Canadian Association of Diving Contractors

Welcome to the digital edition of the 2016 -2017 Winter version of CADC Magazine.

The adage that “the only thing sure thing in life is change” rings true as I write this just into the New Year. Besides the New Year and political shifts around the world, we in the Canadian Diving industry are facing changes and challenges as we move forward.

The overall theme of this issue of the magazine is on change and transitions within in our industry on some matters before us and challenges we face.

IT IS COLD!!! The cover this issue dramatically shows the reality of diving in Canada – there are hot summer days and bitterly cold winters – and there are the seasons in between. The cover shows the harshness of diving in this shoulder season where the fall turns into winter – and the water goes from “soft” to “hard” resulting in that “tween” time where it is difficult to dive through or even stand on the interface. The cover illustrates that moving ice doesn’t help things either as the diver is pulled through that interface with a roof of ice on the cage. Welcome to winter. Only in Canada, eh!?

These seasonal changes can happen very fast and not being prepared and properly geared or crewed up for it can have profound consequences to dive operations and safety. Dave Geddes talks about the operational challenges of working in the transitions of seasons – and things to consider with the changes.

One Country – One Dive Standard is the quest right now for the CADC in our industry. I discuss the reality of achieving this goal and the challenges facing the stakeholders to get it done. A positive move forward is that the federal government has announced an initiative to harmonize occupational health and safety across the country. The timeline is two years for some sort of plan. Will it happen? Read the article and find out the obstacles ahead and solutions to consider in making it work.

Always being away and on the road or at sea can take its physical toll on the dive crew. Staying in shape while living in a cheap hotel room, on some offshore installation, ship or rig is not that easy. Usually the food is either good or really bad and getting a proper diet or exercise has it challenges. Kensen Jardine of CDMS Atlantic takes a look at the importance of staying in shape and getting a proper diet on the dive crew – and especially focuses on the diver in this physically demanding job where wearing heavy dive gear and lugging compressors and K-bottles is a way of life. Safety first – be in shape!

Our project spotlight this issue is on Dominion Divers based out of Winnipeg. Garth Hiebert discusses one of their jobs that included the of task of spudding in his barges in a river with zero visibility –  right beside a live gas line. Explosive stuff!

Diver training is evolving to fit the reality of the worksite. Vern Johnson of the Commercial Diving Institute of Canada (CDI) updates us on their facility and how they have modified their training to address real workplace tasks.

Sherri Ferguson (Simon Fraser University) updates us on the latest changes in the CSA Hyperbaric Standard 275.1 and what we should be looking out for. One of the main updates is the operational and medical/research facilities are now broken out separately. The standard has undergone a major rewrite and update worth noting.

Bob Dylan sang “The times they are a changin’.” They sure are – it’s the only sure thing. Welcome to winter – spring is coming!!!

Dive safe – be safe.  And above all, Participate – it really is YOUR Industry.

DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE HERE: CADC MAG WINTER 2016-17 FINAL (2)  (THE HARD COPY WILL BE GOING OUT TO SUBSCRIBERS BY END OF JANUARY)

Doug Elsey, P.Eng.
Exec Director CADC.