[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1910.423]

[Page 921-922]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                                OF LABOR
 
PART 1910_OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart T_Commercial Diving Operations
 
Sec.  1910.423  Post-dive procedures.

    (a) General. The employer shall comply with the following 
requirements which are applicable after each diving operation, unless 
otherwise specified.
    (b) Precautions. (1) After the completion of any dive, the employer 
shall:
    (i) Check the physical condition of the diver;
    (ii) Instruct the diver to report any physical problems or adverse 
physiological effects including symptoms of decompression sickness;
    (iii) Advise the diver of the location of a decompression chamber 
which is ready for use; and
    (iv) Alert the diver to the potential hazards of flying after 
diving.
    (2) For any dive outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 
100 fsw or using mixed gas as a breathing mixture, the employer shall 
instruct the diver to remain awake and in the vicinity of the 
decompression chamber which is at the dive location for at least one 
hour after the dive (including decompression or treatment as 
appropriate).
    (c) Recompression capability. (1) A decompression chamber capable of 
recompressing the diver at the surface to a minimum of 165 fsw (6 ATA) 
shall be available at the dive location for:
    (i) Surface-supplied air diving to depths deeper than 100 fsw and 
shallower than 220 fsw;
    (ii) Mixed gas diving shallower than 300 fsw; or
    (iii) Diving outside the no-decompression limits shallower than 300 
fsw.

[[Page 922]]

    (2) A decompression chamber capable of recompressing the diver at 
the surface to the maximum depth of the dive shall be available at the 
dive location for dives deeper than 300 fsw.
    (3) The decompression chamber shall be:
    (i) Dual-lock;
    (ii) Multiplace; and
    (iii) Located within 5 minutes of the dive location.
    (4) The decompression chamber shall be equipped with:
    (i) A pressure gauge for each pressurized compartment designed for 
human occupancy;
    (ii) A built-in-breathing-system with a minimum of one mask per 
occupant;
    (iii) A two-way voice communication system between occupants and a 
dive team member at the dive location;
    (iv) A viewport; and
    (v) Illumination capability to light the interior.
    (5) Treatment tables, treatment gas appropriate to the diving mode, 
and sufficient gas to conduct treatment shall be available at the dive 
location.
    (6) A dive team member shall be available at the dive location 
during and for at least one hour after the dive to operate the 
decompression chamber (when required or provided).
    (d) Record of dive. (1) The following information shall be recorded 
and maintained for each diving operation:
    (i) Names of dive team members including designated person-in-
charge;
    (ii) Date, time, and location;
    (iii) Diving modes used;
    (iv) General nature of work performed;
    (v) Approximate underwater and surface conditions (visibility, water 
temperature and current); and
    (vi) Maximum depth and bottom time for each diver.
    (2) For each dive outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 
100 fsw or using mixed gas, the following additional information shall 
be recorded and maintained:
    (i) Depth-time and breathing gas profiles;
    (ii) Decompression table designation (including modification); and
    (iii) Elapsed time since last pressure exposure if less than 24 
hours or repetitive dive designation for each diver.
    (3) For each dive in which decompression sickness is suspected or 
symptoms are evident, the following additional information shall be 
recorded and maintained:
    (i) Description of decompression sickness symptoms (including depth 
and time of onset); and
    (ii) Description and results of treatment.
    (e) Decompression procedure assessment. The employer shall:
    (1) Investigate and evaluate each incident of decompression sickness 
based on the recorded information, consideration of the past performance 
of decompression table used, and individual susceptibility;
    (2) Take appropriate corrective action to reduce the probability of 
recurrence of decompression sickness; and
    (3) Prepare a written evaluation of the decompression procedure 
assessment, including any corrective action taken, within 45 days of the 
incident of decompression sickness.

[42 FR 37668, July 22, 1977, as amended at 49 FR 18295, Apr. 30, 1984]

                     Specific Operations Procedures