Policy Letter DIVE OPERATIONS SAFETY

Transcription

1 P.O. Box 958 Wheatland, CA Telephone Fax Policy Letter DISTRIBUTION: Board of Directors Project Team Leaders FROM: Dean A. Rewerts DIVE OPERATIONS SAFETY In addition to complying with all minimum recommendations, CSTR STRONGLY URGES all participants to obtain, be trained in, and use any ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED equipment and training. Each dive may have its own special requirements, therefore the project team leader/dive Master may alter these recommendations as appropriate. If any of these recommendations are legally required, they MUST be adhered to. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST SIGN A CSTR LIABILITY WAIVER TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY CSTR SPONSORED ACTIVITY. Minimum Dive Vessel Recommended Equipment Any vessel, commercial or private that is used to support volunteers diving in support of any California Ships to Reefs Sink Site/Projects should as a minimum meet the following recommended equipment levels: USCG required safety equipment for vessel s size and operating range, including sound making device, signal flares, signal smoke, personal floatation devices for all persons on board. USCG and State required hull identification, marker lights, Alpha and Diver Down flags, marine VHF two-way radio and cell phone and GPS device. Minimum 200-foot floating drift line with marker float and a throw-bag. Multi-person First Aid kit, bottled drinking water. Anchor with sufficient ground tackle and line to maintain a minimum of 5 to 1 scope to water depth. Can also be used as the divers descent/ascent line. Constant on-board crew of no less than a qualified operator plus crew member or assigned Dive Master.

2 Page 2 ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED to have on board: Emergency Oxygen kit with demand mask, non-re breather bag mask and CPR Pocket Mask. With a minimum of (2) Type D or larger Oxygen Cylinders. All dive operations should be planned and conducted during daylight hours. Maximum recommended acceptable wind speed at the dive site for all diving operations is 12 knots. Maximum recommended acceptable swell height at the dive site for all diving operations is 6 feet. Maximum recommended combined seas at the dive site for all diver operations are 5 feet. Minimum recommended surface visibility is 500 feet. No live boating is recommended for these dive operations. The dive vessel should be anchored at the specified dive location or anchored within 25 feet of the specified dive location if a separate descent/ascent line and buoy are used. Minimum Recommended Diver Qualifications Only divers that have, in addition to their Scuba Diver Certification by a recognized training agency, current CPR/First Aid/AED training, should participate in the dive operations. In addition all participating divers should have: 25 ocean dives within the last 18 months. 5 ocean dives to depths greater than 70 feet. All divers must certify themselves to be in good physical health and not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other material that could affect their ability to dive safely. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as decongestants, nausea medication and allergy medications must be identified to the Dive Master prior to the day s dive operations. Recommended Additional Training It is recommended and desirable that all participating divers have additional training in the following area: Advance Diver Certification. Rescue Diver Certification. Training and experience in underwater lighting and photography. Training and experience using navigational charts. Current Emergency Oxygen Administration training if the boat carries an Emergency Oxygen Kit.

3 Page 3 Minimum Recommended Personal Dive Equipment Each participating diver should have the following personal dive equipment and maintain this equipment as recommended by the manufacturer: Exposure suit wetsuit or dry suit, boots and gloves. Mask, snorkel, fins. Buoyancy device with integrated weight or separate weight belt. Regulator with alternate air source, depth gauge, pressure gauge and compass. Timing device and/or dive computer. Dive light, personal inflatable signal tube, whistle and knife. Minimum Recommended Dive Team Equipment Each participating dive team (aka buddy team) should dive with and understand the proper use of the following equipment that can be obtained from local participating dive facilities: A minimum size of 75 cu. ft psi scuba cylinder filled to capacity with CGA Grade E breathing air or an Enriched Air/Nitrox breathing gas suitable for the planned diving depth for each diver. Larger capacity cylinders are recommended. Descent/Ascent line and marker buoy. If preferred by the boat operator and dive team, a separate weighted dive marker can be deployed at the specified GPS coordinate. This marker should have a minimum of 25 pounds of total weight including chain, 3/8 inch minimum diameter line attached to a surface float that has sufficient buoyancy to support the recommended Safety Stop System. Waterproof dive tables and dive plan work sheets. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED for each diver to carry a minimum size of 13 cu. Ft. pony bottle scuba cylinder with regulator filled to capacity with a CGA Grade E breathing air. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED to assist in Safety Stops to have a minimum size 71.2 cu. Ft psi scuba cylinder filled to capacity with CGA Grade E breathing air with regulator and a number of 2 nd stage breathing units equal to the number of divers planned for a specific dive. This Deco or Safety Stop system is suspended at a depth of FSW on the divers descent/ascent line for use as needed during required safety stops.

4 Page 4 Recommended Minimum Dive Plan Requirements Each dive team will plan their dive(s) according to the following minimum requirements and will record their dive plan on the supplied dive plan work sheets: Maximum dive depth Maximum allowable No-Decompression Bottom Time All dives are to be planned as No-Decompression Required Dive Profiles Minimum on bottom breathing gas pressure Minimum 500 psi reserve breathing gas air pressure at the safety stop. All dives should be planned with a 5-minute Safety Stop at FSW. A minimum of 10 feet of bottom visibility is required to continue a dive. A minimum of 2 comparably equipped divers are required per dive team. Recommended Number of Dives per Day All dives should be planned as No-Decompression Required. Sufficient surface intervals should be planned and completed to allow for the required bottom time plus a margin of safety. The following are the maximum recommended allowable dives per dive and the maximum recommended allowable number of dives within 24 hours for each participating diver: 2 repetitive dives maximum per diver within 12 hours. 4 dives per diver maximum within 24 hours. All participating divers are advised not to fly in any aircraft at any altitude without a minimum of 24 hours surface interval from their most recent dive. All divers are advised not to use a spa or hot tub within 12 hours of their most recent dive below 60 feet. California Ships to Reefs, Inc., the Dive Master/Dive Team Leader, Boat Captain or Project Leader may decline to allow participation or may terminate a dive, or series of dives, based on his/her sole discretion. Dean A. Rewerts Vice President Reef Development For and approved by The Board of Directors California Ships to Reefs, Inc.

5 Page 5 Contact Information Local Harbor Patrol Radio Freq. Phone USCG Local Radio Freq. Phone Divers Alert Network Medical Information Medical Hotline / Local Dive Support Phone

6 Page 6 California Ships to Reefs, Inc. Project LIABILITY RELEASE AND EXPRESS ASSUMPTION OF RISK (print name) understands: Diving with compressed air involves certain inherent risks. These risks can lead to severe injury and even loss of life. Decompression sickness, embolism, or other hyperbaric injuries can occur that require treatment in a recompression chamber. The diving connected with the California Ships to Reefs Project may be conducted at a site that is remote, either by time or distance or both, from such recompression chamber. There are risks associated with dive travel, including, but not limited to, injury or loss of life as a result of a dive boat accident, as well as travel to and from dive sites. (initials) I am a certified scuba diver. I have fully informed myself of the nature of the diving-related activities connected with the California Ships to Reefs Project and am satisfied that I am competent to engage in those activities. If I dive with any breathing gas other than air, I am certified in the safe use of such gas for diving. I understand and agree that neither California Ships to Reefs, Inc., the Project Safety Officer, the Project volunteers, dive boat operator, the City of, the County of, the State of California, nor any of their respective employees, officers, directors, agents or assigns, (hereinafter referred to as Released Parties ) may be held liable or responsible in any way for an injury, death, or other damages to me or my family, heirs, or assigns that may occur as a result of my participation in diving-related activities connected with the California Ships to Reefs Project or as a result of the negligence of any party, including the Released Parties, whether passive or active. In consideration of being allowed to engage in diving-related activities connected with the California Ships to Reefs Project, I hereby personally assume all risks for any harm, injury or damage that may befall me while I am engaged therein, whether foreseen or unforeseen. I still choose to proceed with diving-related activities in spite of the possible absence of a recompression chamber in proximity to the dive site. I further save and hold harmless Released Parties from any claim or lawsuit by me, my family, estate, heirs, or assigns arising out of diving-related activities connected with the California Ships to Reefs Baseline Studies Project. I understand that scuba diving is a physically strenuous activity and that I will be exerting myself during diving-related activities. If I am injured as a result of a heat attack, panic, hyperventilation, etc., I expressly assume the risk of said injuries and will not hold the Released Parties responsible for the same. I am of lawful age and legally competent to sign this liability release. I am not relying on any oral or written representation or statements made by the Released Parties, other than what is set forth in this liability release. I further agree that this liability release shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States of America. I understand that the terms herein are contractual and not a mere recital. I have signed this liability release of my own free act. I affirm that this liability release is binding for all claims, including but not limited to, those claims in tort and contract. IT IS THE INTENTION OF (print name) TO EXEMPT AND RELEASE CALIFORNIA SHIPS TO REEFS, INC., THE CALIFORNIA SHIPS TO REEFS PROJECT, THE PROJECT SAFETY OFFICER, THE DIVE BOAT OPERATOR LISTED ABOVE, THE CITY OF, THE COUNTY OF, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND ALL RELATED ENTITIES AS DEFINED ABOVE, FROM ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR WRONGFUL DEATH HOWEVER CAUSED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES, WHETHER PASSIVE OR ACTIVE.

7 Page 7 I HAVE READ THIS LIABILITY RELEASE, I UNDERSTAND IT, AND I AGREE TO BE BOUND BY IT. I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE CALIFORNIA SHIPS TO REEFS DIVE SURVEY SAFETY POLICY. Signature Date:

8 Page 8 California Ships to Reefs, Inc. (Name of Sink Site or Project) Dive Log Date: Captain: Vessel Name: Dive Master: Diver #1: Location: Dive 1: Planned Maximum Depth: FSW NDL: Time In: Actual Maximum Depth: FSW ABT: Time Out: Surface Interval: Location: Dive 2: Planned Maximum Depth: FSW NDL: Time In: Actual Maximum Depth: FSW ABT: Time Out: Surface Interval: Diver #2: Location: Dive 1: Planned Maximum Depth: FSW NDL: Time In: Actual Maximum Depth: FSW ABT: Time Out: Surface Interval: Location: Dive 2: Planned Maximum Depth: FSW NDL: Time In: Actual Maximum Depth: FSW ABT: Time Out: Surface Interval: Notes:

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