Document ID No: MSSM-1-SF-001

Power & Water Utility Company for

Rev. No.: 0
Jubail and Yanbu (MARAFIQ) Valid Until : November 12 2010

MARAFIQ SAFETY MANUAL

19. DIVING OPERATIONS

Reference standards:
OSHA – 29 CFr 1910.401, 402, 410, 420 to 424.

19.1 DEFINITIONS
 Diver: a certified employee working in water using underwater breathing apparatus.

 Dive Team: divers and support employees involved in a diving operation, including the
designated person-in-charge.

 Dive Location: a surface or vessel from which a diving operation is conducted.

 Decompression Sickness: a condition with a variety of symptoms which may result from gas or
bubbles in the lung tissues of divers after pressure reduction.

 Bottom Time: the total elapsed time measured in minutes from the time when the diver leaves
the surface in descent to the time that the diver begins ascent.

 SCUBA Diving: a diving mode independent of surface supply in which the diver uses Self
Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

 Hyper baric Conditions: pressure conditions in excess of surface pressure.

 Standby Diver: a diver at the dive location available to assist a diver in the water.

Page 1 of 6
 Document ID No: MSSM-1-SF-001
Power & Water Utility Company for
Rev. No.: 0
Jubail and Yanbu (MARAFIQ) Valid Until : November 12 2010

MARAFIQ SAFETY MANUAL

19.2 HAZARDS
 Failure of the diver’s equipment, e.g. loss of air supply or
communication.

 Bad weather conditions, high water currents and adverse tidal effects.

 Mechanically induced water movements, e.g. increased water flow in

canals, suction pressure of water at canal sluice gate.

 Impacts from moving parts, e.g. diving boat propellers,

 Contamination of water by hazardous substances.

 Entanglement of supply and lifelines around underwater objects.

 Electric shock from underwater cathodic protection systems.

19.3 QUALIFIED DIVER

Any diving operation should be carried out only after obtaining Permit to Work Certificate

Divers must be:-

 more than 21 years of age and

 medically fit possessing medically fitness certificate valid for 12 months

 trained in First Aid and provided with first aid kit with records

 qualified and certified as a diver form third party inspectorate recognized by Saudi Government

 competent to use SCUBA (self contained under water breathing apparatus), underwater camera,
and other diving tools and equipment/ systems

 Fully aware of diving operating procedures including emergency procedure.

Page 2 of 6
 Document ID No: MSSM-1-SF-001
Power & Water Utility Company for
Rev. No.: 0
Jubail and Yanbu (MARAFIQ) Valid Until : November 12 2010

MARAFIQ SAFETY MANUAL

19.4 DIVING EQUIPMENT

Each diver should be equipped with SCUBA (self contained under
water breathing apparatus), a fully charged air cylinders, regulator,
pressure guage, octopus, body harness, weight belt, mask, fins,
snorkel, diving suit / coverall, gloves, a buoyancy control device (BCD),
underwater torch /light, watch and knife.

All diving equipment must be:-

 Maintained, calibrated, inspected, tested, etc, in accordance with

the manufacturer’s instructions.

 Inspected by diving supervisor quarterly (once in three months),

tagged and records should kept in log book.

 Visually inspected before conducting each dive and should not be

used if found defective.

SCUBA (self contained under water breathing apparatus) air cylinders

should be hydrostatically tested, inspected and stamped every two
years.

19.5 DIVING OPERATION MANUAL

Department conducting diving operation should develop “Diving
Operation Manual” and communicate its contents to each dive team
member.

Diving Operation Manual should contain following:-

 A copy of diving policy,

 Legal and international requirements for safe diving
 Safe diving operation techniques,
 Requirements and responsibilities of dive team members and
supervisor,
 Diving equipment operation, care, inspection and maintenance
procedures
 Emergency procedures for fire, equipment failure, adverse
environmental conditions, and medical illnesses and injuries, etc.

Page 3 of 6
 Document ID No: MSSM-1-SF-001
Power & Water Utility Company for
Rev. No.: 0
Jubail and Yanbu (MARAFIQ) Valid Until : November 12 2010

MARAFIQ SAFETY MANUAL

19.6 RISK ASSESSMENT

Risk assessments should be completed for different diving operations that will be conducted in
Marafiq Operating Areas and accordingly all arrangements should be made available to conduct
them safely.

For any changes in location or hazards risk assessment should be revised otherwise there is no
need to repeat the risk assessment.

Following factors should be considered while assessing risks:

 Surface and underwater conditions including contamination by hazardous chemical /
substances.
 Weather conditions, water currents, tidal effects, thermal effects, etc.
 Dive team assignments and physical fitness of dive team members.
 Repetitive dive designation of team members.
 Decompression and treatment procedure.
 Equipment inspection, efficiency and duration of use.
 Communication systems, warning signals,
 Access and egress including Emergency arrangement.
 Mechanically induced water disturbances, e.g. passing ships, increase of water flow in ducts,
water suction pressure at canal sluice gate, etc.
 Danger from moving machinery parts, e.g. ships propellers, pump blades.
 Entanglement of supply and lifelines around underwater objects.

Page 4 of 6
 Document ID No: MSSM-1-SF-001
Power & Water Utility Company for
Rev. No.: 0
Jubail and Yanbu (MARAFIQ) Valid Until : November 12 2010

MARAFIQ SAFETY MANUAL

19.7 DIVER’S LOG BOOK

Each diver will maintain a personal logbook with following personal
entries.

 Diver’s Name
 Employer’s name.
 Date of diving.
 Name of the Diving Supervisor.
 Name of the boat, or installation from which the diving operation is
carried out.
 Maximum depth reached on each occasion.
 Time spent under water on each occasion.
 Type of equipment used by the diver.
 Work carried out on each occasion.
 Details of decompression sickness or other illness/injury suffered by
the diver.
 Any other factor relevant to health.

Each daily entry should be signed by the diver and the diving
supervisor.

Record should be maintained in the log book for two years

Page 5 of 6
 Document ID No: MSSM-1-SF-001
Power & Water Utility Company for
Rev. No.: 0
Jubail and Yanbu (MARAFIQ) Valid Until : November 12 2010

MARAFIQ SAFETY MANUAL

19.8 SAFE DIVING OPERATION

 Diving supervisor should control diving operation and duration
of diving.

 A stand-by diver must be on deck at all times when a diver is

in the water.

 Divers should always be attached to a clearly visible BCD

(buoyancy control device) by a life line. In no case, divers
should be allowed to swim free.

 The recommended water temperature range for diving is

between 200 C – 350 degree C. Beyond these limits, diving
operation and duration should be judged by the diver based
on his knowledge, experience & comfort ability.

 The use of SCUBA equipment in water over 18 meters (60

feet) in depth should be restricted.

 Diving should be carried out using under water torch if it is

dark.

 Current speed should be determined before diving and

appropriate precautions taken.

 For currents in excess of one knot, an extra heavy weight belt

will probably be necessary to maintain diver’s position.

 In currents between 1.5 - 3.0 knots, a tether or anchor line is

required for divers to work at any given location.

 With current speed in excess of three knots, diving is not

recommended.

 Never exceed the maximum allowable pressure for any

particular cylinder (3000 psi or 204 bars on aluminum
cylinder).

Page 6 of 6