The use of divers to assist nuclear power plant managers and engineers developed during plant construction periods. Divers by their nature have always offered practical solutions to engineering and construction problems and this emerging industry realized the value of a veteran diver's expertise. As working relationships grew, engineers and managers operating the nuclear plants started looking for more practical solutions for underwater maintenance and modifications.
Nuclear plants process huge amounts of water through many complex piping and tunnel systems.
Divers have been instrumental in lowering operating costs by offering the options to perform work requests without dewatering specific systems. Since all nuclear power facilities in the U.S. are licensed and regulated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, divers had to adjust their culture and working protocols. Terms like quality assurance, quality control, technical specification guidelines, foreign material exclusion, strict procedural adherence, fitness for duty, FBI background screening, security badging, and physiological testing presented new challenges that could not be overlooked. Transcending this barrier meant conforming to rugged guidelines, as many systems that divers work within are protected safety-related components. This article examines the standards, ethics, protocols, and conditions that exist in today's market for performing diving operations within nuclear facilities.