514 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 30-37

Sections

30-8. General Requirements.

Diving Operations

Ensure all diving operations adhere to the manual's guidelines. Non-compliance results in plan rejection or operation cessation.
For waivers or variances, coordinate with the local DDC or ADC as outlined in the manual.
Avoid diving if safer, more efficient methods are available, such as ROVs or dewatering the area.

Dive Planning and Coordination

Key personnel must attend a Pre-Dive Conference, discussing the Dive Operations Plan, AHA, Emergency Management Plan, and any plan modifications.
The DS must brief the entire dive team before each dive, covering mission details, equipment, and emergency procedures.
After diving operations, the DS conducts a Post-Dive Brief, advising divers on safety and post-dive activities.

Personnel and Equipment Requirements

Staff dive teams as per tables 30-2 to 30-6, with the DDC authorized to adjust levels based on various factors.
Provide essential emergency and first aid equipment at dive sites, including a first aid kit, oxygen resuscitation system, and suitable stretchers or backboards.
Display appropriate dive flags on vessels and other surfaces during dive operations for visibility.

Dive Safety and Emergency Procedures

For altitude diving (1,000 to 10,000 feet), use the U.S. Navy Dive Manual for decompression guidelines.
Ensure a standby diver is available for immediate emergency assistance, fully equipped and briefed on the primary diver's operations.
For dives requiring surface decompression, have a trained chamber operator solely focused on chamber operations.

Specific Operation Protocols

Ensure hand-held power tools are certified safe for underwater use and follow strict handling procedures.
Perform underwater excavations as per ADCI International Consensus Standards for Commercial Diving and Underwater Operations.
Forbid diving in contaminated water unless adequate safety measures are demonstrated and personnel are trained.

Crane and Specialized Operations

Conduct crane operations supporting diving as per chapter 16 of the manual, ensuring communication and safety during Critical Lifts.
Limit underwater welding and burning operations to SSA mode and equip divers with specific protective gear.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

30-6. When must the Dive Supervisor (DS) brief the entire dive team, covering mission details, equipment, and emergency procedures?

Before each dive

Before each workday

As determined by the DSI

Prior to unscheduled operations

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 30-8 (a.).

30-8. General Requirements. (a.).

a.  Diving Operations. (30-8.a)

(1)  Perform all diving operations according to this manual.  Failure to meet these requirements will be cause for rejection of plans or cessation of operations.

(2)  Coordinate requests for waivers or variances with the local DDC or ADC and according to the requirements of this manual.

(3)  Do not use diving as a work method if the work objective can be more safely and efficiently accomplished by another means, including but not limited to, using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), and/or camera systems, or by dewatering the work area so work may be accomplished in the dry.

(4)  Use SSA whenever possible according to the practical constraints of the diving operations.

(5)  Do not use live boating without prior specific acceptance by the DDC.

(6)  When diving at altitudes between 1,000 and 10,000 feet (304.8 to 3048 m), use the U.S. Navy Dive Manual SS512-AG-PRO-010 table to obtain decompression obligation.

(7)  All dive operations must be conducted with full knowledge and close coordination with the USACE supervisor/KO or COR and onsite authorities such as the DSI, lockmaster, PM, etc. to ensure external operations and processes do not impact the safety of the dive.

(8)  Key personnel designated by the DDC must attend a Pre-Dive Conference prior to the initial work on each dive operation.  The conference agenda must include a discussion of the Dive Operations Plan, AHA, Emergency Management Plan, and any necessary plan modifications.  For contractor operations, the DSI or DDC and a
    representative of the contractor, with sufficient authority to implement any changes by the DSI or DDC, must attend.

(9)  The DS must conduct a Pre-Dive Brief.  The entire dive team must be briefed in detail on the following (as a minimum) prior to each dive:

(a)  Description of mission and location, including drawings and/or photographs pertinent to the mission and equipment and materials that are to be installed as part of the mission.

(b)  Description of diving apparatus/equipment and craft to be used.

(d)  Names and duties of personnel on the team.  When possible, incorporate at least one person on the dive that has previously performed the same or similar mission.

(e)  Discussion of AHA.

(f)  Emergency procedures.

(10) The DS must conduct a Post-Dive Brief.  The entire dive team must be briefed upon completion of each diving operation or at the conclusion of each day on (as a minimum) the following information and requirements:

(a)  Advise divers of the location of the nearest recompression chamber (if not located onsite), and the emergency hotline number for DAN or the local dive medical facility.  Additionally, caution them on the limitations of their post dive activities including repetitive dives, traveling to higher altitude, and flying.

(b)  Divers must wait at least 12 hours before flying after any dive.  Divers must wait at least 24 hours before flying after multiple days of repetitive dives.

(11)  Staff all dive teams according to the tables 30-2 through 30-6.

(a)  The DDC may increase the levels after considering the diving and snorkeling support systems, the task at hand, weather conditions, dive/snorkeling platform type and location, and other factors.

(b)  Team members may rotate through the dive or snorkeling team positions as long as the minimum staffing levels are maintained, and team members are qualified and accepted for the position.

(12) Submit copies of the dive logs to the DDC and COR after completion of the dive operation.  For USACE dive teams, maintain these records on file for the time
    period the employee is in the dive program and an additional two years after the employee has left the dive program.

(13) For each diver and dive, the following dive log information, as a minimum, must be recorded and maintained at the dive location:

(a)  Full name.

(b)  Date, time, and location of dive.

(d)  Surface interval between dives.

(e)  Breathing medium and type of equipment used.

(f)  Group classification at the beginning and end of each interval and repetitive dive worksheet.

(g)  Underwater and surface conditions.

(h)  Depth and duration of each decompression stops.

(i)  Date and time of last previous dive if it occurred within the last 24 hours.

(j)  Name of DS(s) during dive.

(k)  General description of work performed.

(l)  For dives outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 100 feet salt water (fsw) (30.5 m), or using mixed-gas, include depth-time and breathing-gas profiles and decompression tables (including any modifications).

(m)  For each dive in which decompression sickness and/or pulmonary barotraumas is suspected, or symptoms are evident, the following information must be recorded and maintained:

(m-1)  Descriptions of signs and symptoms (including depth and time of onset).

(m-2)  Description and results of treatment.

(m-3)  Name, address, and phone number of attending physician.

(14)  Provide the following emergency and first aid equipment at all dive sites:

(a)  A first aid kit meeting the requirements of chapter 3.

(b)  An oxygen resuscitation system for each diver, to include standby diver(s), that delivers oxygen (O2) for a minimum of 30 minutes at a rate of 15 liters per minute (lpm) or until emergency medical assistance can be administered.  The system must contain a pocket mask with O2 inlet, non-rebreather mask, and demand inhalator and/or demand resuscitator.

(c)  A stokes litter or backboard, equipped with at least four body straps, snap buckles, and a head block, and have flotation capability.

(15) When diving from vessels, display International Code flag “A” and recreational dive flags with a minimum dimension of 23 inches (58.4 cm) a minimum of
    3 feet (0.9 m) above the working surface at the dive location during diving operations. When diving from surfaces other than vessels in areas capable of supporting marine traffic, display a rigid replica of the International Code flag "A" at least 3 feet (0.9 m) in height at the dive location in a manner which allows all-round visibility, and illuminate it during night diving operations.

(16)  When diving SSA from anchored vessels, the vessel must use no less than a two-point anchorage system.

(17) Select and configure staging areas, where the fully suited and equipped diver enters the water, based on a hazard analysis that includes an examination of the following:

(a)  Ease of diver access to the water.

(b)  Hazards to diver (for example, currents, equipment) in route from surface to work area.

Note. If diver entry to water is remote from the staging area, locate the standby diver at the water entry or at a spot immediately accessible to it.

(d)  Ability to protect members and the standby diver from weather, operational, and other hazards located at the topside dive team station.

(e)  Whether topside equipment can be stowed safely and function properly.

(18) Provide a standby diver whenever there is a diver(s) in the water, to serve as immediate emergency assistance to the primary diver(s).

(a)  Untethered SCUBA divers, working in “buddy” pairs, must have one tethered standby diver at the surface for each pair.

(b)  A standby diver will deploy only after the DS assesses the situation and gives direction.

(c-1)  The standby diver must don all specific gear (suits, harnesses, and equipment) they must wear or use and test all of it for proper operation before the primary diver leaves the surface.

(c-2)  The standby diver must not assume other work responsibilities other than communications with the primary diver unless all the conditions in table 30-4 are met.

(c-3)  Maintain all gear operational and ready for immediate use for the duration of the dive.  The standby diver must don and test gear that is exchanged or replaced during the dive.

(d)  The standby diver must be dressed appropriately for the water and air temperature and remain fully suited up with helmet or mask ready for immediate donning from the time the primary diver leaves the surface until reaching the work area or working depth.  The standby diver may remove the portions of their gear needed to prevent heat or cold stress and fatigue.  If the AHA identifies a need for the standby diver to remain fully dressed to deploy, it must address measures that will be taken to control these hazards (for example, standby in water at surface).  Any gear that has been removed must be maintained ready for immediate donning and use, and accessible to the standby at the entry to the water.

(e)  If configuration of the surface staging area prevents safe, immediate entry of the standby diver into the water, position the standby diver in the water fully dressed. The standby diver must remain at the surface ready for deployment prior to the primary diver leaving the surface.

(19) Dives that require surface decompression as an integral part of the dive operation must have a trained chamber operator, whose sole purpose is to attend to the chamber operation. When recompression capability is required on station, the recompression chamber must be in compliance with the requirements of
29 CFR 1910.423 (29 CFR 1910 Subpart T).

(a)  In dive operations where use of the chamber is required for emergency, first aid, or other unexpected recompression events, all diving must be suspended during the chamber operations.

(b)  Whenever a chamber is onsite, the chamber operator must be capable of communicating with a diving physician.

(c)  Divers completing a decompression dive must remain within 60 minutes travel of a fully operable and staffed recompression chamber for a minimum of two hours after completing the decompression dive.

(20) Power Tools.  Test and certify hand-held power tools are safe for underwater use.  These tools must be de-energized at the surface before being placed into or retrieved from the water and must not be supplied with power until requested by the diver.

(21) Underwater Excavations.  Perform underwater excavation operations according to ADCI International Consensus Standards for Commercial Diving and Underwater Operations.

(22)  Contaminated Water.

(a)  Diving in contaminated water is prohibited for all personnel unless supporting documentation is provided that demonstrates divers and topside personnel are not exposed to, or will be protected from, known or potential contamination hazards that would pose a chronic or acute health risk (see para 30-7.c).

(b)  All divers and topside personnel must provide evidence of training and experience with contaminated water operations prior to actual diving operations (see paras 30-3.b and c).

(23) Crane operations conducted to support diving operations must be performed according to chapter 16 of this manual.

(a)  Perform all working dives requiring communications between the divers and topside to direct crane load movements, etc., in SSA mode.

(b)  The crane operator must take instruction from the tender or supervisor who is in direct communication with the diver.

(c)  Crane operations where the load is placed or removed while a diver is underwater are considered Critical Lifts.  The diver or load director must participate in the Critical Lift Plan development according to chapter 16.

(d)  Divers performing rigging duties must be qualified riggers and meet the personnel qualifications according to chapter 15.

(24) Underwater Welding and Burning Operations.  See chapter 10 for additional requirements.

(a)  Underwater welding and burning operations are limited to SSA mode only.

(b)  Equipment configuration and procedures must be according to the U.S. Navy Underwater Cutting and Welding Manual, S0300-BB-MAN-010.

(c-1)  A rubber or neoprene dive suit in good condition that provides electrical insulation to the diver.

(c-2)  Insulating gloves with a cuff that, as a minimum, reaches and fully covers the wrist.

(c-3)  A welding or burning eye shield attached to the dive helmet with appropriate shade for the conditions at the working area.  See chapter 5 for helmet requirements.