Q&A for Safety Webinar 2022

Yes, utilising CSCUBA would be allowed but this would depend largely on diving depth of the primary diving task in order to determine if there is sufficient air for a CSCUBA rescue to be utilised taking into account the time taking for a rescue diver to reach the stricken diver, to clear potential entanglements of the stricken diver as well as to egress the stricken diver to surface.

Prior to the primary dive, a risk assessment would have to be conducted and it would be clear then if a CSCUBA rescue would be appropriate.

If an ADCI diving card does not show "International Endorsement", the ADCI card would have to be supplemented with any other certification in the List of Acceptable Commercial Diving Certifications found here:

https://www.tal.sg/wshc/-/media/tal/wshc/topics/files/commercial_diving_certifications.ashx

The Ministry of Manpower enforcement is doing their part - checks are increasing and MOM will place SWO on any diving operation found to be in breach of safe diving practices

Depending on the severity of infringements found, the Ministry of Manpower will not hesitate to issue harsher penalties such as higher composition fines, SWOs and prosecution. While the penalty framework acts as a deterrence, the diving community and its stakeholders should work towards achieving due compliance to SS511 and improve the overall safety standards of the sector.

Total Workplace Safety and Health (Total WSH) is an approach that looks at safety and health together at work and the programme looks to teach companies to manage safety and health in an integrated way, and educate divers and other workers alike on how to better take care of their safety and health through modular activity packages.

It covers:

• - safety;
• - occupational health and
• - personal health (including both physical and mental well-being) which are often overlooked and taking for granted.

Commercial diving safety standards has steadily improved over the years with majority of divers having undergone proper training and are holding recognised diving certificates. Within Singapore itself, we now have our 2 schools conducting MOM accredited diving courses whose certificates are recognised for work in Singapore waters.

Nonetheless, there is always room for the industry to improve and better fine tune guidelines, work processes to better fit and contextualise to local conditions.

Training hour requirements to become a diving supervisor in Singapore has been reviewed by relevant authorities and have been assessed to be adequate.

Whilst we recognise IMCA certifications in Singapore, it must be noted that inland / inshore diving in Singapore is distinctly different from offshore diving that IMCA certifications primarily cover. MOM Diver / Diver supervisor course requirements remain the minimum standards to be fulfilled in order to work in Singapore waters. It remains the diving contractor (employer) to ensure any diving supervisor is competent for the work scope being carried out

CDAS does not see an issue with diving outside a dry dock with CSCUBA. However, should works carried out be heavy in nature such as those requiring the usage of cranes or running of hydraulics, SSDE shall be the default mode of diving.

Divers are also to ensure that they keep physically fit , healthy and sufficiently rested prior to a dive.