Regulations ensure safety of occupational divers

Government Services Minister Dianne Whalen today impressed upon the occupational diving industry the importance of competency requirements and training to ensure the safety of divers in this province.

Government adopted the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Competency Standard for Diving Operations in March 2004 after years of consultation and a two-year notice period. The Workplace Health and Safety Compensation Commission (WHSCC) entered into an agreement with the Marine Institute to establish courses in 2002 specifically designed to meet the requirements of the new regulations and accommodate the training needs of the seafood harvesting and aquaculture industry.

The sea urchin harvesting season is now being delayed in some areas of the province because of the lack of qualified divers. The department has worked with industry, the Marine Institute and other government agencies to expedite the training and certification of occupational divers to ensure the least disruption to the sea urchin harvesting season.

"These regulations are for the safety of these divers and to ensure they come home to their families each night," Minister Whalen said. "We gave companies and divers two years to get ready for the new training requirements. Information packages were sent to all divers and processors in the province. Government will not take on the liability of further delaying the implementation of the training and competency standard."

After investigating the diving death of a sea urchin harvester in 1998, the province�s chief medical examiner recommended government adopt occupational diving standards. Four divers have died on the job in this province since 1992.

The Marine Institute offers a five-day bridging course for more experienced divers to meet the standard, and an extensive 20-day course for those with less experience. The first course begins September 20. Courses will run until the roughly 50 eligible divers are trained and certified.

"We will not let people in the water until we know they are qualified to do so. The sea urchin harvesting season runs until March, depending on the area, so quotas should still be able to be met once divers receive their certification," Minister Whalen said.

The competency standard requires all occupational divers in the province be certified, and it sets the minimum requirements and performance specifications to determine and measure competency. There are several levels of certification required, depending on the type of work being carried out. The Marine Institute courses meet the legislative training requirements for seafood harvesting and aquaculture operations. If divers pass the courses, they are certified to work in the seafood harvesting sector.

The Marine Institute is in the process of being accredited by the Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC). Officials from the DCBC will be in the province the week of September 20 to evaluate the program. The accreditation process recognizes the school as meeting its standard for training institutions. Divers still need to apply to the DCBC to be individually certified. For more information on this process, contact the WHSCC at (709) 778-1000 or toll-free 1-800-563-9000.

Government adopted two CSA standards in 2002: the Competency Standard for Diving Operations, which came into force in March 2004, and the Occupational Safety Code for Diving Operations, which came into effect in September 2002. The operations safety code sets out minimum operational requirements including crew size, equipment requirements and emergency planning.

Government wants to remind those individuals and companies who employ divers that they are responsible for ensuring divers are properly certified for the type of work being carried out, and they follow safe operating procedures accordingly.

Anyone requiring more information about the regulations, training and eligibility for funding can contact the Occupational Health and Safety Branch at (709) 729-2706 or 1-800-563-5471.

Media contact: Tracy Barron, Communications (709) 729-4860 or 690-6157

2004 09 09                3:45 p.m.