11 May 2015
The ‘Recreational Diving Projects: Approved Code of Practice’ (Diving ACoP), which came into force on 1 July 2004, has been revised.
The Diving ACoP covers both the instruction and guiding of people diving for recreational purposes where at least one person taking part is at work, for example as an instructor, and recreational journalists undertaking commissions and producing articles, including stills photography, for the recreational diving press.
Key amendments
- the terminology and format has been simplified to make the guidance clearer and easier to understand
- a number of requirements relating to the need for recreational diving contractors to identify their nearest decompression chamber, and have suitable arrangements for transferring casualties to it prior to each dive, have been removed. In reality, it is acknowledged that communication with the emergency services will result in the most suitable and effective response for any diving medical emergency so this is reflected in the revised ACoP. This also reflects the current position within the UK
- there are new requirements in relation to the provision of emergency oxygen. In view of the changes to the level of emergency response detailed in the paragraph above, a suitable oxygen administration set is now required to be available at all locations covered by the ACoP (rather than just at the dive site itself) and sufficient gas be available for the duration of a transfer of a diver to a decompression chamber, hospital or other place where appropriate medical treatment is available
- the absolute minimum number of a dive team is explicitly specified as three (one on the surface and two in the water). The guidance in the previous edition provided less clarity which had led to queries from some duty holders
- section 2 of the existing ACoP set out the registration and notification requirements administered by Jersey Harbours (although this did not form part of the ACoP itself). This whole section has been removed following discussions with Jersey Harbours, who has confirmed that these requirements no longer exist
Revision by UK Health and Safety Executive
The UK HSE revised the ‘Recreational diving projects: Approved Code of Practice’, which the Jersey 2004 ACoP was based on, in November 2014. Whilst there were no significant changes in the approach, this was seen as an opportunity to review and revise the local ACoP to reflect the changes in the UK (where appropriate), update references and remove outdated guidance.
Legal status of an ACoP
An ACoP provides practical guidance on how to meet the general legal requirements set out in the Health and Safety at Work (Jersey) Law 1989. It has a special legal status in that if you follow the guidance you will be doing enough to comply with the Law in respect of the matters to which the ACoP extends. You may use alternative methods to those set out in the ACoP, but if you are prosecuted for a breach of the Law and it is proved that you did not follow the relevant provisions of the ACoP you will need to show that you have complied with the Law in some other way or the Court will find you at fault.
Copies are available to download or on request from the health and safety inspectorate.
Download Recreational Diving ACoP 7 (size 3373kb)
gov.je