To be considered competent to act as Supervisor under the Scientific and Archaeological Approved Code of Practice (ACoP), the candidate will:
1. Have a thorough knowledge of the current Diving at Work Regulations and relevant ACoPs, with particular attention to the legal position of the Supervisor within the management structure of a typical scientific diving organisation, and their own responsibilities for the health and safety of the diving operation.
2. Have a knowledge of other relevant legislation.
3. Have a knowledge of diver competencies and certification relating to the personnel that would typically be involved in a diving operation.
4. Demonstrate a comprehensive working knowledge of relevant decompression tables.
5. Be competent to identify deficiencies and/or omissions in relevant:
– diving equipment;
– boat equipment;
– first aid equipment.
and take the appropriate action(s).
6. Be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of diving disorders.
7. Be able to undertake a preliminary assessment of a diver suspected of having decompression illness.
8. Know how to manage diving emergencies, providing evidence of knowledge to an acceptable standard of:
– relevant communications, including VHF radio use (where applicable);
– first aid, including oxygen administration;
– casualty evacuation;
– record keeping.
The candidate should present certification to approved standards of training for the above, but an actual assessment of ability should be carried out in all cases.
9. Have demonstrated, to an acceptable standard, a practical ability to:
– remove an unconscious fully kitted-up diver from the water under realistic operational conditions;
– co-ordinate and/or manage a diving emergency relevant to operational locations and requiring first aid treatment;
– manage a search for a lost diver;
– manage a decompression illness incident.
10. Submit, to an acceptable standard, a written diving project plan for a chosen diving project, showing a good understanding of risk assessment, decompression and other health considerations, personnel and equipment requirements (to include the use of boats), and emergency procedures.
In order to ensure awareness of changes in regulations and recommended practice, competency should be demonstrated at intervals not exceeding 5 years.
Click here to download the supervisor application form
In order to demonstrate awareness of changes in regulations and recommended practice, competency should be demonstrated at intervals not exceeding 5 years.