Canada Oil and Gas Diving Regulations (SOR/88-600)
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Regulations are current to 2024-11-26
Application
3 These Regulations apply to any diving operation carried on in connection with the exploration or drilling for or the production, conservation, processing or transportation of oil or gas in areas to which the Act applies.
PART IProposed Diving Programs
Authorization
4 (1) A person may apply for an authorization under paragraph 3.2(1)(b) of the Act in respect of a proposed diving program by forwarding to the Minister an application, completed in triplicate, in the form prescribed by the Minister.
(2) An authorization under paragraph 3.2(1)(b) of the Act in respect of a proposed diving program is, in addition to any other requirements of these Regulations, subject to the requirements that the operator and the diving contractor, if any, of the diving program shall
(a) maintain the level of performance of the diving crew, diving plant and equipment and any craft or installation used in the diving program at or above the level of performance indicated in the application referred to in subsection (1) and accepted by the Minister, for the authorization for the diving program, as the level of performance at which the diving program will be carried on;
(b) where the operator or the diving contractor, as the case may be, proposes to replace a supervisor involved in the diving program or appoint an additional supervisor, provide the Minister with evidence that any replacement or additional supervisor who will be involved in the diving program meets the criteria set out in section 27, 29, 31 or 33 to supervise the category of dive the supervisor will be supervising; and
(c) where, in any area in which the diving program is being carried on, the environmental conditions, during any period, become more severe than the environmental conditions indicated in the application as being the most severe environmental conditions under which the diving program would be carried on, cease to carry on the diving program in that area during that period.
(3) No authorization may be given under paragraph 3.2(1)(b) of the Act in respect of a proposed diving program unless the applicant provides the Minister with evidence
(a) that a diving safety specialist was consulted on all safety aspects of the diving program;
(b) that a diving safety specialist will be available on a 24 hour a day basis to advise any person involved in the diving program, including any person making decisions affecting the safety of divers involved in the diving program, on all safety aspects of the diving program;
(c) that any supervisor who will be involved in the diving program meets the criteria set out in section 27, 29, 31 or 33 to supervise the category of dive the supervisor will be supervising;
(d) that the services of a specialized diving doctor, who is familiar with the diving procedures to be used in the diving operation that will form part of the diving program and who is within a travelling distance of the diving operation that is acceptable to the Minister, will be available on a 24 hour a day basis to any person involved in the diving program;
(e) of any certificates issued by the manufacturer or a recognized body in respect of the diving plant and equipment to be used in the diving program; and
(f) where a diving program is to be conducted by a diving contractor who is not also the operator of the diving program, that the diving contractor is able to meet any liability for loss, damage, costs or expenses that may be incurred by the diving contractor as a result of the diving program.
(4) No authorization may be given under paragraph 3.2(1)(b) of the Act in respect of a proposed diving program unless approval has been granted by the Minister for the following:
(a) the procedures manual that contains the procedures to be followed in the diving program, including the procedures referred to in Schedule I;
(b) the diving plant and equipment to be used in the diving program, including the two-compartment compression chamber referred to in subparagraph 9(5)(h)(ii) and paragraph 47(3)(a), and any equivalent first-aid supplies referred to in paragraph 12(2)(b);
(c) schematic drawings showing the general arrangement of any diving plant and equipment to be used in the diving program and their location on board the craft or installation on which or from which they will be used in the diving program;
(d) where a craft is to be used in the diving program and is to be used in a manner referred to in subparagraph 12(2)(p)(iv), to be approved in accordance with section 5, the manner in which the craft is to be used;
(e) any use in the diving program of a craft in the dynamically positioned mode and the dynamically positioned diving operational capacity graph in respect of the craft;
(f) where a diving submersible is to be used in the diving program and is to be secured in a manner referred to in subparagraph 18(b)(iii), to be approved in accordance with section 5, the manner in which the diving submersible is to be secured;
(g) any experimental equipment or technique to be used in the program;
(h) any evacuation, rescue and treatment facilities and devices provided for the program pursuant to section 23; and
(i) the contingency plan to be followed in the diving program including the emergency procedures referred to in Schedule II and the particulars of any additional evacuation, rescue and treatment facilities and devices to be provided for use in the diving program.
5 (1) The Minister is authorized to grant, in accordance with subsection (2), any approval prescribed in these Regulations and to make that approval subject to, in addition to the requirements prescribed in these Regulations, such requirements, terms or conditions as the Minister determines.
(2) The Minister shall provide a person with evidence of any approval granted to the person pursuant to subsection (1).
(3) The Minister is authorized to suspend or revoke an approval referred to in subsection (1) for failure to comply with, or for contravention of, the terms and conditions subject to which the approval was granted.
(4) Where the Minister, pursuant to subsection (3), suspends or revokes an approval granted to a person, the Minister shall give the person an opportunity to show cause why the approval should not be suspended or revoked.
PART IIOperators
Duties
6 (1) The operator of a diving program shall
(a) arrange for the services of a diving safety specialist who will be available on a 24 hour a day basis to advise any person involved in the diving program, including any person making decisions affecting the safety of divers involved in the diving program, on all safety aspects of the diving program;
(b) make available a suitable place from which any diving operation that is part of the diving program may be conducted;
(c) to the extent practicable, give advance notice of any operation that is part of the diving program to the person in charge of any craft or installation in the vicinity of the operation;
(d) make available adequate forecasts of environmental conditions to the supervisor on duty at a diving operation that is part of the diving program
(i) before the diving operation begins, and
(ii) during the diving operation, at intervals of not more than 24 hours and at any time where the supervisor requests those forecasts;
(e) inform the supervisor on duty at a diving operation that is part of the diving program of any matter within the operator’s control that may affect the safety of the diving operation;
(f) provide an adequate and effective system of communication between the supervisor who is on duty and any person, other than the divers and pilots, involved in, or in a position to assist in, a diving operation that is part of the diving program, including a winch or crane operator and a person on the bridge, on the rig floor or in the main control room of a craft or installation used in the diving operation;
(g) while a diving operation that is part of the diving program is in progress, prominently display notices to that effect
(i) in the case of any craft or installation used in the diving operation, on the bridge and in the engine room, and
(ii) in the case of any diving plant and equipment used in the diving operation, on any controls the operation of which might endanger a diver or pilot and on any controls for impressed current cathodic protection;
(h) display in the control room of a craft that will be operated in the dynamically positioned mode in a diving operation that is part of the diving program a copy of the dynamically positioned diving operational capacity graph in respect of the craft;
(i) in the event that a member of a diving crew involved in the diving program meets with an accident, notify the Minister of the accident by the most rapid and practicable means and submit to the Minister a report of the accident in the form set out in Schedule III;
(j) in the event of a serious illness affecting a member of a diving crew involved in the diving program or an incident in connection with the diving program, notify the Minister of the illness or incident as soon as possible, investigate the cause of the illness or incident and submit to the Minister a report of that illness or incident, including, in the case of an incident, a report in the form set out in Schedule III;
(k) submit to the Minister a monthly report of all injuries to any member of a diving crew involved in a diving operation that is part of the diving program; and
(l) during the course of any diving operation that is part of the diving program, display a copy of the authorization under paragraph 3.2(1)(b) of the Act for that diving program and evidence of any approval granted in relation to that authorization pursuant to section 5 in a prominent place at the diving station for the diving operation.
(2) The operator of a diving program shall not
(a) conduct any diving operation that is part of the diving program in the vicinity of any other activity that might pose a danger to any person involved in the diving operation;
(b) use, in a diving operation, any craft that has insufficient power or stability for the safe conduct of the diving operation; and
(c) prevent any diving contractor involved in the diving program from complying with any of the provisions of these Regulations.
Changes in Equipment and Procedures
7 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the operator of a diving program shall
(a) forthwith repair, replace or alter or arrange for the repair, replacement or alteration of any diving plant and equipment that is being used in the diving program and that is defective or becomes inadequate or unsafe;
(b) alter any procedure set out in the procedures manual for the diving program that becomes unsafe, inadequate or deficient; and
(c) where necessary, initiate a new procedure in respect of the diving program.
(2) Where, pursuant to subsection (1), the operator of a diving program
(a) repairs, replaces or alters or arranges for the repair, replacement or alteration of any diving plant and equipment referred to in paragraph (1)(a), other than a routine repair, replacement or alteration carried out by a competent person,
(b) alters a procedure set out in the procedures manual for the diving program, or
(c) initiates a new procedure in respect of the diving program,
the operator shall, prior to any activity referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c), obtain such approval as the Minister determines pursuant to paragraph 3.2(1)(b) of the Act.
Authorization
8 (1) An operator may apply for authorization pursuant to subsection 12.2(1) of the Act to use equipment, methods, measures or standards that do not comply with these Regulations.
(2) An application referred to in subsection (1) shall set out the manner in which the equipment, methods, measures or standards that are the subject of the application provide a level of safety and pollution prevention at least equivalent to that which would be provided by compliance with these Regulations.
PART IIIDiving Contractors
Duties
9 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no diving contractor shall conduct a diving operation unless the diving contractor has arranged for the services of a diving safety specialist, other than the diving safety specialist available pursuant to paragraph 4(3)(b), who will be available on a 24 hour a day basis to advise any person involved in the diving operation, including any person making decisions affecting the safety of divers involved in the diving operation, on all safety aspects of the diving operation.
(2) Where the operator referred to in subsection 6(1) and the diving contractor referred to in subsection (1) are the same person, the diving safety specialist required pursuant to subsection (1) may be the same person as the diving safety specialist required pursuant to paragraph 4(3)(b).
(3) No diving contractor shall conduct a diving operation that includes
(a) a category I dive unless the diving contractor has appointed in writing a person who meets the criteria set out in section 27, 29 or 31 to supervise the diving operation and such a supervisor is present at all times during the diving operation;
(b) a category II dive unless the diving contractor has appointed in writing a person who meets the criteria set out in section 29 or 31 to supervise the diving operation and such a supervisor is present at all times during the diving operation;
(c) a category III dive unless the diving contractor has appointed in writing a person who meets the criteria set out in section 31 to supervise the diving operation and such a supervisor is present at all times during the diving operation; and
(d) the use of an ADS unless the diving contractor has appointed in writing a person who meets the criteria set out in section 33 to supervise the diving operation and such a supervisor is present at all times during the diving operation.
(4) No diving contractor shall, in a diving operation conducted by the diving contractor, employ a person
(a) to make a category I dive unless the person meets the criteria set out in section 53, 55 or 57;
(b) to make a category II dive unless the person meets the criteria set out in section 55 or 57;
(c) to make a category III dive unless the person meets the criteria set out in section 57; or
(d) to pilot an ADS unless the person meets the criteria set out in section 64.
(5) A diving contractor who conducts a diving operation that is part of a diving program shall
(a) ensure that every diving supervisor employed by the diving contractor in the diving program on a full-time basis has the opportunity to supervise each year a minimum of 12 dives appropriate to the category of dive for which the supervisor is certified;
(b) ensure that every ADS supervisor employed by the diving contractor in the diving program on a full-time basis has the opportunity to supervise each year a minimum of six ADS dives;
(c) ensure that every diver employed by the diving contractor in the diving program on a full-time basis has the opportunity to make each year a minimum of 24 dives, totalling a minimum of 20 hours of bottom time, appropriate to the category of dive for which the diver is certified;
(d) ensure that every pilot employed by the diving contractor in the diving program on a full-time basis has the opportunity to make each year at least four ADS dives totalling a minimum of 16 hours of bottom time;
(e) ensure that, except in the case of an emergency, each member of a diving crew involved in the diving operation, in every 24 hour period,
(i) has a rest period of not less than eight consecutive hours, and
(ii) is required to work not more than 12 hours;
(f) follow the procedures set out in the procedures manual for the diving program and any altered or newly initiated procedures referred to in section 7 for the diving program;
(g) maintain, at the craft or installation from which the diving operation is conducted, two copies of these Regulations and a copy of the applicable procedures manual and make them available to any person involved or to be involved in the diving operation and, on request, to the Minister or a conservation engineer;
(h) provide or arrange for the provision of any diving plant and equipment necessary for the safe conduct of the diving operation, including
(i) adequate firefighting equipment, and
(ii) a two-compartment compression chamber that
(A) has been approved for the diving program, in accordance with section 5, for use at a pressure that is not less than six atmospheres absolute and, where the maximum working pressure that may be encountered during any dive that is part of the diving operation is greater than six atmospheres absolute, for use at the maximum pressure plus one atmosphere,
(B) is suitable for the diving operation, and
(C) is located in a readily accessible place on board the craft or installation from which the diving operation is conducted, except in the case of a diving operation that is conducted at a depth of 10 m or less, and, where the supervisor of the diving operation approves, may be located within one hour’s travelling time from the dive site;
(i) use only diving plant and equipment that is of sound construction, adequate strength, free from patent defects and in good working order;
(j) provide for the protection of the diving plant and equipment used in the diving operation from malfunction in the environmental conditions under which the diving plant and equipment are to be used, including conditions of low or high temperatures;
(k) permit only such repair, replacement and alteration of diving plant and equipment used in the diving operation as has been approved pursuant to subsection 7(2) and ensure that routine repair, replacement or alteration is carried out by a competent person;
(l) provide adequate illumination of the dive site and the underwater work site of the diving operation
(i) during any period of darkness or low visibility, and
(ii) where the supervisor of the diving operation requests the illumination and where the nature of the diving operation so permits;
(m) provide a diving operations logbook that is permanently bound and has numbered pages;
(n) retain any diving operations logbook referred to in paragraph (m) that is delivered to the diving contractor by a supervisor pursuant to subsection 50(5), and any records or copies delivered to the diving contractor by a supervisor pursuant to subsection 52(3), for a period of not less than two years after the day of the last entry made in it; and
(o) produce, on request, any logbooks, records or copies referred to in paragraph (n) for inspection by the Minister or a conservation engineer.
(6) Where continuance of a diving operation would compromise or is likely to compromise the safety or would endanger or is likely to endanger the health, well-being or life of, any person involved in the diving operation, the diving contractor who conducts the diving operation shall forthwith interrupt or discontinue the diving operation.
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