Dive team training and assignments

A dive team member must have the experience or training necessary to perform their assigned tasks in a safe and healthful manner. Under 1910.410(a)(1), employers are required to ensure each member possesses whatever training or hands-on experience is needed so they can do the specific tasks safely.

Dive team members must be trained or experienced in the use of the tools, equipment, and systems that are relevant to their assigned tasks. The standard explicitly requires this under 1910.410(a)(2)(i).

• This means hands-on familiarity with the specific gear they will use (for example: dive helmets, umbilicals, compressors, communications, and cutting or lifting tools) so they can operate them safely.

Dive team members must have experience or training in the specific diving mode techniques they will use (for example, surface-supplied, SCUBA, saturation, or other modes). 1910.410(a)(2)(ii) requires that each member know the procedures and skills unique to the mode of diving assigned.

Dive team members must be trained or experienced in normal diving operations and in emergency procedures that apply to those operations. 1910.410(a)(2)(iii) requires training in both routine procedures and how to respond to likely emergencies so members can act safely and effectively when problems occur.

Yes. All dive team members must be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid to the American Red Cross standard course level or an equivalent course. The requirement is stated in 1910.410(a)(3).

• "Equivalent" means a course that provides the same level of skills and content as the American Red Cross standard first aid and CPR course.

Dive team members who are exposed to, or who control the exposure of others to, hyperbaric conditions must be trained in diving-related physics and physiology. This requirement comes from 1910.410(a)(4).

• Training should cover how pressure, gas exchange, decompression, and related physiological effects influence diver safety and medical risk.

Yes, but only limited additional tasks may be assigned to an employee undergoing training, and those tasks must be performed under the direct supervision of an experienced dive team member. 1910.410(b)(1) requires that assignments otherwise match the employee's experience or training.

No. An employer may not require a dive team member to be exposed to hyperbaric conditions against the employee's will, except when exposure is necessary to complete decompression or treatment procedures. This prohibition is stated in 1910.410(b)(2).

The employer must not permit a dive team member to dive or be exposed to hyperbaric conditions for the duration of any temporary physical impairment or condition that the employer knows is likely to adversely affect the dive team member's safety or health. This is required by 1910.410(b)(3).

• Employers should remove or reassign the worker from diving duties until the condition is resolved or cleared by an appropriate medical authority.

The employer or an employee designated by the employer must be at the dive location in charge of all aspects of the diving operation that affect dive team safety and health. 1910.410(c)(1) requires a responsible person to be physically present at the location.

The designated person-in-charge must have experience and training in the conduct of the assigned diving operation. This qualification requirement is specified in 1910.410(c)(2).

• That means they must understand how to manage the specific mode of diving, safety procedures, emergency response, and the equipment and personnel used in that operation.

It means employers must assign dive tasks that the employee is trained or experienced to perform safely, and only allow additional limited tasks for trainees when those tasks are done under direct supervision by an experienced dive team member. This duty to match assignments to competence is in 1910.410(b)(1).

Yes. An employer may accept first aid and CPR training from organizations other than the American Red Cross so long as the course is equivalent to the American Red Cross standard course. The standard phrase is "American Red Cross standard course or equivalent" in 1910.410(a)(3).

• Employers should verify the alternative course covers the same essential skills and content.

Only dive team members who are exposed to or who control the exposure of others to hyperbaric conditions need training in diving-related physics and physiology. This targeted training requirement is found in 1910.410(a)(4).

• If a team member never works in or controls hyperbaric exposures, this paragraph does not require that specific physics/physiology training for them.

No. The designated person-in-charge must have experience and training in conducting the assigned diving operation, per 1910.410(c)(2).

• Assigning an untrained person would not satisfy the standard's requirement that the PIC be qualified to manage safety and health aspects of the operation.

Yes. The only exception allowing an employer to require exposure against an employee's will is when necessary to complete decompression or treatment procedures, as specified in 1910.410(b)(2).

• This recognizes that medical treatment or required decompression may need to continue despite an employee's reluctance if it is necessary for safety or health.

No. Trainees may only perform limited additional tasks while undergoing training if those tasks are performed under the direct supervision of an experienced dive team member, as stated in 1910.410(b)(1).

• The standard requires that unsupervised dives or tasks be reserved for personnel who already have the necessary training or experience.

Yes. Training must include diving operations and emergency procedures relevant to the assigned diving mode, as required by 1910.410(a)(2)(ii) and 1910.410(a)(2)(iii).

• This ensures that team members know how to handle emergencies that might occur in the particular mode of diving they perform.