Managing the risks
A variety of control measures can be used to manage specific risks associated with occupational diving. Employers should follow this five-step process, detailed in Section 22 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (PDF, 766 KB):
- Identify the hazards.
- Assess the risks that may result because of the hazards.
- Decide on control measures to prevent or minimise the risks.
- Implement the control measures.
- Monitor and review the effectiveness of the control measures.
Conduct a risk assessment of environmental conditions at each dive site.
- When assessing the site, consider:
- currents
- weather
- surface conditions
- visibility
- maximum dive depths.
- Modify diving procedures if the assessment shows that normal control measures are not enough to minimise risks to divers.
- Carry out a risk assessment each time there is a significant change to the occupational diving work or the environmental conditions at the site. Keep a written record of the process.
- Ensure that a risk assessment is done by a competent person prior to undertaking occupational diving work.
- Ensure that the record of the risk assessment is read, understood and signed by all divers and relevant workers.
- Keep the record for one year after the last day it is used for the work. Ensure that it can be produced for inspection.
Read more about the risk management process.
A documented risk management process (PDF, 74 KB) for occupational diving is available for your use.
View a sample completed version (PDF, 91 KB) of this form.
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