Canadian Association of Diving Contractors

The new CSA Z275.2-15 standard released last fall contains changes that have caused some confusion in their interpretation or intent within the industry. To clarify these clauses, the Z275 Diving Standards main technical committee has issued two interpretation documents addressing the clauses (Note: These are only interpretation documents. Any changes to the clauses will be addressed in the review of the standards for the next edition scheduled for release in 2020).

 Z275.2-15 Interpretation Note for use of a three-man dive crew with a diver’s emergency assistant:

CLAUSE 8.2.1.2 Conditions for three-man dive team with a diver’s emergency assistant

A dive team of three, consisting of a diver, a supervisor/tender, and a standby diver, is acceptable where the diving supervisor has completed and approved a job hazard analysis (risk assessment), determining that there is:

1. Good underwater visibility;
2. No danger to the diver from natural currents or currents associated with weirs, dams, sluices, locks, outlets, or inlets in the vicinity of the workplace;
3. No risk of entrapment or entanglement of the diver; and
4. Emergency assistance from an on-site additional person,
5. Capable of rendering emergency assistance;
6. Acceptable to the dive supervisor; and

• Readily available in case of an emergency.

Note: A competent diver’s tender would have these capabilities (ref. CSA Z275.4, Clause 12).

 New definition

Diver’s emergency assistant: A person who is available and able to physically assist top-side personnel in the event of a dive emergency (see Clause 8.2.1.2).

 Interpretation

The intent of this clause is to recognize operational situations where a full complement of qualified and competent diver, standby-diver, tender, and dive supervisor (four-man crew) may be viewed as being impractical or excessive. This could include situations in swimming pool repair or inspection, some movie production, shallow inspections, scientific diving, etc., where the perceived risk to the diver has been determined to be minimal and satisfies the environmental requirements of 8.2.1.2 (a)(b)(c).

The bottom line is that on any diving operation—no matter what the perceived risk is—if something were to go wrong and the standby diver was required to enter the water to effect a rescue or assistance, there is still a requirement for a fourth person to assist the diving team in the rescue or assistance. Under no circumstances, would there ever be only three people on a diving operation—there would always be at least four competent personnel on-site. The qualifications of this fourth person (acceptable to the dive supervisor) would be as defined as a “Diver’s emergency assistant” as defined in Z275.2-15 or a competent diver’s tender (CSA Z275.4, Clause 12).

The key to this is what is expected of this Diver’s Emergency Assistant. Simply put, the qualifications of this fourth person are very specific and would require competency and familiarity of diving operations and rescue techniques for a stricken diver, diving communications, emergency first aid specific to diving operations, and physical fitness to effectively assist the dive crew should something go wrong. All of these qualifications are easily satisfied by a competent diver’s tender.

A copy of the CSA interpretation document is located here: Z275.2-15 - Interp No. 2 - Diver's Emergency Assistant

UPDATE NOTE: At the June 2016 meeting of the CSA Diving Standards committee, it was voted on to remove this clause entirely from the next version of the standard. A minimum of 4 competent diving personnel will be required on ALL surface supplied diving operations.

 Doug Elsey is the vice-chair of the Z275 Diving Standards’ main technical committee, and he is also executive director of the CADC.