Launch of Offshore Infrastructure Regulator website
The Offshore Infrastructure Regulator (OIR) is a new body established to oversee the offshore renewables industry in Australian Commonwealth waters.
IMCA Updates
New and updated documentation is now available to download from IMCA on a range of topics including the International Code of Practice for offshore diving; guidance on prevention and mitigation of lost bell emergencies; and protection of water intake points for diver safety.
Safety
Three safety events from IMCA report on an incident where differential pressure caused a dummy choke to eject near divers; a lift bag near miss and a foreign body causing a fall in gas pressure in a divers helmet.
Changes to ADAS Board
In May 2023 ADAS farewelled long-serving Board member Dr Sarah Lockley and welcomed Dr Susannah Sherlock to the Board.
ADAS Welcomes New Chair and Board Member
ADAS has welcomed a new Board Chair Dr Stuart Cannon, and Board Member, Ben Law, as we farewell Board member Wendy Chambers and Chairman Ian Milliner, and thank Ian for his ten years of service on the ADAS Board.
ADAS Schools Update
There have recently been changes to ADAS training facilities with one school expanding into Western Australia and another no longer offering ADAS training courses.
IMCA Updates
IMCA has published two new Guidance documents: the first provides information and guidance on the provision, acceptance and handling of breathing gases for diving, the second on protecting divers during underwater excavations. Additionally, IMCA Contractor Members are invited to submit Safety Statistics for 2022.
Safety
Two safety events reported from IMCA include the tragic death of a dive instructor caused by incorrect valve threads on a diving cylinder, and a near miss incident where a diver’s umbilical became trapped. We also share an update from Safe Work Australia on managing psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
IMCA Environmental Sustainability Focus
IMCA published its Code of Practice for Environmental Sustainability in May 2021. Following a successful launch and engagement process the Code was used as a basis for developing a self-assessment questionnaire for IMCA members to establish how they are performing in terms of Environmental Sustainability.
International Updates – IDRCF Meets, South African Certifications Update
After two years of virtual remote meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IDRCF and EDTC were able to meet face-to-face again in September 2022 in Marseille, France. In other news, the South African Department of Labour (SADOL) has introduced a legal requirement for commercial diving personnel to register with SADOL and revalidate that registration every four years.