USGS Dive Safety Board
I. Purpose/Scope. The purpose of the USGS Dive Safety Board (DSB) is to provide executive level involvement in the formulation of bureau policy and management of diving activities. The USGS Dive Safety Program follows the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for scientific diving, which require a bureau Dive Safety Manual (DSM) and the establishment of a DSB.
II. Authority.
A. OSHA 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.401 – Scientific Diving exemption from the Commercial Diving standards.
B. Department of the Interior (DOI) Safety and Health Handbook, 485 DM Chapter 28.
C. USGS
Occupational Safety and Health Program Requirements Handbook, 445-2-H, December,
2001.
III. Membership. The majority of the DSB members will be active scientific divers.
A. Dive Safety Officer.
B. One Regional Dive Safety Officer from each region with diving activities.
C. As many as two additional representatives from each region with diving activities.
D. Bureau OSHE Program Manager or designee.
IV. Responsibilities. The Bureau DSB has the following responsibilities:
A. Develops and updates the USGS Dive Safety Manual.
B. Oversees approval of dive plans.
C. Reviews and evaluates OSHA and DOI regulations for their effect on USGS operations and implements compliance programs.
D. Participates in developing DOI and Bureau dive safety plans.
E. Reviews diving accidents/incidents, and institutes corrective actions, as appropriate.
F. Develops, or oversees the development of, information systems to assist in dive program management (e.g., websites, databases, and training).
G. Promotes the involvement of management by identifying diving-related safety issues and by providing management with recommendations for corrective action(s).
H. Provides a forum to share ideas and resources between scientific divers, the USGS scientific diving community, and management.
I. Recommends or requires safety equipment and procedures for tasks involving diving.
J. Distributes materials and information related to diving.
K. Reviews annual program accomplishments and develops annual program goals and plans.
V. Meetings and Reports. DSB meetings will be held quarterly by teleconference (if possible), with at least one face-to-face meeting annually. Additional meetings may be held as deemed necessary (e.g. whenever a serious accident, incident, or important program business occurs).
VI. Voting. The act of the majority of members will be the act of the USGS DSB.
VII. Salary, Travel, and Incidental Costs. DSB members' costs are borne by each participant's local or regional organization. Costs of Bureau-level members are borne by the Bureau Safety and Environmental Management Board in the Office of Management Services, Office of Administrative Policy and Analysis. Extraordinary expenses must be pre-approved by the appropriate authority and covered by a written agreement.
Approved:
signed_________________________________
Carol F. Aten
Chief, Office of Administrative Policy and Services
Designated Agency Safety and Health Official