[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 46, Volume 7] [Revised as of October 1, 2003] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 46CFR197.410] [Page 432-433] TITLE 46--SHIPPING CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) PART 197--GENERAL PROVISIONS--Table of Contents Subpart B--Commercial Diving Operations Sec. 197.410 Dive procedures. (a) The diving supervisor shall insure that-- (1) Before commencing diving operations, dive team members are briefed on-- (i) The tasks to be undertaken; (ii) Any unusual hazards or environmental conditions likely to affect the safety of the diving operation; and (iii) Any modifications to the operations manual or procedures including safety procedures necessitated by the specific diving operation; (2) The breathing gas supply systems, masks, helmets, thermal protection, when provided, and bell lifting equipment, when a bell is provided or required, are inspected prior to each diving operation; (3) Each diver is instructed to report any physical problems or physiological effects including aches, pains, current illnesses, or symptoms of decompression sickness prior to each dive; (4) A depth, bottom time profile, including any breathing mixture changes, is maintained at the dive location for each diver during the dive, except that SCUBA divers shall maintain their own profiles; (5) A two-way voice communication system is used between-- (i) Each surface-supplied diver and a dive team member at the dive location or bell (when provided); and (ii) The bell (when provided) and the dive location; (6) A two-way communication system is available at the dive location to obtain emergency assistance; (7) After the completion of each dive-- (i) The physical condition of the diver is checked by-- (A) Visual observation; and (B) Questioning the diver about his physical well-being; (ii) The diver is instructed to report any physical problems or adverse physiological effects including aches, pains, current illnesses, or symptoms of decompression sickness or gas embolism; (iii) The diver is advised of the location of an operational decompression chamber; and (iv) The diver is alerted to the potential hazards of flying after diving; (8) For any dive outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 130 fsw, or using mixed-gas as a breathing mixture-- (i) A depth, time, decompression profile including breathing mixture [[Page 433]] changes is maintained for each diver at the dive location; (ii) The diver is instructed to remain awake and in the vicinity of the dive location decompression chamber for at least one hour after the completion of a dive, decompression, or treatment; and (iii) A dive team member, other than the diver, is trained and available to operate the decompression chamber; and (9) When decompression sickness or gas embolism is suspected or symptoms are evident, a report is completed containing-- (i) The investigation for each incident including-- (A) The dive and decompression profiles; (B) The composition, depth, and time of breathing mixture changes; (C) A description of the symptoms including depth and time of onset; and (D) A description and results of the treatment; (ii) The evaluation for each incident based on-- (A) The investigation; (B) Consideration of the past performance of the decompression table used; and (C) Individual susceptibility; and (iii) The corrective action taken, if necessary, to reduce the probability of recurrence. (b) The diving supervisor shall ensure that the working interval of a dive is terminated when he so directs or when-- (1) A diver requests termination; (2) A diver fails to respond correctly to communications or signals from a dive team member; (3) Communications are lost and can not be quickly reestablished between-- (i) The diver and a dive team member at the dive location; or (ii) The person-in-charge and the diving supervisor during liveboating operations; or (4) A diver begins to use his diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply.