- Home
- Diving Safety and Training
- Insurance Companies Warned to Use Competent Divers
Insurance Companies Warned to Use Competent Divers
- By © UnderwaterINDUSTRY .com
- Published 01/24/2002
- Diving Safety and Training
- Unrated
DIVING Hazard Summary
The Ministry of Labour wants to ensure that qualified and competent divers are being used by all insurance companies to recover submerged property and that insurance companies are aware of their responsibility to notify the ministry of a diving operation. Failure to comply creates the potential for a serious accident.
Locations and Sector
Wherever diving operations are being conducted for an insurance company and the Regulations for Diving Operations apply.
Prevention
Note: The insurance company would be considered either the "employer" or the "owner" depending on the contractual arrangement. As the "employer" or the "owner" the company has very specific obligations to ensure that the diving crew are competent and that the ministry is properly notified of the operation.
Diving Crew:
As the "employer" or "owner", the insurance company must ensure that "one or more, competent persons are appointed as diving supervisors for the diving operation".
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act a competent person "means a person who,
(a)is qualified because of knowledge, training and experience to organize the work and its performance,
(b)is familiar with the Act and the regulations that apply to the work, and
(c)has knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the workplace" .
In addition, the Regulation for Diving Operations states there must be a minimum of three competent members of the dive team -- a diver, a standby diver and a diving tender.
All divers must have undergone a medical examination during the 24 month period preceding the dive and carry a written statement from a doctor that states the diver is fit for occupational diving.
Notification:
The insurance company must notify the Ministry of Labour about the proposed dive before the diving operation commences by either faxing a completed "Notice for Commercial Diving Operations" form to the ministry or verbally advising the appropriate staff of the dive.
(The form is available at the ministry office.)
Ministry of Labour Contacts:
Eastern/Northern
John Mitchell Diving Inspector
1111 Prince of Wales Drive Suite 200
Ottawa, Ontario K2C 3T2
Tel: 1-800-267-1916 1-613-727-2893 Fax: 1-613-727-2900
Hamilton/Niagara:
Diving Inspector
1 Jarvis Street, Main Floor Hamilton, Ontario
L8R 3J2
Tel: 1-800-263-6906 1-905-577-6221 Fax: 1-905-577-1324
Central:
Bob Landry Diving Inspector
2275 Midland Avenue Scarborough, Ontario MlP 3137
Tel: 1-416-314-5359 Fax: 1-416-314-5444
Remember that while complying with occupational health and safety laws, you are also required to comply with applicable environmental laws.
The Ministry of Labour wants to ensure that qualified and competent divers are being used by all insurance companies to recover submerged property and that insurance companies are aware of their responsibility to notify the ministry of a diving operation. Failure to comply creates the potential for a serious accident.
 |
Locations and Sector
Wherever diving operations are being conducted for an insurance company and the Regulations for Diving Operations apply.
Prevention
Note: The insurance company would be considered either the "employer" or the "owner" depending on the contractual arrangement. As the "employer" or the "owner" the company has very specific obligations to ensure that the diving crew are competent and that the ministry is properly notified of the operation.
Diving Crew:
As the "employer" or "owner", the insurance company must ensure that "one or more, competent persons are appointed as diving supervisors for the diving operation".
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act a competent person "means a person who,
(a)is qualified because of knowledge, training and experience to organize the work and its performance,
(b)is familiar with the Act and the regulations that apply to the work, and
(c)has knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the workplace" .
In addition, the Regulation for Diving Operations states there must be a minimum of three competent members of the dive team -- a diver, a standby diver and a diving tender.
All divers must have undergone a medical examination during the 24 month period preceding the dive and carry a written statement from a doctor that states the diver is fit for occupational diving.
Notification:
The insurance company must notify the Ministry of Labour about the proposed dive before the diving operation commences by either faxing a completed "Notice for Commercial Diving Operations" form to the ministry or verbally advising the appropriate staff of the dive.
(The form is available at the ministry office.)
Ministry of Labour Contacts:
Eastern/Northern
John Mitchell Diving Inspector
1111 Prince of Wales Drive Suite 200
Ottawa, Ontario K2C 3T2
Tel: 1-800-267-1916 1-613-727-2893 Fax: 1-613-727-2900
Hamilton/Niagara:
Diving Inspector
1 Jarvis Street, Main Floor Hamilton, Ontario
L8R 3J2
Tel: 1-800-263-6906 1-905-577-6221 Fax: 1-905-577-1324
Central:
Bob Landry Diving Inspector
2275 Midland Avenue Scarborough, Ontario MlP 3137
Tel: 1-416-314-5359 Fax: 1-416-314-5444
Remember that while complying with occupational health and safety laws, you are also required to comply with applicable environmental laws.