A commercial diver was drawn into a 30" diameter aerator intake pipe while attempting to locate the screens for two fire
pump intakes.
The pulp mill hired a diving company to inspect and clean two intake screens in their industrial effluent pond. Both
parties thought that the work had been planned and all hazards identified. The pumps for the two intakes to be worked on
had been identified and locked out. The diver, after entering the water with zero visibility, thought he had located the fire
pump intakes when he was drawn into a nearby aerator intake pipe. The screen for this intake pipe had broken off and the
diver was pulled, head first, 80 feet up the pipe. As the aerator intake pipe had not been identified on the drawings used,
the 35,000 litre per minute aerator pump had not been locked out. There were no visual markers on the surface of the
pond to identify the aerator or fire pump intakes.
Safe work practices:
Before diving, a detailed risk assessment must be conducted by a qualified person, with specific knowledge of the
worksite, to determine all hazards
- Ensure there are accurate drawings (preferably on a master drawing) indicating all underwater equipment, piping,
intakes, etc. for all underwater work
- Ensure all
underlying hazards
have visual
indicators (flagging
or signage) on the
surface
- Ensure risk
assessments, safe
work procedures,
lockout procedures,
pre-work meeting
documents, and
accurate drawings
are available and
used by project co-ordinators
and
diving contractors
working in
underwater
environments
