Product Overview

Summary: This Medical Fitness to Dive Assessments SOP sets out a clear, defensible process for determining whether workers are medically fit to undertake occupational diving activities in Australian workplaces. It helps duty holders manage health-related dive risks, align with WHS obligations, and protect both divers and businesses from preventable incidents arising from undiagnosed medical conditions.

Occupational diving exposes workers to unique physiological stresses, including pressure changes, increased gas density, cold, and demanding physical workloads in remote or challenging environments. Undiagnosed or poorly managed medical conditions—such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory issues, ear and sinus problems, or mental health concerns—can rapidly escalate into life-threatening situations underwater. This Medical Fitness to Dive Assessments Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, evidence‑based framework for assessing whether personnel are medically suitable to undertake diving work, and under what conditions.

Designed for Australian workplaces that conduct commercial, scientific, aquaculture, construction, emergency services or other occupational diving, this SOP standardises how pre-employment, periodic and post-incident medical assessments are requested, conducted, recorded and reviewed. It clarifies roles and responsibilities between the PCBU, the diver, and the medical practitioner, and integrates with your broader WHS risk management system. By implementing this procedure, organisations can demonstrate due diligence, reduce the risk of in‑water medical emergencies, and ensure only appropriately assessed and cleared personnel are rostered for dive operations.

The SOP also addresses practical challenges commonly faced by diving operations, such as managing temporary medical conditions, handling non-clearance outcomes, protecting sensitive health information, and ensuring alignment with relevant Australian Standards, professional medical guidance and regulator expectations. The result is a robust, repeatable process that supports safer dive planning, better workforce health, and stronger regulatory compliance.

Key Benefits

• Ensure only medically fit personnel are approved for occupational diving, reducing the likelihood of in‑water medical emergencies.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and recognised guidance for diving work and medical assessments.
• Standardise the process for pre-employment, periodic and return‑to‑dive medicals across all sites and projects.
• Reduce business disruption by providing clear pathways for managing temporary restrictions, non-clearance and staged return to diving.
• Strengthen record-keeping, confidentiality and communication between divers, medical practitioners and management.

Who is this for?

• Diving Contractors
• Commercial Divers
• Scientific Divers and Dive Coordinators
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Operations Managers (Marine, Aquaculture and Construction)
• Occupational Health Physicians
• Designated Medical Practitioners for Diving
• HR Managers in Diving and Marine Operations
• University and Research Dive Officers
• Emergency Response and Rescue Team Leaders

Hazards Addressed

• In‑water loss of consciousness due to underlying cardiovascular disease or arrhythmias
• Decompression sickness exacerbated by certain medical conditions or medications
• Pulmonary barotrauma linked to asthma, bullous lung disease or reduced lung function
• Ear, sinus and mask barotrauma resulting from ENT conditions or infections
• Panic, anxiety and impaired judgement underwater due to unmanaged mental health conditions
• Impaired physical performance or mobility affecting emergency response and self‑rescue
• Adverse interactions between prescription medications and the diving environment
• Aggravation of chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, epilepsy) in remote or cold-water environments

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Legislative and Standards References
• 4.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Divers, Medical Practitioners, Supervisors)
• 5.0 Types of Medical Fitness to Dive Assessments (Pre‑employment, Periodic, Post‑incident, Return‑to‑dive)
• 6.0 Eligibility Criteria and Medical Risk Factors for Diving
• 7.0 Assessment Process Overview and Workflow
• 8.0 Referral to and Selection of Approved Diving Medical Practitioners
• 9.0 Pre‑Assessment Requirements and Diver Declarations
• 10.0 Conduct of Medical Examination (Minimum Content and Tests)
• 11.0 Fitness to Dive Outcomes and Classification (Fit, Fit with Restrictions, Temporarily Unfit, Permanently Unfit)
• 12.0 Communication of Outcomes to the PCBU and Confidentiality of Medical Details
• 13.0 Managing Restrictions, Temporary Conditions and Medication Changes
• 14.0 Trigger Events for Additional or Unscheduled Assessments
• 15.0 Integration with Dive Planning and Permit-to-Dive Processes
• 16.0 Record Keeping, Data Security and Retention Periods
• 17.0 Training and Induction Requirements for Supervisors and Administrators
• 18.0 Non‑Compliance, Refusal of Assessment and Escalation Pathways
• 19.0 Review of Medical Standards and Continuous Improvement
• 20.0 Forms, Templates and Checklists (Referral Form, Consent Form, Outcome Notification, Assessment Log)

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 – Diving work provisions
• Safe Work Australia – Guide to Managing Risks of Diving Work
• AS/NZS 2299.1: Occupational diving operations – Standard operational practice
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists / professional diving medical guidelines (where applicable)
• Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) – Australian Privacy Principles for handling health information