Workplace Health and Safety (Mixed Gases Diving) Special Standard 1993 (Qld)

Queensland Subordinate Legislation 1993 No. 227 Workplace Health and Safety Act 1989 WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY (MIXED GASES DIVING) SPECIAL STANDARD 1993 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Section Page 1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 Reason for special standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 Use of mixed gases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 Method of work to be adopted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2 Workplace Health and Safety (Mixed Gases Diving) Special No. 227, 1993 ˙ Short title 1. This standard may be cited as the Workplace Health and Safety (Mixed Gases Diving) Special Standard 1993 . ˙ Definitions 2. In this special standard— “air” means the mixture of oxygen, nitrogen and other gases that surrounds the earth and forms its atmosphere; “diving operations” means occupational or recreational diving; “mixed gases” means a mixture of gases other than air; “occupational diving” means diving, using either scuba or SSBA, carried on in connection with workplace activities; “recreational diving” means diving, using either scuba or SSBA, by a person who— (a) is training a person participating in a recreational diving certificate course or non-certificate (resort) course; or (b) is participating in a recreational diving certificate course or non-certificate (resort) course; or (c) is supervising the diving of a person who holds a recreational diving certificate or higher level qualification; or (d) is diving under the supervision of a person mentioned in paragraph (c); “scuba” means open circuit, self-contained underwater breathing apparatus; “SSBA” means breathing equipment that supplies a diver with compressed air through a hose from a compressor or storage cylinders situated above the water’s surface. ˙ Reason for special standard 3.(1) In the opinion of the Minister, the use of mixed gases in diving operations gives rise, or is likely to give rise, to a dangerous situation.

3 Workplace Health and Safety (Mixed Gases Diving) Special No. 227, 1993 (2) To ensure the health and safety of persons using mixed gases in diving operations, the method of work proposed to be used in the operations must be approved by the Director before the operations start. ˙ Use of mixed gases 4.(1) A person must not use, or permit another person to use, mixed gases in diving operations without obtaining the Director’s approval of the method of work proposed to be adopted in the diving operations. (2) A person must apply in writing to the Director for approval. (3) The person must apply not less than 28 days before the person proposes to undertake the diving operations. (4) The Director must consider the application and decide either— (a) to approve the method of work; or (b) to refuse to approve the method of work. (5) Within 14 days of receiving the application, the Director must— (a) if the Director decides to approve the method of work—give the applicant a written notice of approval; or (b) if the Director decides to refuse to approve the method of work—give the applicant a written notice setting out the reasons for the refusal. ˙ Method of work to be adopted 5. The method of work must address— (a) in the case of occupational diving—the requirements specified in the Specific Requirements as to Offshore Petroleum Explorations and Production 1990 issued by the Minister administering the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982 ; and (b) in the case of recreational diving— (i) the requirements set out in paragraph (a); or (ii) the following requirements—

4 Workplace Health and Safety (Mixed Gases Diving) Special No. 227, 1993 (A) the procedures for filling a cylinder with a gas mixture; (B) the procedures for testing the purity and composition of the gas mixture; (C) the procedures for identifying, handling and cleaning the diving equipment; (D) the procedures for training persons who use or operate the diving equipment; (E) the oxygen concentration and depth limitations to be adopted; (F) the procedures for ensuring the availability of retrieval and treatment facilities for injured divers. ENDNOTES 1. Made by the Director of the Division of Workplace Health and Safety on 9 June 1993. 2. Approved by the Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations on 4 June 1993. 3. Published in the Industrial Gazette on 18 June 1993. 4. Laid before the Legislative Assembly on . . . 5. The administering agency is the Department of Employment, Vocational Education, Training and Industrial Relations. The State of Queensland 1993