CSA Z275.4-12 (R2017)

1.1

This Standard applies to occupational diving, hyperbaric facility, and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations conducted in connection with all types of work and employment and describes the requirements for minimum competency levels for all personnel directly associated with the identified techniques of diving or ROV operations.

Canadian safety and health legislation requires that all workers be competent to perform the work assigned to them. It requires competency in both the theory and use of the type of diving apparatus or ROV employed.

This Standard has been established to provide diver and ROV training facilities and the diving and ROV industry with a uniform minimum level of competency necessary for the various levels of diver and ROV techniques. This level of competency will allow the diver or ROV pilot/technician to safely and competently complete the specific tasks required of occupational divers or ROV personnel.

Note: It is recognized that certain underwater tasks can require specialized codes of practice. It is possible that competency levels that differ from the requirements of this Standard will be acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.

1.2

This Standard addresses competency requirements for the following types of diving:

(a) occupational (open-circuit) SCUBA diving;

(b) surface-supplied diving:

(i) air:

(1) restricted surface-supplied; and

(2) unrestricted surface supplied; and

(ii) mixed gas; and

(c) deep diving:

(i) bell techniques (bell);

(ii) saturation techniques (SAT); and

(iii) atmospheric diving system techniques (ADS).

1.3

This Standard addresses the competency requirements for the following types of personnel associated with the diving techniques specified in Clause 1.2:

(a) divers/pilots;

(b) tenders;

(c) diving supervisors;

(d) hyperbaric chamber operators (HCOs);

(e) life-support technicians (LSTs);

(f) diving medical technicians (DMTs);

(g) diving safety specialists (DSSs);

(h) diving physicians and hyperbaric physicians; and

(i) ROV pilots/technicians.

1.4 This Standard

(a) does not apply to diving operations performed solely for sport recreation or sport recreation training;

(b) does not include work techniques associated with underwater diving operations; and

(c) does not include special competency requirements for unexploded explosive ordnance (UXO) diving operations (see CSA Z275.6 for such requirements).

1.5

This Standard does not apply to scientific diving as defined in Clause 3.1.

Note: For divers involved in scientific diving, refer to CAUS’s Standard of Practice for Scientific Diving.

1.6

In CSA standards, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (nonmandatory) to define their application.

1.7

The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in parentheses are for information and comparison only.