Forum - WSH for Commercial Diving

“Initiatives by WSH Council”

Kevin Teoh
Director, Industry Capability Building
 My Paper.
Aug 29, 2008

The Straits Times. Oct 2, 2008 The Straits Times. Sep 29, 2008
 WSHC + MOM Response

Workgroup has been set up to help improve WSH standards

in the diving industry

Areas being looked into:

1. Review of SS511
2. Publishing a set of Technical Advisories (TA)
3. Training needs for commercial diving (inland/inshore)
4. Certification requirements
5. Implementation Plan
Items Workgroup is Looking At

1. Review of SS511
- work within framework administered by Spring Singapore
- identify & update areas (in line with recognized standards)

2. Diving Works TA
- assist in the interpretation of SS511
- define roles and responsibilities in diving operations
Phase 1
- provide practical guidance on measures to ensure
safety & health of the dive team
- specific tasks (e.g. keel blocks, underwater cutting,
installation of cofferdam)
Items Workgroup is Looking At

3. Training Needs
- establishing diving/ skills competency standards
- formal diver training leading to recognized certification
- accredit training providers to conduct diving/ competency
courses

4. Certification Requirements
- inclusion of diver training in Factories (Safety Training
Courses) Order
- financial assistance to employers/ employees
e.g. Skills Development Fund (SDF)
Items Workgroup is Looking At

5. Implementation Plan
- effective date, transition period
- availability of Accredited Training Providers (ATP)
For Discussion

TA
- checklists usefulness
- types of diving works and associated risks

Competency Standards
- focus on inland/ inshore diving
- modular training framework
- proposed coverage: Basic, SCUBA, Surface Supply
For Discussion

Certification
- recurrency requirements
- types of courses (diving vs skills vs safety)

Funding
- company sponsor/ subsidize diver’s training
- SDF
Thank You
 Types of Diving Works
Shipbuilding and ship-repairing
• Underwater checking/positioning of keel blocks for docking of
ships in dry docks
• Ship hull cleaning
• Underwater survey and inspection works
• Underwater repair, cleaning and polishing of propellers.
• Rudder pintle measurement for underwater classification survey.
• Underwater cutting and welding work
• Installation of cofferdam

Civil construction
• Marine construction projects

Process/ Power generation

• Cleaning of screen of sea water cooling intake system.