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503 EM 385-1-1 Sections 27-34
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Diving Physicals

30.A.09 Divers must receive an annual diving physical according to ADCI or similar standards preferably by a hyperbaric physician (MD or DO) or other licensed physician knowledgeable in the physiology of diving.

Diver Physical Screening - USN.
  1. A "Fit to Dive" statement that each diver has been medically examined within the previous 12 months and has been determined fit and approved to dive must be signed and signature stamped by the examining physician.
  2. The DDC will maintain a file of physician "Fit to Dive" statement for all USACE qualified divers.
  3. Contractors must submit physician's "Fit to Dive" statement to the DDC in accordance with Section 30.A.13.
  4. After any serious diving-related injury or illness such as an over-pressurization injury and/or decompression illness, divers must be re-examined by a hyperbaric physician and be re-certified as "Fit to Dive".

30.A.10 Divers will wait at least 12 hours before flying after any dive. This interval should be extended to 24 hours following multiple days of repetitive dives.

30.A.11 When diving at altitudes of 1000 ft (304.8 m) or more of elevation above sea level, dive supervisors must use appropriate high altitude decompression tables that compensate for the increased elevation.

30.A.12 Contract diving operations will be monitored and/or inspected by personnel qualified as USACE Dive Inspectors. Individual USACE Dive teams must be inspected during operations at least once annually by the DDC, ADC and/or Dive Safety Representative (DSR).

  1. Qualified Dive Inspectors must hold current USACE training certification as Dive Inspector, Diver/ Dive Supervisor, Dive Safety Administrator, or Dive Coordinator. All USACE personnel used as dive inspectors must be approved by the DDC prior to performing inspector duties.
  2. Note: Use of trained monitors/inspectors with other credentials will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be approved in writing by the DDC and HQUSACE Program Manager (PM) for Diving Safety.

  3. Inspectors must conduct on-site monitoring/inspections of contractor dive sites during pre-dive conference, equipment inspection, and initial dives. Monitoring should be continuous for the duration of the contract dive activity but may be intermittent, as determined by the DDC based on an evaluation of the job complexity and degree of hazards.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

30-3. How long must divers wait to fly following multiple days of repetitive dives?