AS/NZS 2299.2:2002

1 - AS/NZS 2299.2:2002 OCCUPATIONAL DIVING OPERATIONS - SCIENTIFIC DIVING
4 - PREFACE
6 - CONTENTS
8 - SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL
8 - 1.1 SCOPE
8 - 1.2 OBJECTIVE
8 - 1.3 APPLICATION
9 - 1.4 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
10 - 1.5 DEFINITIONS
10 - 1.5.1 Belt block
10 - 1.5.2 Bottom time (BT)
10 - 1.5.3 Breathing hoses
10 - 1.5.4 Buddy diver
10 - 1.5.5 Competent person
10 - 1.5.6 Compression (recompression) chamber
10 - 1.5.7 Decompression illness
10 - 1.5.8 Decompression schedule
10 - 1.5.9 Decompression stop
11 - 1.5.10 Dive coordinating position
11 - 1.5.11 Dive coordinator
11 - 1.5.12 Dive leader
11 - 1.5.13 Diver
11 - 1.5.14 Diving officer
11 - 1.5.15 Diving program
11 - 1.5.16 Diving team
11 - 1.5.17 Diving work
11 - 1.5.18 Effective bottom time (EBT)
11 - 1.5.19 Effective depth
11 - 1.5.20 Exceptional exposure dive
11 - 1.5.21 Float line
11 - 1.5.22 Free flow system
11 - 1.5.23 Habitat worker
12 - 1.5.24 Lazy shot
12 - 1.5.25 Lifeline
12 - 1.5.26 Limiting line
12 - 1.5.27 Multiplace compression chamber
12 - 1.5.28 Occupational diving
12 - 1.5.29 Quick release mechanism
12 - 1.5.30 Repetitive dive
12 - 1.5.31 Repetitive factor
12 - 1.5.32 Reserve air supply
12 - 1.5.33 Residual nitrogen
12 - 1.5.34 Saturation
12 - 1.5.35 Scientific diving
13 - 1.5.36 Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA)
13 - 1.5.37 Shall
13 - 1.5.38 Shot rope
13 - 1.5.39 Should
13 - 1.5.40 Submersible work chamber
13 - 1.5.41 Surface interval (SI)
13 - 1.5.42 Surface-supplied breathing apparatus (SSBA)
13 - 1.5.43 Tethered mode (in relation to SCUBA diving)
13 - 1.5.44 Therapeutic recompression tables
13 - 1.5.45 Transfer-under-pressure (TUP) system
13 - 1.5.46 Visiting scientific diver
13 - 1.6 RELATIONSHIP WITH LEGISLATION
14 - SECTION 2 PERSONNEL FOR DIVING OPERATIONS
14 - 2.1 EMPLOYER
14 - 2.2 DIVING OFFICER
14 - 2.3 DIVE COORDINATOR
14 - 2.3.1 Availability
14 - 2.3.2 Qualifications of a dive coordinator
15 - 2.3.3 Duties of dive coordinators
15 - 2.4 DIVE LEADER
15 - 2.5 DIVER
15 - 2.5.1 Qualifications
15 - 2.5.2 Duties
16 - 2.6 DIVER’S ATTENDANT
16 - 2.6.1 Availability and knowledge
16 - 2.6.2 Duties
16 - 2.7 STANDBY DIVER
16 - 2.7.1 General
16 - 2.7.2 Two divers in the water
17 - 2.7.3 Dive profile
17 - 2.8 SUPERVISION OF HEALTH
17 - 2.8.1 Certification by a medical practitioner
17 - 2.8.2 Fitness to dive
17 - 2.8.3 Intoxicants
17 - 2.9 FIRST AID FOR DIVING TEAMS
18 - 2.10 RECORDS
18 - 2.10.1 Employer’s record of divers
18 - 2.10.2 Diver’s record
18 - 2.10.3 Employer’s record of dives
19 - 2.10.4 Maintenance record
20 - SECTION 3 ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING
20 - 3.1 GENERAL
20 - 3.2 DIVE SITE REGISTRATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT
20 - 3.3 DIVE PROPOSAL
21 - 3.4 ON SITE PRE-DIVE PLAN AND RISK ASSESSMENT
21 - 3.5 SELECTION OF BREATHING APPARATUS
21 - 3.5.1 General
21 - 3.5.2 Factors to consider when selecting breathing apparatus
22 - 3.6 SURFACE CONDITIONS
22 - 3.7 IN-WATER CONDITIONS
22 - 3.8 DEPTHS
22 - 3.8.1 Depth of water
22 - 3.8.2 Depth limit
22 - 3.8.3 Precautions for deep diving
22 - 3.9 WATER TEMPERATURES
22 - 3.10 HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
23 - 3.11 DIVING AT NIGHT
23 - 3.12 COMMUNICATIONS
23 - 3.13 FIRST AID, MEDICAL AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
23 - 3.13.1 General
24 - 3.13.2 Oxygen resuscitation equipment
24 - 3.13.3 Emergency services
24 - 3.14 DECOMPRESSION DIVING
24 - 3.14.1 Decompression schedules
24 - 3.14.2 Decompression diving deeper than 30 m
24 - 3.14.3 Decompression diving to depths up to and including 30 m
25 - 3.14.4 Precautionary decompression stops
25 - 3.15 COMPRESSION CHAMBER SUPPORT OF DIVING
25 - 3.15.1 Availability of compression (recompression) chamber support
25 - 3.15.2 Requirement for an on site chamber
25 - 3.15.3 Recompression chamber type, staffing and operation
25 - 3.15.4 Diving without a dive site chamber
27 - 3.16 DIVING BEFORE OR AFTER TRAVEL
27 - 3.16.1 Diving after travel
27 - 3.16.2 Travel after diving
27 - 3.16.3 After decompression illness
28 - SECTION 4 DIVING EQUIPMENT
28 - 4.1 BREATHING APPARATUS
28 - 4.1.1 Design parameters
28 - 4.1.2 Requirements for component parts
31 - 4.2 BREATHING GAS SUPPLIES
31 - 4.2.1 Breathing air
31 - 4.2.2 Breathing gas testing equipment
31 - 4.2.3 Breathing gases other than air
31 - 4.3 PRESSURE GAUGES
31 - 4.3.1 Gauge calibration
32 - 4.3.2 Gauge accuracy
32 - 4.3.3 Contents gauges for SCUBA cylinders
32 - 4.4 EMERGENCY GAS SUPPLIES
32 - 4.5 GAS SUPPLY SAFETY WARNING SYSTEM
33 - 4.6 AIR COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS
33 - 4.6.1 General
34 - 4.6.2 Air receivers
34 - 4.6.3 Pressure relief devices
34 - 4.6.4 Filtration, drying and odour absorption
34 - 4.6.5 Supply lines
34 - 4.6.6 Operation and maintenance
35 - 4.7 SSBA BREATHING GAS SUPPLIES AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
35 - 4.7.1 Sources
35 - 4.7.2 Working pressure
35 - 4.7.3 Breathing gas supplies
36 - 4.7.4 Control systems
37 - 4.7.5 Cylinder gas systems
37 - 4.8 PNEUMATIC TOOLS
37 - 4.9 LIFELINE
38 - 4.10 DIVING SUIT
38 - 4.11 WEIGHTS
38 - 4.11.1 Weight belt or weights
38 - 4.11.2 Weighted boots
38 - 4.12 DIVER’S KNIFE
38 - 4.13 SURFACE SIGNALLING DEVICE
39 - SECTION 5 PROCEDU RES FOR SCUBA DIVING
39 - 5.1 GENERAL
39 - 5.1.1 Requirements
39 - 5.1.2 Decompression diving
39 - 5.1.3 Breathing gas supply
39 - 5.2 PERSONNEL REQUIRED
39 - 5.2.1 General
39 - 5.2.2 Free-swimming mode SCUBA diving operations in open water
40 - 5.2.3 SCUBA diving operations in aquarium tanks and swimming pools or in sheltered open water
40 - 5.2.4 Tethered mode SCUBA diving operations for dive depths of up to 21 m
41 - 5.2.5 Tethered mode SCUBA diving operations exceeding 21 m
41 - 5.3 DIVING EQUIPMENT AND BREATHING GAS SUPPLIES
41 - 5.3.1 General
41 - 5.3.2 Equipment for SCUBA divers
42 - 5.4 LOW VISIBILITY
42 - 5.5 BOATS - EQUIPMENT AND OPERATION
42 - 5.6 DIVING FROM SHORE
42 - 5.6.1 Shore party
42 - 5.6.2 Entry and exit
42 - 5.6.3 Dive site
42 - 5.7 TERMINATION OF DIVE
42 - 5.7.1 Termination
43 - 5.7.2 Resumption
44 - SECTION 6 PROCEDURES FOR SSBA DIVING OPERATIONS
44 - 6.1 GENERAL
44 - 6.2 PERSONNEL REQUIRED
44 - 6.2.1 General
44 - 6.2.2 Dives in aquarium tanks and swimming pools or in sheltered open water up to 1.5 m deep (see Note)
44 - 6.2.3 Dives to depths up to and including 21 m
45 - 6.2.4 Dives with two or more divers in the water
45 - 6.2.5 Dives to depths deeper than 21 m
45 - 6.3 LIFELINE
45 - 6.4 DIVING EQUIPMENT AND BREATHING GAS SUPPLIES
45 - 6.4.1 General
45 - 6.4.2 Equipment for SSBA divers
47 - SECTION 7 DIVING ACCIDENTS
47 - 7.1 ACCIDENT REPORT
47 - 7.2 INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS
48 - SECTION 8 RECIPROCITY
48 - 8.1 INTENT
48 - 8.2 CERTIFICATION
48 - 8.2.1 Issue of certification
48 - 8.2.2 Medical certificate
49 - APPENDIX A - MINIMUM COMPETENCIES, TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR SCIENTIFIC DIVERS
49 - A1 GENERAL
49 - A2 CLASSIFICATION AND COMPETENCY OF DIVERS
49 - A3 SCIENTIFIC DIVER
49 - A3.1 Scientific SCUBA diver
49 - A3.2 Scientific SSBA diver
49 - A4 RESTRICTED SCIENTIFIC DIVER
49 - A4.1 General
49 - A4.2 Criteria
50 - A4.3 RESTRICTIONS
50 - A5 DIVE COORDINATOR
50 - A6 DIVING OFFICER
50 - A7 DIVING FROM A BOAT
51 - A8 DIVING WHERE A SURFACE RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER IS ON SITE
51 - A9 COMPETENCIES
51 - A9.1 Scientific SCUBA diver
58 - A9.2 Scientific SSBA diver
62 - APPENDIX B - DIVING OPERATIONS MANUAL
62 - B1 CONTENT OF MANUAL
62 - B2 PROCEDURES
62 - B3 ITEMS FOR INCLUSION IN MANUALS
62 - B3.1 General
62 - B3.2 Administration
63 - B3.3 Plant for diving
63 - B3.4 Diving procedures
64 - B3.5 Diving emergencies
64 - B3.6 Associated activity factors
64 - B3.7 Other hazards
65 - B3.8 Appendices
66 - APPENDIX C - HAND SIGNALS
68 - APPENDIX D - LIFELINE SIGNALS
69 - APPENDIX E - EXAMPLE OF DIVER’S LOGBOOK
70 - APPENDIX F - EXAMPLE OF EMPLOYER’S RECORD SHEET*
72 - APPENDIX G - HAZARD IDENTIFICATION, RISK ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL
72 - G1 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
72 - G2 RISK ASSESSMENT
72 - G2.1 General
72 - G2.2 Process
72 - G2.3 Basis for an assessment
73 - G2.4 Factors for consideration
74 - G2.5 Record of assessment
74 - G3 RISK CONTROL
74 - G3.1 General
74 - G3.2 Control measures
75 - APPENDIX H - GUIDELINES REGARDING EXPOSURE TO ALTITUDE FOLLOWING DIVING
75 - H1 SCOPE
75 - H2 RECOMMENDATIONS

Specifies requirements for personnel, equipment and procedures for diving performed as part of professional scientific research, natural resource management or scientific research as an educational activity. Appendices include competency of divers and training requirements, diving operations manual content, hand and lifeline signals, guidance on hazard identification, risk assessment and control, and exposure to altitude following diving.

This Standard specifies requirements for occupational underwater diving operations performed at a place of work for the purpose of professional scientific research, natural resource management or scientific research as an educational activity. This Standard applies to diving in water to depths not exceeding 39 m in the case of no-decompression diving and 30 m otherwise, where breathing gas is supplied through either self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) or surface-supplied breathing apparatus (SSBA).NOTE: Without limiting the scope of this Standard, there may be diving tasks or situations which require a scientific diver to operate under other diving standards.This Standard includes requirements and recommendations for personnel, procedures and the equipment and breathing medium supply utilized, together with appendices containing the following:(a) Personal records of divers.(b) Examples of employers records of dives.(c) Contents of a diving operations manual.(d) Hand signals.(e) Lifeline signals.(f) Qualification levels for scientific divers.

First published as AS/NZS 2299.2:2002.