Diving operations

Prepared by the diving contractor, in consultation with their workforce, a diving safety management system (DSMS) sets out how the diving contractor will manage risks to the health and safety of their workforce, while undertaking any diving project, to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).

The DSMS must demonstrate, through its contents and supporting materials, how the diving contractor will manage the technical and human activities of their diving project, how safety will be ensured in the event of an emergency, and the methods to be used for monitoring and reviewing their activities to ensure the continual improvement of safety arrangements.

NOPSEMA's assessment of a DSMS is undertaken by a dedicated team comprised of highly trained and qualified technical experts with many years’ of experience in commercial diving. To be accepted, a DSMS must meet all requirements of the Safety Regulations.

If accepted, a DSMS will remain in force for five years. After five years, a revision must be submitted to NOPSEMA for assessment. A revision of a DSMS must also be submitted to NOPSEMA where the diving contractor has identified a new or increased risk, or has made a change to how their diving activities will be undertaken.

The diagram below provides a broad overview of the DSMS assessment process. NOPSEMA aims to make a decision within 60 days (new) and 28 days (revised), however, as DSMSs vary in their complexity and scope, assessment timeframes may vary.

Concordance table - DSMS

The elements detailed within the Diving safety management system concordance tables form the basis under which NOPSEMA assesses the DSMS. This should be used to indicate in the free text areas against each element where in the DSMS compliance is demonstrated. On completion, this table should be provided to NOPSEMA at the same time the DSMS is submitted.

When a diving contractor has an accepted DSMS, and an agreed contract of work with a facility operator, then they are required to prepare, in consultation with their workforce and the facility operator, a diving project plan (DPP).

The DPP is a detailed plan developed to manage a specific diving project. It must take into account the requirements of the project and dive site, cover the general principles of the diving techniques to be used and provide contingency procedures for any foreseeable emergency, including retrieving injured and unconscious divers from the water.

The DPP must ensure arrangements between the safety management systems of the accepted DSMS and facility safety case are coordinated and clearly understood, and that there is common understanding and agreement between the diving contractor and facility operator on issues such as simultaneous operations and emergency response.

All DPPs are assessed by the facility operator in accordance with the requirements of the Safety Regulations. NOPSEMA will assess a DPP where a diving contractor seeks to undertake a diving project where there is no facility operator, such as diving for survey purposes prior to construction of a pipeline or a well that is in a non-producing state.

If a diving contractor makes any changes to the DPP, those changes must be made using management of change procedures in consultation with their workforce and facility operator, and be accepted by the operator. The DPP remains in force for the duration of the diving project.

The diagram below provides a broad overview of the DPP assessment process. DPPs are assessed by the facility operator against the requirements of the Safety Regulations.

Workforce consultation and participation is mandatory during the development and revision of a DSMS and DPP. Engagement with the workforce ensures they are informed about the risks they may be exposed to during a diving project, and the control measures and safety management systems to be applied in the management of those risks.

It is the responsibility of the facility operator to ensure risks at their facility are managed in accordance with the accepted DSMS, DPP and facility safety case. NOPSEMA reviews the safety performance of the diving contractor and facility operator through on-site inspections and the investigation and analysis of incidents, to determine if the Safety Regulations and commitments in the accepted DSMS, DPP and safety case are being followed.

Regulation 4.9 of the Safety Regulations requires NOPSEMA to make available a register of original and revised DSMSs and DPPs.  

Note: From 1 January 2013, jurisdictions marked in orange are no longer regulated by NOPSEMA due to the lapse in conferral of powers to NOPSEMA in accordance with Section 646A of the OPGGS Act 2006.

(See Register of current diving safety management systems and diving project plans in Related Documents below).