Dive procedures requirements

A means capable of supporting the diver must be provided so the diver can safely enter and exit the water. See 1910.422(b)(1).

• Acceptable examples include ladders, ramps, steps, davits, or platforms sized and installed so a diver can use them while wearing diving gear.
• The means must safely carry the diver’s weight while wearing equipment and allow stable, controlled movement above and below the waterline; it should be inspected and maintained before dives.
• Remember 1910.422(b)(2) requires the exit means to extend below the water surface so divers can get a firm foothold when leaving the water.

The exit means must extend below the water surface so divers can reach and use it while still buoyant or wearing gear, ensuring safe reboarding. See 1910.422(b)(2).

• Practical designs: ladders with rungs below the surface, boarding ramps whose lower end is submerged, or steps on a platform that reach below the waterline.
• Ensure rungs/steps are non‑slip and clear of obstructions, and check for secure attachment and corrosion before every dive.

Employers must provide a means to assist an injured diver from the water or into a bell so the diver can be safely recovered for treatment. See 1910.422(b)(3).

• Typical recovery methods include hoists, lifting slings/stretcher boards, bell‑raising equipment, or vessel cranes capable of lifting an unconscious or injured diver while supporting their breathing apparatus.
• Recovery equipment must be ready, inspected, and operated by trained personnel who can perform a prompt and safe extraction.

An operational two‑way voice communication system must be used between each surface‑supplied diver and a dive team member at the dive location or bell. See 1910.422(c)(1)(i).

• This means real‑time voice (not one‑way or only signal lines) so the dive team and diver can exchange information, status, and emergency commands.
• The system must be tested before the dive, have clear audio quality, and have backups available in case of failure.

Yes — an operational two‑way voice communication system is required between the bell and the dive location to support safe coordination of bell dives. See 1910.422(c)(1)(ii).

• Two‑way voice lets the bell tender and the diver(s) inside the bell or working at the dive site coordinate gas changes, decompression, and emergency actions immediately.
• The communication system must be checked for clarity and redundancy (backup comms) before and during the operation.

An operational two‑way communication system or other means to obtain emergency assistance must be available at the dive location. See 1910.422(c)(2).

• Examples: reliable two‑way radio or phone lines to contact emergency medical services, coast guard, or on‑site medical personnel.
• The system should be tested and personnel must know the procedures and contact numbers to summon help quickly during an emergency.

Appropriate decompression, repetitive, and no‑decompression tables must be at the dive location for the dives being conducted. See 1910.422(d).

• "Appropriate" means tables suited to the gas mixture, depth, and dive profile being used (for example, tables published by recognized diving agencies or manufacturers for the breathing gas).
• Keep physical or electronic copies accessible to the dive team and use them to plan profiles and decompression stops; maintain records as required by 1910.422(e).

A depth‑time profile maintained for each diver must include the diver’s depth and time history and, when appropriate, any breathing gas changes, including decompression. See 1910.422(e).

• The profile should record bottom time, ascent rates, decompression stops, gas switches, and any incidents or reserve gas usage.
• Keep these profiles at the dive location for operational decision making and post‑dive review.

Yes — hand‑held electrical tools and equipment must be de‑energized before being placed into or retrieved from the water. See 1910.422(f)(1).

• "De‑energized" means removing power sources (disconnecting, removing batteries, or isolating supply) so the tool cannot be live while in the water.
• Inspect tools and cables for damage before use, and follow manufacturer guidance for underwater use or special underwater tools.

Hand‑held power tools must not be supplied with power from the dive location until requested by the diver. See 1910.422(f)(2).

• The dive team tender or attendant should control power supply and only enable it after receiving a clear, deliberate request from the diver.
• Maintain an immediate ability to cut power (e.g., a tended switch) and communicate clearly about power status to avoid accidental energizing.

A dive team member who is in voice communication with the diver performing the welding or burning must tend the current supply switch. See 1910.422(g)(1)(i).

• That attendant must be able to interrupt current flow immediately on command or if the diver signals distress.
• Keep procedures and signals clear so the attendant responds instantly to diver requests or emergencies.

The current supply switch must be kept in the open position except when the diver is actively welding or burning. See 1910.422(g)(1)(ii).

• This prevents unintended energizing of electrodes in the water and reduces electrocution risk.
• The switch should be under the control of the tended attendant and be labeled and maintained for reliable operation.

Yes — the welding machine frame must be grounded to help prevent electrical shock during underwater welding or burning. See 1910.422(g)(2).

• Grounding should follow manufacturer instructions and good electrical practices for the environment; verify connections before welding.
• Combine grounding with insulated leads and the tended switch required by 1910.422(g)(1).

Welding and burning cables, electrode holders, and connections must be capable of carrying the maximum current required and be properly insulated. See 1910.422(g)(3).

• Use cables rated for the expected amperage, inspect insulation for cuts, abrasion, or water intrusion, and replace any damaged components.
• Secure all connections to prevent arcing; maintain proper strain relief and routing to avoid mechanical damage during dives.

Yes — insulated gloves must be provided to divers performing welding and burning operations to reduce electrical shock risk. See 1910.422(g)(4).

• Gloves should be rated for electrical protection, compatible with the diver’s other gear, and inspected before use for damage or contamination.
• Train divers on glove use, care, and the limits of protection they provide in underwater welding scenarios.

Before welding or burning on closed compartments, structures, or pipes that contain or may generate flammable vapor, employers must vent, flood, or purge them with a gas mixture that will not support combustion. See 1910.422(g)(5).

• Common safe approaches: thorough ventilation until the atmosphere is non‑flammable, flooding with water where appropriate, or purging with an inert gas (for example, nitrogen) until testing shows safe conditions.
• Always verify with gas testing before allowing welding, and document the purging/venting procedure and test results.

Explosives used in diving must be transported, stored, and used in accordance with 1910.422(h) and the applicable provisions of 1910.109 and 1926.912. See 1910.422(h)(1).

• Follow the detailed handling, storage, and transport rules in 1910.109 and the construction explosives provisions in 1926.912 when applicable.
• Keep explosives secure, limit access to trained personnel, and ensure emergency procedures and blast planning are in place before any underwater explosive use.

No — electrical continuity of explosive circuits shall not be tested until the diver is out of the water. See 1910.422(h)(2).

• This prevents accidental detonation or stray currents from endangering divers who are in or under the water.
• Establish a written procedure that requires verification the diver is out of the water before any continuity testing.

No — explosives shall not be detonated while the diver is in the water. See 1910.422(h)(3).

• Safe practice: clear all divers and surface personnel to a predetermined safe distance and confirm clearance before any detonation.
• Ensure communication confirms every diver’s location and status before authorizing detonation.

The working interval must be terminated immediately when a diver requests termination. See 1910.422(i)(1).

• The diver’s request is an immediate command to begin safe termination procedures, including planned ascent or recovery and any necessary emergency actions.
• Treat such requests as urgent and follow the dive‑team’s emergency/termination checklist without delay.

If a diver fails to respond correctly to communications or signals from a dive team member, the working interval must be terminated. See 1910.422(i)(2).

• The team should treat lack of correct responses as a potential distress signal: initiate recovery protocols, attempt alternate contact methods, and recover the diver per training.
• Ensure backup comms and prearranged failure signals are part of the dive plan so the team has clear steps to follow.

When communications are lost and cannot be quickly re‑established, the working interval must be terminated. See 1910.422(i)(3).

• The team must follow the lost‑contact procedures in the dive plan: attempt reestablishment, use backup systems, and if unsuccessful, initiate immediate recovery of the diver.
• In liveboating, ensure the designated person‑in‑charge and the vessel controller have redundant comms and clear steps to stop the vessel and recover the diver safely.

The working interval ends when a diver begins to use diver‑carried reserve breathing gas or the dive‑location reserve breathing gas because use of reserves indicates a potential emergency or unexpected gas consumption. See 1910.422(i)(4).

• At that point the team must terminate the job, initiate a safe ascent or recovery, and provide any required medical evaluation.
• Record the incident in the dive profile and investigate to prevent recurrence.

No — primary communication between surface‑supplied or mixed‑gas divers and the dive team must be an operational two‑way voice system; non‑voice systems alone are not sufficient. See 1910.422(c)(1).

• Non‑voice signals (tugs or light signals) may be used as backups but should not replace two‑way voice comms required by the standard.
• Always have tested, clear voice comms and a documented backup plan for electronics failures.

Yes — battery‑powered hand‑held tools are electrical tools and must be de‑energized (for example, remove batteries or otherwise isolate power) before being placed into or retrieved from the water. See 1910.422(f)(1).

• Removing batteries and ensuring the tool’s power switch cannot be engaged prevents accidental energizing underwater.
• Follow manufacturers’ instructions for underwater use and inspect battery compartments for seals and corrosion before use.

Control welding current by having a tended switch kept open except during active welding and by maintaining voice communication between the diver and the attendant who controls the switch. See 1910.422(g)(1)(i) and 1910.422(g)(1)(ii).

• Steps: (1) Attendant verifies diver readiness and turns the switch on only when the diver signals; (2) Attendant monitors the diver and can immediately open the switch on any emergency signal; (3) Welding machine frame must be grounded (1910.422(g)(2)); (4) Use insulated gloves and properly rated cables (1910.422(g)(3),(4)).

In hazardous surf, ice, or strong current conditions, employers must still provide a means capable of supporting the diver and appropriate assistance and must add site‑specific controls to ensure safety. See 1910.422(b)(1)-(3).

• Precautions include using hoists or davits, rescue sleds, trained recovery teams, tethering systems, and continuous monitoring of weather and sea state.
• Ensure recovery equipment reaches below the water surface per 1910.422(b)(2) and practice emergency drills for the conditions expected.

Yes — the emergency communication at the dive location should include redundant systems to ensure help can be summoned if the primary system fails. See 1910.422(c)(2).

• Recommended redundancy: landline or marine VHF radio plus cellular backup or satellite phone, and preplanned local emergency contacts.
• Test all systems before the dive and train personnel on how to use each method.