Scientific Diving

Dive Planning

It was a normal day in Sharon Springs, Kansas when a Union Pacific crew boarded a loaded coal train for the long trek back to Salina.

Just a few kilometres into the trip, a wheel bearing became overheated and melted off letting the truck support drop down and grind on top of the rail creating white hot molten metal droppings that spewed down onto the rails.

The GOOD NEWS to this is that a very alert crew noticed a small amount of smoke halfway back in the train and immediately stopped the train in compliance with the rules.

The BAD NEWS to this is that the train just happened to stop with its hot wheels on top of a wooden trestle bridge built with creosoted ties, bents and trusses.

Moral of the Story

• It is difficult to identify every potential hazard.

• Some risks may be deemed acceptable.

• Emergency plans will never include every contingency.

• Keep plans flexible so that common sense may be incorporated into instructions!

Dive Planning

• Dive plan/emergency mgt. plan can range from simple to complex

• Required Information: lead diver, diver qualifications, emergency plan, number of proposed dives, estimated depth and bottom time, repetitive plan, proposed work equipment and boats, hazardous conditions

Considerations

• Any diver has the right, in fact, the responsibility, to terminate a dive, without fear of penalty, when the diver determines it is unsafe to continue, unless it compromises the safety of another diver already in the water.

• Dive plans must be based on the competence of the least experienced diver.

• Divers in Training must buddy with a Scientific Diver

• Depth Certification levels may be extended only to the next deepest level and only then if one of the buddy pair is certified to the deeper level.

Evacuation Plan

• What does it take to get help?– Communication

• Phone numbers• Frequencies

– Transportation– Hospital Location– Egress Plan/Location– Emergency Equipment

• Oxygen/First Aid Kits

Risk Assessment and Control

Assessment• Identification of Hazard• Nature of Risk• Degree of Exposure• Potential for Injury• Control Measures

Risk Assessment

Risk Control

High CurrentElimination—dive slack water or call the dive

Elimination/Substitution—dive into current or use non-diving techniques

Substitution/Redesign—live boat

Redesign—granny lines, trail lines, tethers

Protection—safety sausages

Control MeasuresEliminate the hazardSubstitute (e.g. exchange compressed air for nitrox)Redesign task to make it saferAdministrative Controls (lookouts, oxygen kit, supervisor)Personal protective equipment (dive knife, shark repellent)

Risk Control—Your Turn!

Cold Water

Control MeasuresEliminate the hazardSubstitute (e.g. exchange compressed air for nitrox)Redesign task to make it saferAdministrative Controls (lookouts, oxygen kit, supervisor)Personal protective equipment (dive knife, shark repellent)

Predive Brief

•Signals—Before the dive, go over all the signals you will need to communicate during the dive. 

•Emergencies—Make all the divers aware of the evacuation plan as well as the location of phone/radio, first aid/oxygen kit and keys to any transportation. You’ll also want to cover diver recall, lost buddy and share air procedures.

•Activity—What’s the purpose of the dive? How deep will you go and how long will you stay?  Make sure everybody understands the plan.

•Buoyancy—Weight System? Release? BCD? Release? Connected?

•Air—On? Full? Alternate air?

•Gear—Computer On? Tools?

Predive Brief

• Hazards—currents, marine life, any other potential hazards unique to the dive site

Helpful Hints

• Don’t forget to check on your divers post dive.• Web sites with dive planning examples:

– http://www.ndc.noaa.gov/dp.html– and at many OM’s websites

• If using outside (NURC, SI) evac plan, get a copy • Include pressure in and pressure out—guards against

divers going in (and coming back) with no gas• Planned bottom time can be max allowed (computer

check) or actual planned time to allow intervention• Verify that outside divers are up to date via LOR’s early

in the process • Phone numbers and insurance numbers are your friends

Old Chinese proverb-

When things go badly—be brave,

when things go well—reflect.