June 2011 - Supervisor of Salvage and Diving

Considerations when PLANNING
CONTAMINATED WATER DIVES:
• Identify major toxins at the planned dive site – lean on
local knowledge if no testing available.
• Protect diver to ONE LEVEL HIGHER than foreseen exposure
calls for.
• Protection versus comfort in hot weather is sometimes
diametrically opposed – DO NOT RISK divers’ health by
reducing protection, always reduce bottom time instead.
• In warm environments, set up the dive to keep divers
and equipment cool during dress out and brief. This
maximizes the actual working time of divers before onset
of heat exhaustion and/or dehydration.
• Ensure all parties are completely briefed on the Decontamination
Procedures BEFORE commencing dives.
• In oily water, boom off the diver entry/ exit area and
clear the surface using small oil skimmers or sorbents.
• Remember the 5 P’s – PRIOR PLANNING PREVENTS
POOR PERFORMANCE
In light of recent operations like Japan Disaster Relief,
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response, and even
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery, all involving
contaminates in the water, it inevitably raises the
topic of “Diver Decontamination.” Included here are
some ideas to keep in mind when getting involved in
these types of diving operations.
Considerations for SETTING UP
DECONTAMINATION STATIONS:
• Close proximity to vital services (running water, electricity)
is extremely beneficial.
• Size station depending on expected exposure (i.e. is there
a need for “hot, warm, and cold” zones (see figure 1)
• Choose appropriate decontamination solution – clean,
fresh water and antimicrobial soap are very effective in
most situations.
• Choose proper tools (i.e. brushes, hoses, sprayers, sorbent
pads, containment pools)
• TENDERS NEED TO BE PROTECTED when decontaminating
the diver especially because they must keep hands on the
diver at all times– standard practice during any serious
contaminated water operations should be full Tyvek suits,
rubber boots w/ tread, rubber gloves and face shields.
• Consider the transition area, if there’s a stage, how will
you decontaminate the cable as it comes up What about
the umblicals
• Establish a primary decontamination wash (wading pool)
and rinse (wading pool) as the first step in the “Hot Zone”
after the tool drop, to wash the most significant contamination
off the diver.
• Sorbents can also be used for wiping off contaminated
areas of clothing or equipment. Wiping should mainly be
done in the secondary wash after the heaviest contamination
has been removed.
• Water used during decontamination procedures must be
carefully controlled and kept to a minimum. Water generated
from decontamination procedures should be treated
as hazardous waste.
18
June 2011