Product Overview

Summary: This Decompression Protocols Safe Operating Procedure provides clear, step-by-step guidance for managing decompression in diving, hyperbaric, tunnelling and pressurised work environments. It helps Australian businesses control the serious health risks associated with pressure changes, ensuring workers transition safely while maintaining full compliance with WHS duties and industry best practice.

Work involving exposure to elevated pressure environments—such as commercial diving, hyperbaric operations, and compressed air tunnelling—carries a high risk of decompression illness if not tightly controlled. This Decompression Protocols Safe Operating Procedure sets out a structured, defensible system for planning, executing and monitoring decompression, from pre‑work assessment through to post‑exposure health checks. It translates complex medical and technical requirements into practical, on-the-job instructions that can be consistently followed by supervisors and workers alike.

The SOP is tailored for Australian conditions and WHS legislation, helping you demonstrate that reasonably practicable steps have been taken to protect workers from pressure-related harm. It addresses common pain points such as inconsistent decompression practices between crews, unclear responsibilities during pressure transitions, inadequate record-keeping, and uncertainty about when to escalate to medical support. By implementing this procedure, businesses can minimise the risk of decompression sickness, barotrauma and related incidents, while improving worker confidence and ensuring that operations involving pressure changes are conducted in a controlled, well-documented manner.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of decompression sickness, barotrauma and other pressure-related health incidents through clearly defined decompression schedules and controls.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant diving and hyperbaric standards by documenting a consistent, auditable process.
• Standardise decompression planning, execution and monitoring across all teams, shifts and work locations.
• Improve workforce confidence and competence by providing clear responsibilities, communication protocols and escalation pathways.
• Strengthen incident response capability with predefined actions for suspected decompression illness and rapid access to medical support.

Who is this for?

• Diving Supervisors
• Commercial Divers
• Hyperbaric Chamber Operators
• Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Supervisors
• Compressed Air Work Coordinators
• Marine Construction Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Emergency Response Coordinators
• Occupational Physicians and Company Doctors
• Training and Competency Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Decompression sickness (DCS) due to rapid or uncontrolled pressure reduction
• Arterial gas embolism and other serious pressure-related medical emergencies
• Barotrauma to ears, sinuses, lungs and other air spaces during ascent or decompression
• Nitrogen narcosis and other gas-related physiological effects
• Fatigue and impaired decision-making associated with prolonged or repeated pressure exposures
• Psychological stress and anxiety during pressurisation and decompression cycles
• Communication failures between surface control, chamber operators and workers during decompression
• Inadequate emergency response for workers exhibiting signs of decompression illness

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Application
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Concepts (Pressure, Decompression, DCS, AGE, etc.)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Company Policies
• 5.0 Pre‑Work Planning and Risk Assessment for Pressurised Operations
• 6.0 Medical Fitness, Pre‑Exposure Screening and Worker Briefing
• 7.0 Selection and Use of Decompression Tables, Schedules and Software
• 8.0 Step‑by‑Step Decompression Procedures (Diving, Hyperbaric and Compressed Air Work)
• 9.0 Monitoring, Communication and Control During Decompression
• 10.0 Environmental and Operational Factors Affecting Decompression (temperature, workload, repetitive exposure, altitude travel)
• 11.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Equipment Integrity Checks
• 12.0 Post‑Decompression Observation, Health Monitoring and Return‑to‑Work Criteria
• 13.0 Emergency Procedures for Suspected Decompression Illness and Barotrauma
• 14.0 Incident Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions
• 15.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 16.0 Documentation, Record‑Keeping and Decompression Logs
• 17.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of Decompression Protocols

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations (as implemented in relevant Australian jurisdictions)
• AS/NZS 2299.1: Occupational diving operations – Standard operational practice
• AS 3848: Pressure equipment – Operation and maintenance (where applicable to pressurised systems)
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still referenced in many systems)
• ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• Safe Work Australia – Diving Work Code of Practice
• Relevant state/territory Codes of Practice and guidance on tunnelling and compressed air work (e.g. NSW, QLD, WA regulators)
• Australian Defence Force and commercial diving medical guidance (as applicable to specialist diving operations)