Commercial diving projects inland/inshore - Health and Safety ...

ACOP Availabilityofcompression chambers
110 The diving contractorhas a responsibility to ensurethe provision
offacilities so that a divercanbe recompressed in an emergency,
should this be necessary. Treatment ofDCI in a compressionchamber
should commence as soon as possible. The provision ofa
recompressionchamber should be in accordancewith the
decompression proceduresselectedas part ofthe diving projectplan.
111 Inaddition,the followingminimum standardsshouldalsobe
applied:
(a) for dives with noplannedin-water decompression andthat are
lessthan 10 metres the divingcontractor shouldidentify the
nearest suitableoperationaltwo-person,two-compartment
chamber.Underno circumstancesshould this be more than
6 hours traveffing distancefromthe dive site;
(b) for dives over 10 andup to 50metres with either:
- no plannedin-water decompression; or
- with plannedin-water decompression ofup to 20 minutes,
a suitabletwo-person,two-compartmentchamber should be no
more than2 hours traveffing distancefrom the dive site;
(c) for dives with plannedin-waterdecompression greaterthan
20minutesa suitable, operational,two-person, two-compartment
chamber should be provided forimmediateuse atthe site ofthe
diving project.The diver should beable toleave the water quickly
and easily and bepressurisedwithinthe chambertothe
appropriaterecompression pressureas defined by the time inthe
decompression schedule beingused. The controlsofa surface
compression chambershould only be operatedbypersons
competentto do so. Suchcompetence will beachieved by a
combination oftraining and experience. The degree ofsupervision
provided shouldreflecttheexperience ofthe operator.
112 Inall caseswherethe recompression chamber is not locatedon
the site, the diving projectplan should include arrangementsto ensure
thatin an emergency a diver will beable to be transported and
recompressedto ensure, so far as is reasonablypracticable,his or her
safety. The diving projectplan should record the suitablechambers
which have been identified and the arrangementswhich have been
made for emergency recompressionthroughoutthe courseofthe
diving project.
Suitabilityofcompression chambers
113* Two-person, two-compartmentcompressionchambersshouldbe
suitablefor the purposesintended and comply withtherecognised
standard appropriateto this Code.
Transportingan injured diver under hyperbaricpressure
114 A diving contractorwho is responsible fortransportingadiver to
6(3)(b) * See Annex 5 for relevant industry technical guidance
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