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Medical requirements and recommendations for underwater divers - information for doctors

Purpose
What the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 requires
What is a current certificate of medical fitness to dive?
Training in diving medicine
For resort (introductory scuba experience) divers
What the Recreational Diving, Recreational Technical Diving and Snorkelling code of Practice 2010 states
Advanced and/or speciality certificate training
Certificate of medical fitness examples

Purpose

To advise doctors who carry out diving medical examinations for people involved in underwater diving of:

What the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 requires

The Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 requires:

What is a current certificate of medical fitness to dive?

A current certificate is one that is less than 12 months old which has not expired, been revoked or superseded. People doing underwater diving work will need to have an annual medical examination to obtain a 'current' certificate.

A certificate of medical fitness to dive is a certificate that:

(a) is issued by a doctor who has satisfactorily completed training in diving medicine approved by the Board of Censors of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) and

(b) contains the following information:

While AS 2299 - fitness criteria specifies a minimum age of 18 for divers, the regulation allows persons under the age of 18 to hold a certificate of medical fitness to dive as there are circumstances where persons under the age of 18 may wish to do underwater diving work.

Whether a person under 18 is declared fit to dive or not is a matter for the doctor's discretion. The type of diving work the person intends to do may be a relevant factor in assessing whether the person is fit to dive.

If the person is under the age of 18, the doctor may issue a certificate but the certificate must show:

As employers, self-employed people and workers who do underwater diving work must hold a certificate that shows the above information, it would be useful if doctors issuing certificates made sure all the relevant information is shown on the certificate.

Training in diving medicine

The regulation requires the certificate to be issued by a doctor who has satisfactorily completed training in diving medicine approved by the Board of Censors of SPUMS.

Doctors may issue a certificate of medical fitness to dive if they have satisfactorily completed any of the following training:

If the Board of Censors of SPUMS approves any new training in diving medicine, these courses also will be covered by the regulation. Because SPUMS recommends courses of 10 days duration or more as the most appropriate training for carrying out AS 2299.1 - 2007 medical examinations, it needs to be noted that the regulation permits a doctor who has satisfactorily completed any training in underwater medicine approved by the Board of Censors to issue certificates of medical fitness to dive, and that not all approved courses meet the recommended period of 10 days.

For resort (introductory scuba experience) divers

The employer or self-employed person at a workplace must ensure that a person intending to do resort diving has satisfactorily completed a medical declaration in the approved form. A copy of this approved form is in Appendix 1 of the Recreational Diving, Recreational Technical Diving and Snorkelling code of Practice 2010 or is available from the Workplace Health and Safety internet site.

The employer or self-employed person must assess the person's fitness to dive, having regard to the information in the medical declaration. Part of this assessment may involve seeking medical advice.

What the Recreational Diving, Recreational Technical Diving and Snorkelling code of Practice 2010 states

For people doing entry-level certification for open water diving

These people should be certified as being medically fit for diving in accordance with -

This certification should be provided in English, preferably by a medical practitioner with experience in diving medicine, within 90 days prior to the commencement of training.

The employer or self-employed person at a workplace where people are engaged in entry-level recreational certification training should ensure that all students are certified as being medically fit for diving.

Advanced and/or speciality certificate training

If the employer or self-employed person has concerns regarding the medical fitness of a potential diver, it is recommended the employer or self-employed person:


Further information can be obtained by contacting:

BRISBANE

Brian Marfleet (07) 3872 0677
Michael Williams (07) 3872 0678

MACKAY

Ken Turbey (07) 4967 4490

CAIRNS

Chris Coxon (070) 523 910
Robert Newie (070) 523 908
or contact Workplace Health and Safety

Freecall: 1800 177 717
Internet: http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/index.htm

Certificate of medical fitness examples


1. Example only of information a certificate of medical fitness to dive must show for a person who claims to be over 18 and has no limitations imposed on medical grounds.

Diving Medical Certificate

Issued by:

________________________________who has satisfactorily completed training in diving medicine approved by the Board of Censors of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society.

Issued to:

________________________________

Date of Issue:

________________________________

Fit to Dive:

under AS 2299-1992, appendix A, paragraph 3


2. Example only of information a certificate of medical fitness to dive must show for a person who claims to be over 18 and has a limitation imposed on medical grounds.

Diving Medical Certificate

Issued by:

________________________________who has satisfactorily completed training in diving medicine approved by the Board of Censors of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society.

Issued to:

________________________________

Date of Issue:

________________________________

Fit to Dive:

under AS 2299-1992, appendix A, paragraph 3 insert limitation

________________________________


3. Example only of information a certificate of medical fitness to dive must show for a person who claims to be under 18 and has no limitations imposed on medical grounds.

Diving Medical Certificate

Issued by:

________________________________who has satisfactorily completed training in diving medicine approved by the Board of Censors of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society.

Issued to:

________________________________

Date of Issue:

________________________________

Fit to Dive:

under AS 2299-1992, appendix A, paragraph 3 (apart from being under 18)

No limitations on diving are needed even though the holder of this certificate is under 18.


4. Example only of information a certificate of medical fitness to dive must show for a person who claims to be under 18 and has a limitation imposed on medical grounds.

Diving Medical Certificate

Issued by:

________________________________who has satisfactorily completed training in diving medicine approved by the Board of Censors of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society.

Issued to:

________________________________

Date of Issue:

________________________________

Fit to Dive:

under AS 2299-1992, appendix A, paragraph 3 (apart from being under 18)

insert limitation

________________________________

limitations (if any) imposed because the holder is under 18