514 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 27-37

Sections

Chapter 30: Diving Operations

This chapter on diving operations outlines essential safety standards, procedures, and guidelines for conducting diving activities.

USACE diver entering water with another worker standing by

This chapter emphasizes essential safety standards, procedures, and guidelines for conducting diving activities.

It references authoritative sources to establish a framework for safe practices, emphasizing the importance of proper training, certification, and physical fitness for diving personnel.

The chapter details the roles, responsibilities, and protocols necessary for dive operation teams, including Dive Supervisors and Safety Inspectors, to ensure risk management and emergency preparedness.

It also specifies equipment standards and operational guidelines for various diving modes, underscoring the commitment to maintaining the highest levels of safety in diving operations.

30-1. References.

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 30-1.

30-1. References.

a.  American Academy of Underwater Scientists (AAUS), Standards for Scientific Diving Manual (https://www.aaus.org/diving_standards)  (30-1.a)

b.  ANSI/Association of Commercial Diving Educators (ACDE)-01, Minimum Standard for Commercial Diver Training (https://www.acde.us/standard.htm)  (30-1.b)

c.  ACDE (https://www.acde.us)  (30-1.c)

d.  Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI), Inc., International Consensus Standards for Commercial Diving and Underwater Operations (https://www.adc-int.org/content.asp?contentid=173)  (30-1.d)

e.  DoD Military Performance Specification (MIL-PRF)-27210 Oxygen, Aviator’s Breathing, Liquid and Gas (https://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=18723)  (30-1.e)
f.  ER 385-1-86, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dive Safety Program (https://www.publications.usace.army.mil/USACE-Publications/Engineer-Regulations) (30-1.f)

g.  FAR Clause 52.236-13, Accident Prevention (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2020-title48-vol2/pdf/CFR-2020-title48-vol2- chap1-subchapH.pdf) (30-1.g)

h.  NOAA Nitrox Dive Tables (https://www.omao.noaa.gov)  (30-1.h)

i.  U.S. Navy Diving Manual, SS512-AG-PRO-010 (https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Resources/Instructions)  (30-1.i)

j.  U.S. Navy Guidance For Diving In Contaminated Waters, SS521-AJ-PRO-010 (https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Resources/Instructions)  (30-1.j)

k.  U.S. Navy Underwater Cutting and Welding Manual, S0300-BB-MAN-010 (https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Resources/Instructions)  (30-1.k)

l.  29 CFR 1910 Subpart T, Commercial Diving Operations (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2020-title29-vol5/pdf/CFR-2020-title29-vol5- part1910-subpartT.pdf) (30-1.l)

30-2. Definitions.

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 30-2.

30-2. Definitions.

a.  Actual Cubic Feet Per Minute (acfm).  The actual volume of gas supplied to a diver, bell, etc., at ambient pressure.  (30-2.a)

b.  Bottom Time. The total elapsed time, measured in minutes, from the time when the diver leaves the surface in descent to the time the diver begins ascent. (30-2.b)

c.  Contaminated Water.  As related to underwater diving; water which contains any chemical, biological, or radioactive substance which poses a chronic or acute health risk to exposed personnel.  Supervisory personnel are encouraged to contact local agencies to obtain information on local water contaminants and hazards.  (30-2.c)

d.  Designated Dive Coordinator (DDC).  A USACE employee responsible for the appropriate oversight of a District, Fleet, Laboratory, Field Operating Activity (FOA), or Center Dive Safety Program.  (30-2.d)

Note.  For non-USACE contracting actions conducted under the FAR Clause 52.236-13 Accident Prevention, the DDC is the employee designated by the contracting authority to provide oversight for contractor diving plans and operations.

e.  Dive Safety Inspector (DSI).  An onsite government representative for contractor or USACE in-house diving operations.  The DSI will assure dive team safety through coordination with the USACE supervisor/KO or COR and provide recommendations to correct deficiencies in the dive plan, AHA, or observed diving procedures.  (30-2.e)

f.  Diving, Direct Source Breathing Air Compressor.  A machine that raises air or other gasses to a pressure above 1 atmosphere and supplies breathing air to a diver. (30-2.f)

g.  Diving, Heavy Gear.  Surface-supplied deep-sea diving gear including helmet (with or without breastplate), dry suit, and weighted shoes.  The helmet is directly connected to the dry suit, forming a self-contained pressure envelope for the diver.
(30-2.g)

h.  Dive Safety Representative (DSR).  A USACE / government employee assigned by the DDC and is normally the District SOHO representative who is assigned the responsibility of dive safety, provides dive safety advice, actively participates in the review and comment process for diving plans and hazard analyses, and onsite monitoring of diving operations.  (30-2.h)

i.  Diving Supervisor (DS).  The person with the primary authority for any dive team’s operation. Each dive team must have a designated DS to manage all aspects that affect the safety and health of dive team members.  (30-2.i)

j.  Helium-Oxygen (HeO2).  Breathing gas mixtures composed of helium and oxygen.  (30-2.j)

k.  Live Boating. A diving technique where a single surface-supplied diver performs work underwater while his hose is being tended from the bow of a vessel and while the vessel is being manually operated by the vessel master and is underway using its main propulsion system.  (30-2.k)

l.  Mixed-Gas Diving. A diving mode in which the diver breathes mixture other than air, (for example, HeO2, Oxygen Enriched Air (OEA), nitrogen-oxygen (Nitrox). (30-2.l)

m.  Nitrogen-Oxygen (Nitrox).  Breathing gas mixtures ranging from 75 percent nitrogen/25 percent oxygen to 60 percent nitrogen/40 percent oxygen.  (30-2.m)

n.  Oxygen Enriched Air (OEA).  A term often used to describe oxygen-rich mixtures. (30-2.n)

o.  Penetration Dive.  A dive that requires a diver to access an area that is both a physically confining space and one in which there is no direct access to the surface or bell for recovery of the diver from the water by the tender.  (30-2.o)

p.  Recompression Chamber.  A pressure vessel for human occupancy such as a surface decompression chamber, closed bell, or deep diving system especially equipped to recompress, decompress, and treat divers.  (30-2.p)

q.  Scientific Diving.  Diving performed solely as a necessary part of a scientific, research, or educational activity by employees whose sole purpose for diving is to perform scientific research tasks.  Scientific diving does not include performing any tasks usually associated with commercial diving such as but not limited to placing or removing heavy objects underwater; inspection of pipelines and similar objects; construction; demolition; cutting or welding; or the use of explosives.  (30-2.q)

r.  Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) Diving.  A diving mode independent of surface supply in which the diver uses open-circuit self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.  (30-2.r)

s.  Surface Supplied Air (SSA).  A diving mode in which the diver in the water is supplied from the dive location with compressed air for breathing.  (30-2.s)

514 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 30-37

Chapter 30: Diving Operations

30-1. References.

30-1. References.

30-2. Definitions.

30-2. Definitions.