helmet and dress with its necessary equipment and warm clothing in excess of the number of divers under water at any one time; and
(d) sufficient and suitable diving plant and equipment, including air pumps, pressure gauges and means of access to and from the water are provided and properly maintained.
Care and testing of equipment—hand pumps
(37) Pumps shall be maintained in an efficient condition and shall be capable of delivering the necessary quantity of air against pressure for at least 2 divers.
(38) Particular care shall be given to the condition of the leather piston cups and piston rod glands to prevent leakage.
(39) Pump delivery shall be measured at least every 3 months and at shorter intervals if the pump has not been performing satisfactorily.
(40) The pump cylinder walls and pistons shall be lubricated only with olive oil or neatsfoot oil.
(41) Standby pumps where provided and when not in use shall be turned for a period of 5 minutes at least once in every week.
Care and testing of equipment—gauges
(42) Gauges shall be calibrated by a method approved by the chief inspector at least every 3 months or at shorter intervals if error is suspected.
(43) The gauge error, as determined by test, shall be tabulated and a copy of the tabulation shall be displayed inside the pump lid.
Care and testing of equipment—inlet valves
(44) Inlet valves of helmets in use shall be tested at least once in every 3 months at a pressure of not less than 15 pounds per square inch.
(45) The springs shall be examined on every occasion before use and at least once in every day while the helmets are in use.
Care and testing of equipment—air pipes
(46) Air pipes shall be tested at least once a month and immediately before each descent to a pressure equivalent to 25% greater than that at the greatest depth at which a diver is likely to work.
(47) The air pipe shall be lashed to ring bolts on the pump chest to relieve the connection of the air pipe to the pump nozzle of any undue load from the weight of the air pipe.
(48) The connection shall be inspected at frequent intervals.
(49) All air pipe connections shall be effectively lashed to prevent inadvertent disconnection.
Care and testing of equipment—ropes and lines
(50) Breast ropes, shot ropes and distance lines shall be of tarred hemp or other approved material.
(51) Ropes shall be carefully handled and shall not be sharply bent.
Care and testing of equipment—dress and equipment
(52) All diving dress and equipment on the works shall be kept when not in use in a substantially constructed room or locker, and such room or locker shall not be used for the storage of any other gear, tools, or equipment used on the works.
Care and testing of equipment—general
(53) Air pipes, valves, cocks, corselets, helmets, diving dresses, gauges, ropes, lanyards, and all other apparatus shall be maintained in an efficient condition, cleaned with fresh water after use, drained and dried before being stored in the room or locker provided for the purpose.
(54) Particular care shall be taken to ensure that air pipes and diving dresses are kept free from condensed moisture and from contact with grease, oil or tar.
(55) Material for dress repairs shall be provided and made available on the site of the works.
Warm clothing
(56) Separate sets of warm clothing, woollens or flannels, shall be provided for each diver.
(57) A diver shall not be required to wear clothing previously worn by another diver unless the clothing has been first thoroughly washed and disinfected.
Diving dress previously worn
(58) A diver shall not be required to wear a diving dress previously worn by another person unless the inner surfaces of the dress have been first thoroughly washed with hot water and soap and dried in the sun.
Distance line
(59) A diver working on muddy or dangerous ground shall use a distance line firmly attached to the shot rope about 3 feet above the sinker.
Power driven compressor units—high pressure air supply
(60) A supply of air at high pressure may be drawn for the use of divers from either the works compressor or a compressor supplying divers equipment only.
Power driven compressor units—compressor
(61) The compressor shall be capable of delivering air at the required pressure and at a rate sufficient to meet the requirements of all divers, machines, tools and other compressed air equipment supplied from it.
(62) The compressor shall be of such construction that overheating does not take place, and the lubricant used shall be odourless and shall produce a minimum amount of noxious fumes if overheating should inadvertently take place.
(63) Provision shall be made at the compressor to prevent undue pressure building up if the delivery pipe from the compressor becomes blocked in any way.
(64) This provision shall take the form of a safety valve on the air chest of the compressor or on the delivery pipe as it leaves the compressor.
(65) If the air is supplied by a compressor of such construction, size, or arrangement that, in the event of a breakdown of the power unit, it cannot be instantly worked by hand, the following equipment connected in the order set down in this section shall be used in conjunction with the compressor.
(66) First, a main air receiver of sufficient capacity shall be connected to supply the maximum number of divers with sufficient air to bring them to the surface in reasonable time in the event of a breakdown of the compressor power unit.
(67) The pressure maintained in this receiver shall be much higher than that corresponding to the depths of water where the divers are working.
(68) Every such air receiver shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the Standards Australia, Boiler Code.
(69) Second, an efficient non-return inlet valve shall be connected on the receiver to prevent back flow of air for failure of the delivery pipe or its fittings.
(70) Third, a subsidiary air receiver fitted with a spring loaded type safety valve shall be connected.
(71) Forth, an approved type of pressure-reducing valve fitted in the pipe line between the main air receiver and the subsidiary air receiver shall be connected.
(72) Fifth, an air filter of approved type shall be connected in the pipe line between the subsidiary air receiver and the air control panel.
(73) Sixth, an air control panel of robust construction equipped with an air-distributing arrangement of throttle valves, depth gauges and subsidiary receiver pressure gauge, controlling the air supply to the divers shall be connected.
(74) The throttle valves shall be of the slow acting needle valve type, fitted with graduated dial and pointer and only 1 diver shall be supplied from each such valve.
(75) The air control panel shall be connected to the air filters by suitable flexible hose and each such hose shall be so supported that undue strain is not imposed on the air filter or air control panel connectors.
(76) Seventh, emergency air connections and stop valves on the diver's side of each throttle valve on the air control panel shall be connected.
(77) Eighth, a manual pump or other reliable source of air supply shall be connected and shall remain connected throughout diving operations.
(78) The fittings and equipment mentioned in subsections (66) to (77) shall be constructed, used and maintained in accordance with the Standards Australia Code for Work in Compressed Air, Part II—Diving, as at 1 July 1950.
(79) The control of the air supply shall be in charge of a competent attendant whose duties shall be restricted to the operation of the control panel and attendance on not more than 1 diver.
(80) When several divers are operating from the 1 air control panel, each diver shall have a separate attendant.
Ladders
(81) Ladders for divers shall be capable of supporting a safe working load of 4 hundredweights on any one rung.
Signalling system
(82) No person shall dive or be employed to dive under water unless—
(a) arrangements are made for a suitable signalling system between the diver and persons on the surface; and
(b) the diver and all persons in attendance on the diver are conversant with the signalling system.
Meals
(83) A diver who is to work under water at a depth of over 30 feet shall not have a meal within 1 / 2 an hour of beginning to dive and the last meal before diving should only be a light one.
Dressing and sending down diver
(84) The diver shall be dressed by the following routine method:
(a) air pipe and breast rope connected to helmet;
(b) telephone tested (if used);
(c) diver dressed in woollens;
(d) diving dress and shoulder pads put on;
(e) corselet placed on diver, care being taken to clear the inner collar of creases and with number marked on the corselet corresponding with the helmet number;
(f) jock strap, if used;
(g) boots, with buckles outward, drawn on, and lanyards if used, to be well secured above the boots around the suit;
(h) helmet, without front glass, to be secured in position;
(i) air pipe and breast rope to be secured respectively to the left and right side of the body;
(j) belt, with knife (if used) attached and hanging at left side, to be secured in position;
(k) pump to be turned to enable diver to check air pipe connections;
(l) diver to be placed on ladder and breast rope hitched to the ladder;
(m) weights to be placed in position, back one first;
(n) helmet front glass to be screwed in position, but before doing so care is to be taken that the diver clearly understands all instructions relating to the work the diver is to undertake.
(85) When the source of air supply is a power-driven compressor, the following precautions, additional to those mentioned in subsection (84), shall be taken:
(a) before the helmet is secured in position, the attendant shall test the air lines and valves through their full range;
(b) if the diver suspects the presence of fumes or other impurities in the air supply—the diver shall report the matter to the contractor or his or her representative.
Undressing Diver
(86) A suitable room, shed, screen or cover shall be provided for the use of a diver when undressing.
(87) Procedure, the reverse of that required by subsections (84) and (85), shall be adopted in undressing a diver.
(88) Each diver should do further light exercise after undressing.
Attendants
(89) Each diver, while under water, shall have an attendant to hold the breast rope and air pipe.
(90) A sufficient number of other workers, if warranted, shall be stationed to see that the breast rope and air pipe pay out clear and also to coil down the rope and pipe when required.
(91) When a diver is working at depths greater than 100 feet, an additional worker shall be available, if warranted, to watch the air pipe.
(92) Every breast rope and air pipe shall be held clear of the gunwale and shall be kept moderately taut but care shall be taken not to have them so taut as to inconvenience the diver.
(93) The attendant shall maintain such control of the breast rope as to prevent the diver accidentally falling from staging or from rocks.
(94) Each attendant shall give his or her whole attention to his or her charge from the time the diver steps onto the ladder until the diver returns to the surface.
(95) The diver shall keep a close watch on the depth gauge to note changes in depth.
Records
(96) The times of a diver's descent and ascent shall be taken by an accurate timepiece and recorded, as also shall be all changes of depth and gauge readings when a diver is working at depths greater than 16 fathoms.
(97) All records shall be carefully preserved and made available to an inspector as and when required by the inspector.
General Precautions
(98) The symptoms and treatment of compressed air illness as set out in the schedule 9 shall be kept exhibited in a conspicuous position on the works.
(99) A diver who has been blown up shall be sent down again to the original depth, but care shall be exercised that the diver has a firm hold of the shot rope or that the attendants have taken in the slack of the breast rope and air pipe, before the valve is opened to allow the diver to descend.
(100) Special care shall be taken to prevent a diver, who is working under a large flat surface, being blown up.
(101) If the diver is inadvertently blown up, provision shall be made for the diver to be cleared without risk of injury.
(102) When an additional pump is to be connected by means of a four-way connection, the additional pump shall be operated against the shut cock until the gauge shows the same pressure as the other pump delivering air for the diver, before the cock may be opened.
(103) When a pump is to be disconnected with the diver down, the cock on that pump connection shall first be shut.
(104) The air pipes serving 2 divers shall on no account be joined up to the same junction.
(105) If 1 hand pump is used to serve 2 divers, each diver's air supply shall be independently controlled by a suitable air-distributing valve.
(106) This section shall apply to any diving operation that is a compressed air work within the meaning of the Act.