Occupational diver competency
An occupational diver must provide appropriate proof of competency before performing diving work. For the purposes of 'proof of competencies' occupational diving has two categories:-
Construction diving
A competent person for construction diving must hold an Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (non-Queensland Government link) (ADAS) Diving Certificate which is relevant to the work being carried out
Other occupational diving
These competency requirements are relevant to occupational dive workers in areas including:
- Marine harvesting
- Scientific research
- Resource management
- Photographic and media work
A competent person for other underwater diving work must hold any of the following:
- an ADAS Certificate relevant to the work being carried out
- a AQF Statement of Attainment from a registered training organisation (RTO) that is relevant to the work being carried out
- a AQF Statement of Attainment from an RTO for performing diver rescues and through training, qualifications or experience, the person has gained knowledge and skills in the elements of competency and performance criteria in AS2815 Training and certification of occupational divers Parts 1-4 relevant to the work being done
- a certificate from a recreational scuba training organisation proving that the person has successfully completed training in the areas mentioned in AS 4005.2 Training and certification of recreational divers - Recreational SCUBA dive supervisor (non-Queensland Government link) and through training, qualifications or experience, the person has gained knowledge and skills in the elements of competency and performance criteria in AS2815 Parts 1-4 (relevant to the work being done)
- at least 15 hours¿ experience in underwater diving and training, qualifications or experience that show that the person has the knowledge and skills to do the work in a safe way (including knowledge of physics, equipment, decompression, communications, work systems, inspection and maintenance, physiology, first aid, legislation and standards)
Note: This option is limited to a person who will do no more than 28 days diving in a period of six months and who is to be personally supervised in the water
On the 27 August 2010 the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 was amended to provide an additional competency option for underwater diving work for a person who is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, who has done no underwater diving work in Queensland in the six months immediately before the underwater diving work is done and is doing the underwater diving work for a relevant organisation for genuine scientific research or scientific management of natural resources.
The competency option will require that the person undertaking the underwater diving work has acquired through training, qualifications or experience the knowledge and skills mentioned in the elements of competency and performance criteria in Australian Standard 2815 (Training and certification of occupational divers), parts 1 to 4 relevant to the underwater diving work, has spent at least 60 hours doing underwater diving, of which at least 8 hours 20 minutes were spent within a depth of 10m above or below the maximum depth at which the underwater diving work is being done, and holds a letter (a letter of authorisation) from a relevant organisation that contains information prescribed in the regulation and is dated and signed by a person in the organisation who is authorised to sign the letter.
The employer, self-employed person or person conducting a business or undertaking can accept any of the following as proof of a person’s competency:
- certificates
- certification cards
- dive safety logs
- diver’s log books
- statutory declarations
Keep the proof of competency for one year after the work is completed.
For more information, read sections 81 to 86AA of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008. They define different ways in which competency must be demonstrated and explain how to undertake the risk assessment process.
View the example of 'proof of competence' for the occupational dive industry (PDF, 162 kB).