Scientific Diving
Region 10 Diving Saftey, Training, and Standard Operating Procedures
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EPA National Diving Safety Policy
EPA dive operations fall under the OSHA scientific diving exemption. This document prescribes the administration and safety rules for EPA's Underwater Diving Safety Management Program. This directive sets forth EPA's policy for minimizing its worker's occupational hazards to the polluted water diving environment.
- EPA Diving Safety Manual (PDF) (219 pp, 2.5MB) - September 2010 (v1.2)
- Addendum to the EPA Diving Safety Manual (revision 1.2) (PDF) (6 pp, 794K) - November 12, 2014
- Placarding requirements for transport of SCUBA cylinders (Table 2 non flammable gas in non bulk containers), 49 CFR 171.8 (PDF) (2 pp, 1.3MB)
- EPA National Dive Program 2013 Annual Report (PDF) (21 pp, 680K)
- EPA National Dive Program 2012 Annual Report (PDF) (20 pp, 531K)
- EPA National Dive Program 2011 Annual Report (PDF) (20 pp, 602K)
- EPA National Dive Program 2010 Annual Report (PDF) (22 pp, 641K)
- EPA National Dive Program 2009 Annual Report (PDF) (19 pp, 205K)
- EPA National Dive Program 2008 Annual Report (PDF) (19 pp, 177K)
- EPA National Dive Program 1981 Annual Report (PDF) (2 pp, 116K)
- OSHA scientific diving exemption 1910 Subpart T, Appendix B
- OSHA commercial diving regulations, 1910 Subpart T
- OSHA directives re: 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart T – Commercial Diving Operations
- USCG Commerical Diving Regulations, 46 CFR Part 197
EPA Region 10 Dive Safety Policy
This plan establishes general guidelines and procedures for safe and efficient diving for the EPA Region 10 Unit Team for all diving operations. The intent is to provide guidance beyond that in the national Diving Safety Policy that specifically addresses important regional and task specific safety issues.
- Region 10 Safe Work Practices Manual (PDF) (PDF) (8 pp. 47K) - October 2011
EPA Region 10 Boat Handling Plan for Diving Operations
This plan establishes general guidelines and procedures for the safe and efficient use of small boats used to support scientific diving operations.
- Region 10 Boat Handling Plan for Diving Operations (PDF) (5 pp. 15K) March 1997
Vessel Safety
- Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment (OSHA 29 CFR 1926.106)
- EPA Vessel Safety Manual (PDF) (196 pp, 2.5MB) - April 2012
EPA Region 10 Dive Training
- Training Overview (PDF) (6 pp, 474K, About PDF)
EPA Region 10 Diving Equipment
- Equipment List (PDF) (13 pp, 784K, About PDF)
Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines
- Canon HFS30 and Bluefin Housing Underwater Video SOP (PDF) (2 pp, 144K)
- Surface Supplied Diving SOP (PDF) (13 pp., 64K)
- Tethered Diving SOP (PDF) (7pp., 91K)
- Survey Technique for Underwater Digital Photography with Integrated GPS Location Data SOP (PDF) (3 pp. 41K)
- Sony HC1/HC7 and Bluefin Housing SOP (PDF) (2 pp. 182K)
- Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) SOP (PDF) (2 pp. 22K)
- Canon Powershot Digital Camera SOP (PDF) (3 pp. 79K)
- Wireless Communication SOP (PDF) (2 pp. 75K)
Decon and Polluted Water Protocol Documents
- Diver Exposure Scenario for the Portland Harbor Risk Assessment. Proceeding of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences 28th Symposium (PDF) (17 pp, 585K)
- Microbial Hazards of Diving in Polluted Waters, A Proceedings by Maryland Sea Grant (PDF) (74 pp, 4MB)
- Survey of Best Practices for Diving in Polluted Water, US Navy, 2002 (PDF) (18 pp, 624K) - July 2002
- OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response 29 CFR 1910.120
- EPA Region 10 Viking Dive Suit Decontamination Study (PDF) (67 pp. 594K) - March 3, 2009
- Protection of Divers in Waters that are Contaminated with Chemicals or Pathogens, 1991 (PDF) (7 pp. 63K)
- US Navy Guidance for Diving in Contaminated Waters, 2008 (PDF) (36 pp. 301KB)
- EPA Region 10 Polluted Water Decontamination Procedures for Portland Harbor (PDF) (19K)
- Interim Protocol for Diving Operations in Contaminated Water, EPA/600/2-85/130 (PDF), Nov 1985 (1.2 MB)
- EPA Region 10 Protocol for Cleaning AGA Full-Face Masks (PDF) (160K)
- EPA Protocol for Biohazard Diving (PDF) (Appendix L of the Diving Safety Manual, 1 MB)