Commercial Diving
Commercial diving applies to diving and related support operations conducted in connection with all types of work and employments, including general industry, construction, ship repairing, shipbuilding, shipbreaking and longshoring. It involves a wide range of activities that expose the employee to significant hazards and risks when engaging in an active dive operation and during training.
Commercial Diving
What are the hazards associated with commercial diving?
Divers are exposed to many hazards including drowning, equipment failure, adverse environmental conditions, and medical problems. The risk of these hazards are increased based on the type of operation and number of dives, combined with the length of time spent underwater. Additionally, commercial divers are often exposed to hazards associated with construction and demolition work during their dives.
What can I do to protect myself?
Employees need to ensure that they are familiar with diving procedures, their roles and responsibilities under the safe practices manual and are qualified by training and experience to conduct the dive and operations associated with it.
What resources are available to assist employers?
Safety and Health Programs
These example programs, commercial diving - safe practices manual, confined space program (general industry and construction), personal protective equipment hazard assessment; and respiratory protection program can be downloaded and modified to fit the needs of the employer. Other example safety and health programs are available for employers to download and adapt to their specific conditions.
Training and Outreach Services
Presentations on confined spaces (general industry and construction), personal protective equipment (general industry and construction), welding and cutting (general industry and construction), hand tools (construction) and respiratory protection can be useful in providing training to your employees. Other example presentations are available along with pre-recorded webinars which can be accessed at any time.
In addition, the education, training and technical assistance bureau provides free online safety and health training and outreach services (i.e., speaker's bureau requests, safety booths) upon request.
Lastly, the NCDOL Library offers free safety and health videos (including streaming video services) and related research assistance on consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, NFPA, NEC).
Safety and Health Topics
Other related resource information can be found on the safety and health topics page for welding and cutting, respiratory protection, confined spaces, hand and portable powered tools and personal protective equipment.
Consultation Services
The consultative services bureau provides free and confidential onsite consultation regarding worksite safety and health hazards.
What standards apply?
OSH has adopted the following standards which are applicable to commercial diving in North Carolina. This is not all inclusive.
Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic.
General Industry
29 CFR 1910, Subpart T - Commercial diving operations
- 29 CFR 1910.401 - Scope and application
- 29 CFR 1910.402 - Definitions
- 29 CFR 1910.410 - Qualifications of dive team
- 29 CFR 1910.420 - Safe practices manual
- 29 CFR 1910.421 - Pre-dive procedures
- 29 CFR 1910.422 - Procedures during dive
- 29 CFR 1910.423 - Post-dive procedures
- 29 CFR 1910.424 - SCUBA diving
- 29 CFR 1910.425 - Surface-supplied air diving
- 29 CFR 1910.426 - Mixed-gas diving
- 29 CFR 1910.427 - Liveboating
- 29 CFR 1910.430 - Equipment
- 29 CFR 1910.440 - Recordkeeping requirements
Other Applicable general industry standards:
- 29 CFR 1910.101 - Compressed gases
- 29 CFR 1910.102 - Acetylene
- 29 CFR 1910.104 - Oxygen
- 29 CFR 1910.109 - Explosives and blasting agents
- 29 CFR 1910.134 - Respiratory protection
- 29 CFR 1910.146 - Permit-required confined spaces
- 29 CFR 1910.147 - The control of hazardous energy
- 29 CFR 1910.151 - Medical services and first aid
- 29 CFR 1910.242 - Hand and portable powered tools and equipment, general
- 29 CFR 1910.1020 - Access to employee exposure and medical records
- 29 CFR 1910, Subpart Q - Welding, cutting and brazing
Construction
Other applicable construction standards:
- 29 CFR 1926.33 - Access to employee exposure and medical records
- 29 CFR 1926, Subpart I - Tools - hand and power
- 29 CFR 1926, Subpart J - Welding and cutting
- 29 CFR 1926.605 - Marine operations and equipment
- 29 CFR 1926, Subpart AA - Confined spaces in construction
Maritime, Shipyard Employment
- 29 CFR 1915.6 - Commercial diving operations (Requirements are identical to general industry, Subpart T)
Other applicable shipyard employment standards:
- 29 CFR 1915.87 - Medical services and first aid
- 29 CFR 1915.1020 - Access to employee exposure and medical records
Maritime, Marine Terminals
- 29 CFR 1917.1(a)(2)(iii) - Commercial diving operations (Requirements are identical to general industry, Subpart T)
Other applicable marine terminal standards:
29 CFR 1917.1(a)(2)(ii) - Access to employee exposure and medical records (Requirements are identical to general industry, 29 CFR 1910.1020)
North Carolina State-Specific Standards
- 13 NCAC 07F .0701 - .0716 - Blasting and the use of explosives
Recordkeeping
- Refer to
Recording and Reporting
Other Applicable Standards
The Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can also help identify other standards that may be applicable to your worksite.
Where can I learn more?
Compliance Documents
- CFR 171 - Commercial Diving Operations, provides enforcement guidelines for commercial diving.
- CPL 02-00-151 - Commercial Diving provides guidance concerning the application of occupational safety and health standards for commercial diving operations (1910, Subpart T).
Industry Guides
- Industry Guide 48 - OSHA Construction Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, includes requirements for commercial diving along with many other construction industry standards.
- Industry Guide 49 - OSHA General Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, includes requirements for commercial diving along with many other general industry standards.
- Industry Guide 53 - OSHA Shipyard Employment Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, highlights the requirements of standards related to commercial diving in shipyard employment.
- Industry Guide 54 - OSHA Marine Terminals Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training highlights the requirements of standards related to commercial diving at marine terminals.
Technical Assistance
- Inquiries about workplace safety and health requirements can be submitted to Ask OSH online or by phone at 919-707-7876.