WorkSafe Victoria Deep Dives into Safety

A number of WorkSafe Victoria Work Health and Safety inspectors were recently involved in an ‘on the job’ training day to expand their knowledge in the running of an occupational diving project and site. Attendees felt the experience was valuable to their knowledge of the industry.

ADAS strongly supports the development of diving awareness for workplace inspectors and has in the past run specific training courses for inspectors.  It is very pleasing to see State authorities now taking the initiative to undertake this training ‘in-house’ and we hope that the training is able to be continued and extended to other States in the future.

The following article has been kindly written and submitted by WorkSafe Victoria.

“WorkSafe Victoria has enhanced its occupational diving expertise with a special vessel and diving operations session at Melbourne’s Station Pier.

Eight WorkSafe Victoria inspectors attended the session in September for an update about the work occupational divers perform, the equipment used and the safety systems in place.

The session provided inspectors with great insight into the planning and communication occupational divers undertake to ensure tasks are completed safely both above and below the waterline.

WorkSafe Central Region Operations Manager, Ian Matthews, said that while WorkSafe has specialist inspectors trained in occupational diving safety, all inspectors could be required to attend incidents or conduct workplace visits that involve piers and reservoirs.

“As occupational divers know, working in a submerged environment is dangerous and requires a high level of technical safety expertise,” Mr Matthews said.

“The opportunity to observe these safety systems in everyday practice – and not when an incident has occurred – is invaluable.”

The session involved an induction to the vessel, tool box talks, safety checks, monitoring of dive operations and observing piling repair works from the vessel.

Inspectors said they were impressed with the way activities were coordinated and how crew members of the vessel they observed communicated while working, and made the following comments:

 “It was refreshing to see from an inspector’s point of view that safety was given priority.”

“It was good to see the actual tasks being undertaken, the rigorous safety and supervision systems in place along with the equipment used and maintenance schedules.”

In October WorkSafe Victoria released a safety alert for occupational diving.”

* The above article was written and submitted by WorkSafe Victoria.