Product Overview

This Commercial Diving and Underwater Work SWMS is a comprehensive Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards, implement controls, and protect workers engaged in underwater operations. It delivers end-to-end coverage of commercial diving activities, ensuring robust WHS compliance and effective control of risks associated with high risk construction work in marine environments.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and conducting commercial diving operations in open water, harbours, rivers, and nearshore environments
• Safe procedures for abalone diving, including vessel operations, diver tendering, and catch handling
• Identification and control of risks from contact with marine life, including bites, stings, and defensive behaviours
• Diving in confined or restricted areas such as under jetties, within culverts, intakes, and other enclosed underwater spaces
• Grouting and repair works under jetties, wharves, and marine structures, including mixing, pumping, and placement of grout
• Handling dangerous marine life, with controls for venomous species, aggressive fauna, and biohazards
• Handling marine animals with stingers, including jellyfish and related species, and implementing first aid and emergency response
• Marine biology sampling and specimen collection, including use of nets, traps, and sampling tools while maintaining diver safety
• Marine salvage operations, including rigging, lifting, cutting, and recovery of submerged objects and vessels
• Selection, inspection, and maintenance of diving equipment, breathing apparatus, umbilicals, and communication systems
• Management of dive plans, dive logs, decompression limits, and emergency decompression procedures
• Vessel and work platform safety, including access/egress, man-overboard controls, and interaction between vessel crew and divers
• Emergency response for diver distress, entrapment, rapid ascent, decompression illness, and contaminated water exposure
• Environmental risk management, including visibility, currents, tides, weather, and underwater obstructions
• Communication protocols between divers, tenders, supervisors, and surface support teams

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for commercial diving contractors, marine construction companies, aquaculture and abalone operators, marine biologists and environmental consultancies, salvage and underwater maintenance crews, and site supervisors managing underwater works.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace – for the safe use of diving equipment, pumps, lifting gear, and associated plant
• Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks – for systematic identification, assessment, and control of diving and underwater work hazards
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities – for safe access, emergency equipment, and facilities on vessels and shore bases
• Model Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace – for provision of first aid, oxygen, and emergency response to marine stings, bites, and diving-related injuries
• AS/NZS 2299.1 Occupational diving operations – for planning, supervision, and conduct of occupational diving work
• AS/NZS 1715 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment – for breathing apparatus and related respiratory protection
• AS/NZS 1891 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices – where access to jetties, wharves, and marine structures involves work at height
• AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installations (Wiring Rules) – for electrical safety of powered equipment used on vessels and marine structures
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017