§ 197.410 Dive procedures. ( a ) The diving supervisor shall insure that— ( 1 ) Before commencing diving operations, dive team members are briefed on— ( i ) The tasks to be undertaken;
( ii ) Any unusual hazards or environmental conditions likely to affect the safety of the diving operation; and
( iii ) Any modifications to the operations manual or procedures including safety procedures necessitated by the specific diving operation;
( 2 ) The breathing gas supply systems, masks, helmets, thermal protection, when provided, and bell lifting equipment, when a bell is provided or required, are inspected prior to each diving operation;
( 3 ) Each diver is instructed to report any physical problems or physiological effects including aches, pains, current illnesses, or symptoms of decompression sickness prior to each dive;
( 4 ) A depth, bottom time profile, including any breathing mixture changes, is maintained at the dive location for each diver during the dive, except that SCUBA divers shall maintain their own profiles;
( 5 ) A two-way voice communication system is used between— ( i ) Each surface-supplied diver and a dive team member at the dive location or bell (when provided); and
( ii ) The bell (when provided) and the dive location;
( 6 ) A two-way communication system is available at the dive location to obtain emergency assistance;
( 7 ) After the completion of each dive— ( i ) The physical condition of the diver is checked by— ( A ) Visual observation; and
( B ) Questioning the diver about his physical well-being;
( ii ) The diver is instructed to report any physical problems or adverse physiological effects including aches, pains, current illnesses, or symptoms of decompression sickness or gas embolism;
( iii ) The diver is advised of the location of an operational decompression chamber; and
( iv ) The diver is alerted to the potential hazards of flying after diving;
( 8 ) For any dive outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 130 fsw, or using mixed-gas as a breathing mixture— ( i ) A depth, time, decompression profile including breathing mixture changes is maintained for each diver at the dive location;
( ii ) The diver is instructed to remain awake and in the vicinity of the dive location decompression chamber for at least one hour after the completion of a dive, decompression, or treatment; and
( iii ) A dive team member, other than the diver, is trained and available to operate the decompression chamber; and
( 9 ) When decompression sickness or gas embolism is suspected or symptoms are evident, a report is completed containing— ( i ) The investigation for each incident including— ( A ) The dive and decompression profiles;
( B ) The composition, depth, and time of breathing mixture changes;
( C ) A description of the symptoms including depth and time of onset; and
( D ) A description and results of the treatment;
( ii ) The evaluation for each incident based on— ( A ) The investigation;
( B ) Consideration of the past performance of the decompression table used; and
( C ) Individual susceptibility; and
( iii ) The corrective action taken, if necessary, to reduce the probability of recurrence.
( b ) The diving supervisor shall ensure that the working interval of a dive is terminated when he so directs or when— ( 1 ) A diver requests termination;
( 2 ) A diver fails to respond correctly to communications or signals from a dive team member;
( 3 ) Communications are lost and cannot be quickly reestablished between— ( i ) The diver and a dive team member at the dive location; or
( ii ) The person-in-charge and the diving supervisor during liveboating operations; or
( 4 ) A diver begins to use his diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply.
[CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, as amended by USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58289, Sept. 29, 2014]