Age: 36 years Experience: 12 years
Area: Central BC Diver killed during maintenance work

A commercial diver was drawn into a 30" diameter aerator intake pipe while attempting to locate the screens for two fire pump intakes.

Diver approaching 30" Aerator Intake.

The pulp mill hired a diving company to inspect and clean two intake screens in their industrial effluent pond. Both parties thought that the work had been planned and all hazards identified. The pumps for the two intakes to be worked on had been identified and locked out. The diver, after entering the water with zero visibility, thought he had located the fire pump intakes when he was drawn into a nearby aerator intake pipe. The screen for this intake pipe had broken off and the diver was pulled, head first, 80 feet up the pipe. As the aerator intake pipe had not been identified on the drawings used, the 3 5,000 litre per minute aerator pump had not been locked out. There were no visual markers on the surface of the pond to identify the aerator or fire pump intakes.
Safe work practices:
Before diving, a detailed risk assessment must be conducted by a qualified person, with specific knowledge of the worksite, to determine all hazards
• Ensure there are accurate drawings (preferably on a master drawing) indicating all underwater equipment, piping, intakes, etc. for all underwater work
• Ensure all underlying hazard; have visual indicators (flagging or signage) on the surface
• Ensure risk assessments, safe work procedures, lockoutprocedure pre-work meeting documents, and accurate drawings are available and used by project coordinators and diving contractors working in underwater environments