Regulations relating to commercial diving in Canada

Federal Government

Diving regulations for the federal government come under the Canada Labour Code Part II, and is detailed in Part XVIII of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.  These regulations only refer to CSA Z275.2 in terms of physicians, air compressors and hyperbaric chambers.  They do not refer to Z275.2 in terms of other aspects of diving operations, nor do they refer to CSA Z275.4.

National Energy Board (and offshore petroleum boards)

Currently the Canada Oil and Gas Diving Regulations make no mention of the CSA standards, however draft regulations currently under review will require divers to meet the competency standards of CSA Z275.4

British Columbia

British Columbia regulations specifically state that “The employer and diving supervisor must ensure that all divers meet the minimum requirements of CSA Standard Z275.4…”

Alberta

Draft regulations in Alberta state that “The employer must ensure that all divers meet the minimum requirements of CSA Standard Z275.4…..”

Saskatchewan

Part XX of the 1996 Occupational Health and Safety regulations addresses Diving Operations, however the part does not mention CSA Z275.4 and mentions other parts of CSA Z275 only in terms of hyperbaric facilities and medical examinations.

Manitoba

Draft regulations require that divers be trained in accordance with CSA Z275.4 (latest edition).

Ontario

Current diving regulations do not cite CSA Z275.4, however draft regulations currently in the public domain require that divers be trained to a level of competency equal to or exceeding he competency requirement of the Standard….”.  “Standard” is defined as CSA Standard Z275.4-02.

Quebec

Regulation requires that each member of a diving team must conform to the Competency Standard for Diving Operations CAN/CSA Z275.4-97.

New Brunswick

Current diving regulations do not refer to the CSA standards.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia has no diving regulations.

Prince Edward Island

The PEI Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations states (in its entirety) that “The employer shall ensure that all underwater diving operations meet the CSA Standard Z275.2, “Occupational Safety Code for Diving Operations”. 

Newfoundland

Newfoundland has diving regulations which state that Z275.4-97 and Z275.2-92 including amendments to them, respecting diving operations are adopted and constituted as part of these regulations.

Yukon

Diving regulations refer to CSA standards in terms of purity of gasses, hyperbaric chambers and lifelines.  The regulations do not refer to Z275.4

Northwest Territories and Nunavut

I have not yet found a diving regulation for the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.  I have contacted the WCB of NWT & Nunavut and hope to hear from them soon.

Drafted by

David Parkes

Executive Director

Diver Certification Board of Canada

March 29, 2004