Employment and Labour workshops on the new commercial diving regulations have commenced
The Department of Employment and Labour is currently holding a series of commercial diving workshops to discuss the recently released sector regulations.
The workshops began yesterday, 12 July 2022, in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and will continue today, 13 July, in Cape Town, before the final scheduled workshop in Durban in the coming week.
On 20 May 2022, the new commercial diving regulations went into effect. They have replaced the diving regulations that were promulgated in 2009.
The commercial diving industry encompasses a wide range of activities both offshore and inland. It entails an activity in which people must work underwater.
In the Republic of South Africa, only commercial diving operations are regulated by the Department of Employment and Labour. As a result, the new regulations apply to all commercial diving operations and all individuals involved in commercial diving operations in the country or territorial waters. These regulations promote the occupational health and safety of those involved in diving operations.
The following topics will be covered in detail during the workshops:
(a) The re-issuance of diving certification to all commercial divers, diving supervisors, instructors, and designated medical practitioners, as well as the validity period.
(b) Chamber operator and diving contractor registration, as this is a new requirement included in the current regulations, as well as the validity of their certification.
(c) The requirements that commercial diving schools must meet before continuing with commercial diver training.
(d) The audits that the Department will conduct prior to issuing certification to commercial diving schools and diving contractors.
(e) Revisions to training standards and their implications for commercial diving schools
(f) During the workshops, the Diving Technical Committee's constitution will be discussed, and participants will be asked to nominate Committee members.
These workshops will provide an excellent opportunity for stakeholders involved in diving operations to interact with the Department and obtain clarification on the new commercial diving regulations.
The remaining workshops will be held as follows:
Date: 13 July 2022
Venue: Cape Town, at the University of Cape Town Lecture Venue 4A, RW James Building, UCT Upper Campus, Rondebosch
Time: 09:00 am
Date: 18 July 2022
Venue: Durban, uShaka Marine, Association for Marine Biological Research in South Africa (SAAMBR) uShaka Marine Services
Time: 08:30 am
These workshops come on the heels of World Ocean Day, which was held on 8 June 2022. The celebration promotes environmental action throughout the year. It is part of a global effort to protect at least 30% of the world's land, waters, and oceans by 2030.
Source: Government of South Africa