Part 4.8: WHS Diving Work

Regulatory citation: Model Work Health and Safety Regulations, Chapter 4, Part 4.8 (Diving work), Regulations 167–184

What Are the WHS Diving Work Regulations?

Part 4.8 of the model WHS Regulations sets requirements for work carried out in or under water while breathing compressed gas. It covers general diving work and high risk diving work. General diving work includes incidental diving work and limited scientific diving work, which have their own competence rules.

Safe Work Australia describes high risk diving work as work in or under water while breathing compressed gas that involves construction work, testing, maintenance or repair work, inspection to work out whether such work is needed, or recovering or salvaging plant or structures for commercial purposes. Check the full definition in your jurisdiction's regulations, as it contains exclusions.

Why Diving Rules Matter

Diving exposes workers to drowning, decompression illness, breathing gas failures, entrapment and hazards from underwater plant and currents. Problems can escalate quickly and rescue is difficult. Part 4.8 makes sure divers are fit and competent, that every dive is planned and supervised, and that dives are recorded.

Core Obligations

1. Ensure Divers Are Medically Fit (r168–170)

A PCBU must ensure a worker carrying out general diving work is fit to do so. Before diving starts, the PCBU must sight a current certificate of medical fitness for the worker. The certificate must be kept for 1 year after the work finishes.

2. Ensure Divers Are Competent (r171–171A)

A worker carrying out general diving work must hold a relevant training certificate and have knowledge and skill in matters such as diving physics, equipment and air supply, decompression tables or dive computers, dive planning, communication, the proposed work, physiology, emergency procedures and first aid.

3. Apply the Incidental and Scientific Diving Rules (r172–173)

Incidental diving work and limited scientific diving work have their own competence rules. Workers doing this work do not need the general diving training certificate, but must still have the knowledge and skills to dive safely.

4. Sight Evidence of Competence (r174–175)

The PCBU must sight written evidence of the diver's relevant training before the diver starts work, and keep it for 1 year after the work finishes. The competent person supervising general diving work must also be competent for that role.

5. Manage Risks and Appoint a Supervisor (r176–177)

The PCBU must manage risks associated with general diving work, including recording a written risk assessment. A competent person must be appointed to supervise the diving work.

6. Prepare and Follow a Dive Plan (r178–179)

A dive plan must be prepared before the diving work starts and be complied with. It covers the diving method, each person's tasks and duties, equipment, breathing gases and procedures, dive times, bottom times and decompression profiles, hazards and controls, and emergency procedures. One plan may cover a series of dives with similar risks.

7. Keep a Dive Safety Log (r180–182)

Each dive in general diving work must be recorded in a dive safety log, completed by the diver or supervisor as soon as practicable after the dive. The log must be kept for 1 year after the last entry. The risk assessment must be kept for 28 days after the work ends, and the dive plan until the work is completed, or for 2 years in either case if a notifiable incident occurs.

8. Meet the High Risk Diving Rules (r183–184)

For high risk diving work, the PCBU must ensure the work is carried out in accordance with AS/NZS 2299.1 Occupational diving operations, Standard operational practice, including the fitness and competence of workers. Workers must hold the competence required for high risk diving work.

Common Compliance Approaches

Pre-Dive Document Check

Before a diver starts, check and copy their medical fitness certificate and training evidence, and note expiry dates.

Standard Dive Plan Templates

Use a template that covers every required element, and review it on site with the whole dive team before the first dive.

Classify the Work Early

Decide at the planning stage whether the job is general or high risk diving work, as this changes the standard and competence that apply.

Example: Diving Work in Practice

A marine survey business sends two divers to inspect and photograph seagrass beds for a port authority environmental program. The work involves no construction, maintenance, repair or salvage, so the business treats it as general diving work. The business sights both divers' current medical certificates and training records, appoints an experienced supervisor, records a risk assessment covering boat traffic and currents, and prepares a dive plan with bottom times and emergency procedures. After each dive the supervisor completes the dive safety log. A later job to repair a wharf pile is classed as high risk diving work and is planned under AS/NZS 2299.1.

Related regulations: WHS confined spaces, WHS high risk work licences, WHS remote or isolated work.

Note: This summary is based on the model WHS laws published by Safe Work Australia. The model laws only have legal effect once a jurisdiction adopts them. Most states and territories have adopted them with some variations, which can include different wording or regulation numbers, while Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws and has its own OHS laws. Amendments to the model laws apply only once a jurisdiction adopts them. Always check the legislation and codes of practice that apply in your jurisdiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which part of the model WHS Regulations covers diving?

Part 4.8 (Diving work), which runs from regulation 167 to regulation 184. State and territory regulations may number or word these provisions differently.

Is snorkelling covered by Part 4.8?

Part 4.8 applies to work carried out in or under water while breathing compressed gas. Snorkelling does not involve breathing compressed gas, but the general duties under the WHS Act still apply.

How long must dive records be kept?

Medical fitness certificates and evidence of competence for 1 year after the work finishes, and dive safety logs for 1 year after the last entry. Dive plans and risk assessments have shorter periods unless a notifiable incident occurs, when they are kept for 2 years.