IMCA has launched its Next Generation Network, a global initiative aimed at supporting early career professionals, and released a suite of updated guidance documents.
NOPSEMA Updates
The December 2025 issue of The Regulator, published by NOPSEMA, contains two key updates for hyperbaric workers, stemming from the recent amendments to the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Safety) Regulations 2024, which came into effect on 12 June 2025. The first is the release of updated Diving Guidelines, and the second brings focus to the importance of regulating psycho-social hazards in the workplace.
New guidelines for offshore diving in Australia
The updated guidelines bring a sharper lens to Diving Safety Management Systems (DSMS) and Dive Project Plans (DPPs), focusing on the level of detail and clarity required. One of the standout changes is a stronger emphasis on diver and supervisor engagement. Divers must now be directly involved in planning and implementation, reflecting global best practice and the outcome of extensive consultation with industry stakeholders. In addition, the revised regulations now require diving supervisors to report incidents and dangerous occurrences directly to NOPSEMA, a shift from previous operator-focused reporting, covering health, safety, and operational incidents.
Regulating psychosocial hazards: a new era in workplace safety
Ensuring offshore workers feel safe, supported and free from bullying and harassment is a vital part of workplace safety. Psychosocial health – once considered peripheral to traditional safety practices – is now central to regulatory frameworks across Australia. With new legislation under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act (OPGGS Act) coming into effect in June 2025, the offshore energy industry is being called to rethink how it identifies, assesses and controls risks that stem not from machinery or materials, but from culture, leadership and human interaction.
The latest issue of The Regulator was published in April 2026 and can be viewed online here.
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