Government announces amendment to diving regulations  

Dianne Whalen, Minister of Government Services, announced today that an amendment to the Occupational Health and Safety Diving Regulations will enable seafood harvesters to conduct their diving operations following completion of a five-day Surface Safety Attendant�s course offered at the Marine Institute rather than the originally required supervisor�s course.  

�After consultations with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union, seafood harvesters and divers, we have found a common ground that will address the industry�s concerns over the requirement for harvesters to be certified diving supervisors,� said Minister Whalen.  �We have carried out a detailed review of diving safety for this industry in British Columbia , where similar advances in safety were made several years ago. Based on their experience, we are confident our approach will ensure an even greater advancement in safety for this industry.  

�My officials and officials at the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission have worked with the Marine Institute to develop a Surface Safety Attendants course.  Harvesters who complete this course will have detailed training in diving safety as well as a greater awareness of their responsibility for safety in sea harvesting operations. Interest in the course has been very positive to date. Together we have made excellent strides and I thank and congratulate everyone who has worked collaboratively to get us to this point.�  

Neither government nor sea harvesters want to see a delay in the seafood harvesting season and, therefore, the Marine Institute course will be available immediately ensuring harvesters have ample time to complete it and get ready to go out on the water this fall.  

The Marine Institute also wishes to take this opportunity to advise seafood harvesting divers that the five-day bridging certification program registration deadline is August 31, and any diver wishing to obtain the relevant certification will have to take the 20-day program. Harvesters and divers are encouraged to contact the Marine Institute to register for their courses as soon as possible.  

Since the Canadian Standard Association ( CSA ) Code for diving was adopted, over 100 divers have been trained with considerable improvements noted by enforcement staff in the level of compliance and safety.  Divers and harvesting crews are reminded they must have up-to-date diving medicals, appropriately maintained equipment and safety procedures developed, including emergency response protocols, before going back out on the water this coming season.   

For more information on the 20-day diver training program or the Surface Safety Attendant course, please call the Marine Institute at (709) 778-0623 .  Anyone requiring more information about the regulations can contact the Occupational Health and Safety Branch of the Department of Government Services at: (709) 729-2706 or 1-800-563-5471 .  

Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, (709) 729-4860 , 682-6593       

2005 08 04                                                        2:50 p.m.