David Parkes addresses CADC Members (c) 2000 D.Elsey

The Executive Director of the Diver Certification Board of Canada DCBC), David Parkes, spoke at the CADC Annual General Meeting In October, introducing the DCBC to many members for the first time. Although the DCBC is currently in a start-up mode, formalizing funding arrangements and developing policies and procedures, current planning is for the DCBC to be operational in mid-2002.

Initially the Diver Certification Board will be the certifying body for commercial divers working in the Canadian Offshore oil and gas industry. There is however a great deal of interest among some Provincial regulating bodies in having the DCBC make its expertise and systems available to all jurisdictions in Canada and to encourage the use of the Board as the only certifying body for commercial divers in Canada.

The Board will use the Canadian Standards Association Competency Standard for Diving Operations (Z275.4) and the regulations of the National Energy Board, as the basis for the above-noted certification regime. The Board will gain and maintain international recognition of the certificates issued by the Board, and will maintain a confidential database of all divers holding the certification of the Board

Background

In November 1999 the Secretary of the National Energy Board (NEB) wrote to all offshore companies under the Board’s jurisdiction to tell them of the NEB’s intention to end government sponsorship of the existing program of diver certification and to advise them that “any replacement scheme should be administered by industry rather than government”. As a result industry participants came together to investigate the creation of a viable certification scheme to fill the void which would result from the decision of the NEB.

The DCBC was created by a steering committee which included representation from the CADC, two offshore operators and two diving contractors. The steering committee received assistance from Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), and encouragement from the NEB and the two East Coast offshore petroleum boards. The DCBC now operates as a non-profit society and has received expressions of support from the Canadian Professional Divers Association and two accredited commercial diving schools. The office of the DCBC is located in Halifax, NS and their web site is at diverboard.ca

Since February 2001 the DCBC has developed a business plan, reviewed existing Canadian and international diving regulations, participated in the revision of the Canadian Standards Association’s (CSA) standard on diving competency and developed procedures and an organizational framework to guide the operations of the board. The Executive Director has been in regular contact with the United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive and the International Marine Contractors Association to ensure that the DCBC’s policies and procedures meet or exceed international standards.

The mission of the DCBC is to ensure the safety of Canadian commercial divers in waters under the jurisdiction of the NEB, and the integrity of the operations of their clients, by providing the divers with documented, audited and internationally recognized certification. The board will act to maintain the highest levels of safety, professionalism and environmental responsibility in the Canadian diving industry.

The certification will satisfy the requirements of the National Energy Board and the major offshore operators, and will meet the standards of CSA Standard Z275.4. The certificates will be tamper-proof and will contain a photograph of the holder, information relating to the qualifications of the diver, and contact information to allow employers to contact the board. The processes followed by the DCBC in the certification of divers will be fully documented and will be audited by the National Energy Board and the offshore boards.

Prepared by:

David G. Parkes
Executive Director
Prepared Dec 13, 2001