AS/NZS 2299.1:1999

1 - AS/NZS 2299.1:1999 OCCUPATIONAL DIVING OPERATIONS - STANDARD OPERATIONAL PRACTICE
4 - PREFACE
5 - CONTENTS
7 - SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL
7 - 1.1 SCOPE
7 - 1.2 OBJECTIVE
7 - 1.3 APPLICATION
8 - 1.4 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
9 - 1.5 DEFINITIONS
9 - 1.5.1 Bottom time
9 - 1.5.2 Breathing gas
9 - 1.5.3 Buddy system
9 - 1.5.4 Built-in breathing system (BIBS)
9 - 1.5.5 Caisson gauge
9 - 1.5.6 Combined dive
9 - 1.5.7 Competent person
9 - 1.5.8 Compression (recompression) chamber
9 - 1.5.9 Decompression illness
9 - 1.5.10 Decompression schedule
9 - 1.5.11 Decompression stop
9 - 1.5.12 Demand gas supply device
9 - 1.5.13 Dive control position
9 - 1.5.14 Dive plan
9 - 1.5.15 Diver
9 - 1.5.16 Diver's hose
9 - 1.5.17 Dive supervisor
10 - 1.5.18 Dive team
10 - 1.5.19 Diving work
10 - 1.5.20 Employer
10 - 1.5.21 Exceptional exposure dive
10 - 1.5.22 Float line
10 - 1.5.23 Free-flow system
10 - 1.5.24 Full-face mask
10 - 1.5.25 Half-face mask
10 - 1.5.26 Hookah
10 - 1.5.27 Incompressible helmet
10 - 1.5.28 Lazy shot
10 - 1.5.29 Lifeline
10 - 1.5.30 Limiting line
10 - 1.5.31 NATO flange
11 - 1.5.32 Occupational diving
11 - 1.5.33 Quick release mechanism
11 - 1.5.34 Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA)
11 - 1.5.35 Shot rope
11 - 1.5.36 Surface-supplied breathing apparatus (SSBA)
11 - 1.5.37 Transfer-under-pressure (TUP)
11 - 1.5.38 Twin-hose system
12 - SECTION 2 PERSONNEL, TRAINING AND RECORDS
12 - 2.1 DIVE SUPERVISOR
12 - 2.1.1 General
12 - 2.1.2 Qualification and training of dive supervisors
12 - 2.1.3 Duties of dive supervisors
12 - 2.2 DIVER
12 - 2.3 DIVER'S ATTENDANT
13 - 2.4 STANDBY DIVER
13 - 2.4.1 General
13 - 2.4.2 Two divers in the water
13 - 2.4.3 Dive profile
13 - 2.5 FIRST AID TRAINING FOR DIVE TEAMS
13 - 2.5.1 Dive supervisor
13 - 2.5.2 Divers and attendants
13 - 2.5.3 Maintenance of first aid competency
14 - 2.6 RECORDS
14 - 2.6.1 Diver
14 - 2.6.2 Employer
14 - 2.6.3 Plant records
15 - SECTION 3 GENERAL PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT
15 - 3.1 ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING
15 - 3.1.1 General
15 - 3.1.2 Diving operations manual
15 - 3.1.3 Dive plan
15 - 3.1.4 Fitness to dive
16 - 3.2 SELECTION OF BREATHING APPARATUS
16 - 3.3 SURFACE CONDITIONS
16 - 3.3.1 General
16 - 3.3.2 Adverse conditions
16 - 3.4 IN-WATER CONDITIONS
16 - 3.4.1 General
16 - 3.4.2 Polluted water
16 - 3.5 DEPTH OF WATER
16 - 3.6 COMMUNICATIONS
16 - 3.6.1 General
16 - 3.6.2 Winches, hoists and cranes
16 - 3.6.3 Emergency support
17 - 3.7 WATER TEMPERATURE
17 - 3.8 DIVING EQUIPMENT
17 - 3.8.1 General
17 - 3.8.2 User responsibilities
17 - 3.8.3 Inspection
17 - 3.8.4 Cleaning and storage
17 - 3.9 FIRST AID AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
17 - 3.9.1 General
17 - 3.9.2 Oxygen resuscitation equipment
17 - 3.10 DIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS
17 - 3.10.1 General
18 - 3.10.2 Signals
18 - 3.11 DECOMPRESSION DIVING
18 - 3.11.1 General
18 - 3.11.2 Decompression in water
18 - 3.11.3 Use of oxygen in decompression procedures
19 - 3.11.4 Repetitive diving
19 - 3.11.5 Omitted decompression
19 - 3.11.6 Diving at altitude
19 - 3.11.7 Exceptional exposure diving
19 - 3.12 DIVER'S EQUIPMENT
19 - 3.12.1 Diving suit and accessories
20 - 3.12.2 General requirements for breathing apparatus
20 - 3.12.3 Requirements for component parts of breathing apparatus
23 - 3.12.4 Lifeline
24 - 3.13 BREATHING GAS QUALITY
24 - 3.13.1 Breathing air
24 - 3.13.2 Breathing gas testing equipment
24 - 3.13.3 Breathing gases other than air
24 - 3.14 PRESSURE GAUGES
24 - 3.14.1 Gauge calibration
24 - 3.14.2 Gauge accuracy
25 - 3.15 PNEUMATIC TOOLS
25 - 3.16 DIVING BEFORE OR AFTER TRAVEL
25 - 3.16.1 Diving after travel
25 - 3.16.2 Travel after diving
25 - 3.16.3 Travel after decompression illness
26 - SECTION 4 COMPRESSION (RECOMPRESSION) CHAMBERS
26 - 4.1 AVAILABILITY OF COMPRESSION CHAMBER
27 - 4.2 CHAMBER DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, FITTINGS AND SERVICES
27 - 4.2.1 General
28 - 4.2.2 Fittings and services
28 - 4.2.3 Chamber venting system
29 - 4.2.4 Gas supplies to the chamber
29 - 4.2.5 Electrical requirements
30 - 4.2.6 Gas cylinders
30 - 4.2.7 Shading or thermal insulation
30 - 4.2.8 Miscellaneous recommendations
30 - 4.3 CHAMBER OPERATION
30 - 4.3.1 General
30 - 4.3.2 Chamber atmosphere
30 - 4.3.3 Hazardous materials
30 - 4.3.4 Personnel requirements
31 - 4.3.5 Emergency procedures
31 - 4.4 MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
31 - 4.4.1 General
31 - 4.4.2 Thermometers
31 - 4.4.3 Other equipment
31 - 4.4.4 Remote diving operations
32 - 4.5 TRANSFER-UNDER-PRESSURE (TUP)
32 - 4.5.1 General
32 - 4.5.2 Requirements for transportable chambers and TUP operations
32 - 4.5.3 Emergency transport chambers
32 - 4.5.4 TUP flanges for worksite chambers
33 - 4.6 CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR `WORST CASE SCENARIO' CHAMBER OPERATIONS
33 - 4.6.1 General
34 - SECTION 5 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR SSBA DIVING OPERATIONS
34 - 5.1 GENERAL
34 - 5.2 PERSONNEL REQUIRED
34 - 5.2.1 General
34 - 5.2.2 Dives in water depths up to 1.5 m or diving in aquarium tanks and swimming pools
34 - 5.2.3 Dive depths up to 20 m
34 - 5.2.4 Dive depths of 20 m to 30 m
34 - 5.2.5 Dive depths greater than 30 m
35 - 5.2.6 Two or more divers in the water
35 - 5.3 RATE OF ASCENT
35 - 5.4 EQUIPMENT
36 - 5.5 SIGNALS
36 - 5.6 COMPRESSED BREATHING GAS SUPPLY
36 - 5.6.1 Sources
36 - 5.6.2 Working pressure
36 - 5.6.3 Breathing gas supplies
37 - 5.6.4 Control system
38 - 5.7 AIR COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS
38 - 5.7.1 General
39 - 5.7.2 Air receivers
39 - 5.7.3 Pressure relief devices
39 - 5.7.4 Filtration, drying and odour absorption
39 - 5.7.5 Supply lines
40 - 5.7.6 Operation and maintenance
40 - 5.8 CYLINDER GAS SYSTEMS
41 - SECTION 6 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR SCUBA DIVING OPERATIONS
41 - 6.1 GENERAL
41 - 6.2 RESTRICTED USE OF SCUBA
41 - 6.2.1 General
41 - 6.2.2 Exceptions
42 - 6.3 PERSONNEL REQUIRED
42 - 6.3.1 General
42 - 6.3.2 Dives in water depths up to 1.5 m or diving in aquarium tanks and swimming pools
42 - 6.3.3 Dive depths up to 30 m
42 - 6.4 EQUIPMENT
42 - 6.4.1 Components
43 - 6.4.2 Requirements for component parts
44 - 6.5 LIFELINES
45 - SECTION 7 ACCIDENT REPORTING
45 - 7.1 ACCIDENT REPORT
45 - 7.2 INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS
46 - SECTION 8 MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
46 - 8.1 INTRODUCTION
46 - 8.2 MEDICAL EXAMINATION
46 - 8.2.1 General
46 - 8.2.2 Candidate
46 - 8.2.3 Medical practitioner
46 - 8.2.4 Record of examination
46 - 8.2.5 Imposition of diving restrictions
47 - APPENDIX A - LIST OF REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
47 - A1 INTRODUCTION
47 - A2 COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY (AUSTRALIA)
47 - A3 AUSTRALIAN STATE AND TERRITORY GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES
47 - A3.1 Australian Capital Territory
47 - A3.2 New South Wales
47 - A3.3 Northern Territory
48 - A3.4 Queensland
48 - A3.5 South Australia
48 - A3.6 Tasmania
48 - A3.7 Victoria
49 - A3.8 Western Australia
49 - A4 NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY
50 - APPENDIX B - EXAMPLE OF DIVER'S RECORD OF DIVE
51 - APPENDIX C - EXAMPLE OF EMPLOYER'S RECORD OF DIVE
53 - APPENDIX D - HAZARD IDENTIFICATION, RISK ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL
53 - D1 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
53 - D2 RISK ASSESSMENT
53 - D2.1 General
53 - D2.2 Process
53 - D2.3 Basis for an assessment
53 - D2.4 Factors for consideration
54 - D2.5 Record of assessment
55 - D3 RISK CONTROL
55 - D3.1 General
55 - D3.2 Control measures
56 - APPENDIX E - CONTENTS OF DIVING OPERATIONS MANUAL
56 - E1 GENERAL
56 - E2 RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES AND COMPETENCY OF PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE DIVING OPERATION
56 - E3 PLANT USED IN THE DIVING OPERATION
56 - E4 DIVING PROCEDURES
57 - E5 DIVING EMERGENCIES
57 - E6 ASSOCIATED ACTIVITY AND OTHER HAZARDS
58 - APPENDIX F - DECOMPRESSION TABLES FOR DIVING
58 - F1 INTRODUCTION
58 - F2 USE OF TABLES
58 - F2.1 General
59 - F2.2 Definitions
60 - F3 STANDARD AIR DECOMPRESSION (DECOMPRESSION IN THE WATER)
91 - F4 SURFACE DECOMPRESSION WITH OXYGEN (Sur D O2)
91 - F4.1 General
91 - F4.2 Procedure
92 - F4.3 Oxygen related problems during surface decompression with oxygen (Sur D O2) F4.3.1
115 - F5 REPETITIVE DIVING
115 - F5.1 General
115 - F5.2 Table F3(A), Repetitive factors (RF) for surface intervals (SI) for repetitive diving
115 - F5.3 Table F3(B), No-decompression limits for repetitive diving
115 - F5.4 Procedure
124 - F6 OMITTED DECOMPRESSION
124 - F6.1 General
124 - F6.2 Compression chamber immediately available (less than 7 min)
124 - F6.3 Compression chamber not immediately available
125 - F6.4 Violation of 7 minute surface interval-Sur D O2
125 - F6.5 Decompression stress during surface interval-Sur D O2
126 - F6.6 Omitted decompression table
129 - F7 DEPTH CORRECTIONS FOR DIVING AT ALTITUDE
129 - F7.1 General
129 - F7.2 Procedure
134 - APPENDIX G - TREATMENT FOR DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS
134 - G1 INTRODUCTION
134 - G2 DIAGNOSIS
134 - G2.1 Decompression illness
134 - G2.2 Decompression sickness
134 - G2.3 Arterial gas embolism (AGE)
135 - G3 FIRST AID
135 - G3.1 100% oxygen
135 - G3.2 Position
135 - G3.3 Basic life support
136 - G3.4 Other therapy
136 - G4 RECOMPRESSION THERAPY
136 - G5 OXYGEN TREATMENT TABLE
136 - G5.1 General
136 - G5.2 Use of Table G1
137 - G5.3 Oxygen administration routine practices
138 - G5.4 Fire warning
138 - G6 PERSONNEL LIMITATIONS FOLLOWING TREATMENT
138 - G7 SHORT OXYGEN TABLES FOR OMITTED DECOMPRESSION
139 - APPENDIX H - TYPICAL COMPRESSION CHAMBER MEDICAL KIT
141 - APPENDIX I - FEMALE NATO N1079 FLANGE
143 - APPENDIX J - HAND SIGNALS FOR SCUBA DIVING OPERATIONS
145 - APPENDIX K - GUIDANCE FOR MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
145 - K1 INTRODUCTION
145 - K2 GENERAL
145 - K3 TRAINING IN UNDERWATER MEDICINE
145 - K4 FITNESS CRITERIA
145 - K4.1 General
145 - K4.2 Age
146 - K4.3 Obesity
146 - K4.4 Skin
146 - K4.5 Vision
146 - K4.6 Ear, nose and throat
146 - K4.7 Hearing
146 - K4.8 Teeth
146 - K4.9 Central nervous system
147 - K4.10 Cardiovascular system
148 - K4.11 Respiratory system
148 - K4.12 Gastrointestinal tract
148 - K4.13 Musculoskeletal function
149 - K4.14 Screening for dysbaric osteonecrosis (long bone X-rays and radioisotope scans)
149 - K4.15 Other criteria
150 - APPENDIX L - DIVING MEDICAL EXAMINATION FORMS
156 - APPENDIX M - MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WITH TRAINING IN DIVING MEDICINE
156 - M1 GENERAL
156 - M2 AUSTRALIAN HYPERBARIC UNITS
157 - M3 NEW ZEALAND HYPERBARIC UNITS

Specifies requirements for personnel, equipment and procedures used in occupational underwater operations in up to 50 m depth of water using compressed air or similar oxygen-nitrogen mixtures as the breathing medium. Also gives details on compression chamber support, accident reporting and medical requirements for occupational diving operations. Appendices include a suggested content of an employer's diving operations manual, metric and imperial decompression tables (with procedures for their use), guidance on the treatment of decompression illness and guidance for medical practitioners conducting diving medicals.

This Standard specifies requirements for the personnel, equipment and procedures used in occupational underwater operations in up to 50 m (165 ft) depth of water, where compressed breathing gas is supplied either through surface-supplied breathing apparatus (SSBA) or self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA).

First published in Australia in part as AS Z26-1965.
AS CZ18 first published 1972.
AS Z26-1965 revised and redesignated AS Z67-1972.
AS CZ18-1972 and AS Z67-1972 revised, amalgamated and redesignated AS 2299-1979.
Second edition 1990.
Third edition 1992.
Jointly revised and redesignated AS/NZS 2299.1:1999.