Safe abalone work starts with a properly planned diving operation, a capable team, suitable equipment and a workable emergency response. The vessel, breathing air system, communications and recovery arrangements should all be ready before a diver enters the water. Supervisors must also be prepared to stop or change the work when conditions deteriorate.
The Tasmanian Abalone Industry Code of Practice focuses on surface supplied breathing apparatus used in Tasmanian abalone operations. Its scope does not extend to diving deeper than 30 metres, mixed gas diving or recreational diving. Other commercial diving requirements may apply outside that scope.
Local requirements vary. Check current information from the relevant WHS/OHS regulator, maritime authority and fisheries authority before relying on a procedure. National Model Codes can provide general orientation, but they are not automatically applicable law in every Australian jurisdiction.
Information current: 14 August 2026.
Main hazards
Abalone diving combines underwater, vessel and manual handling risks. Important hazards include:
- interruption, contamination or failure of the breathing air supply
- decompression illness, barotrauma, hypothermia and other medical emergencies
- entanglement, poor visibility, currents, swell and rapidly changing weather
- hoses contacting propellers or becoming caught on the vessel or underwater features
- falls overboard, slippery decks and difficulty recovering a diver from the water
- defective gauges, regulators, compressors, cylinders, hoses or communications
- fatigue, illness, reduced fitness for work, alcohol and impairing medication
- lifting and moving abalone net bags, diving equipment and supplies
- delayed assistance at remote sites.
Shore-based maintenance, loading and processing may add hazards from vehicles, powered plant, chemicals, wet floors, noise and cold environments.
What should be sorted before work starts
Planning should match the dive site, expected depth, weather, vessel, equipment and people involved. Before diving starts, confirm:
- who is supervising the operation and who has authority to stop it
- that divers, tenders and vessel operators are competent and fit for their assigned roles
- that a diver's tender is present, understands the diving procedures and can maintain an effective watch
- expected tides, currents, visibility, weather and safe operating limits
- suitable entry, exit and diver recovery arrangements for the vessel
- primary, secondary and emergency breathing air arrangements appropriate to the task
- inspection, testing and maintenance status for diving and vessel equipment
- reliable communication with the diver and a backup method where practicable
- the nearest suitable emergency medical and hyperbaric facilities
- prompt emergency communications, first aid, oxygen arrangements and transport options
- how dive details, equipment issues and changes in conditions will be recorded.
Workers should be consulted during planning. Divers and tenders often notice practical problems that generic paperwork misses.
What good controls and documents usually cover
Use higher-order controls where practicable. This may include selecting safer conditions, positioning the vessel to protect hoses from propellers, providing dependable air arrangements, using suitable guards and lifting aids, and designing the work to reduce repeated heavy handling.
A tender should remain focused on the diver, maintain communication and continually monitor the site. The tender should not be distracted by unrelated work while the diver is underwater.
Diving equipment should be suitable for its intended purpose, maintained in safe working condition and serviced in line with manufacturer procedures. Defective equipment should be clearly removed from use until repaired and checked. Maintenance and testing records help supervisors confirm that this has occurred.
A practical document set commonly includes:
- a site-specific risk assessment and dive plan
- diver and tender responsibilities
- breathing air, compressor and equipment procedures
- vessel, entry, exit and diver recovery procedures
- emergency, first aid, oxygen and evacuation arrangements
- pre-start checks and defect reporting
- equipment inspection, testing and maintenance records
- competency, induction, consultation and training records
- dive logs that remain current to the last day of diving.
The documents should be accessible on the vessel and understood by the people using them. Review them after incidents, equipment changes, personnel changes or new site conditions.
When a SWMS or another site-specific document commonly applies
Abalone diving is not automatically high risk construction work. A safe work method statement is commonly relevant when associated work meets the definition of high risk construction work, such as certain construction, demolition, excavation or structural maintenance activities.
For routine abalone operations, the central site-specific documents are more likely to be the dive plan, risk assessment, vessel procedures, emergency plan, pre-start records and dive log. Separate permits or procedures may be needed for tasks such as confined-space entry, electrical isolation, hazardous chemicals or maintenance of powered plant.
Practical warning signs
Stop and reassess when:
- the tender is absent, distracted or unable to communicate with the diver
- weather or water conditions move outside the planned limits
- the breathing air intake could draw in engine exhaust or another contaminant
- gauges disagree, equipment is damaged or maintenance cannot be verified
- a diver is ill, fatigued, affected by alcohol or using impairing medication
- emergency contacts, transport arrangements or the nearest hyperbaric facility are unclear
- the vessel has no reliable way to recover an injured diver
- dive logs or pre-start checks are missing or completed after the event
- workers raise a concern but no action is assigned.
How Blue Safe can help
Blue Safe provides compliant WHS documents tailored to the client's activities, applicable Australian WHS/OHS requirements, jurisdiction and industry. For abalone operations, this can include risk assessments, dive and vessel procedures, emergency plans, inspection records, training materials and coordinated document systems.
Blue Safe guarantees the document compliance of the WHS documents it provides, including eligible customer documents after Blue Safe has reviewed and upgraded them. Customers actively put the compliant documents into practice through controls, consultation, training, actions, records and evidence. Blue Safe can structure the documents so they are practical for divers, tenders, supervisors and shore-based workers to use.