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IMCA Hyperbaric Evacuation Systems Workgroup

Under a subcommittee lead by Allan Palmer, US GoM Diving Safety Work Group reviewed IMCA's draft recommendations, collected and analyzed regional data and input. After two months of gathering information from subject matter experts, US GoM DSWG presented the following findings and recommendations at the general membership meeting on June 20, 2012:

• Yes, we endorse the concept of 'standardization' going forward, and we applaud the efforts of IMCA in this regard.
• We recommend the use of a TL (transfer lock) in the design of an HRF. A TL with both side and top hatches will offer many benefits including the ability to accept both bottom-hatch and side-hatch HRC's, HLB's and Diving Bells. While we recognize evacuation via Diving Bell will not be the first choice in an emergency situation, it is certainly a possibility and the HRF should be able to accommodate a Diving Bell.
• Since we recommend the HRF be configured to accommodate a Diving Bell, we recommend a standard flange size of 800/900mm (instead of the 700/800mm flange proposed). The larger flange size is what we find on the 3-man bells and the larger flange size will better facilitate transfer of an injured diver.

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Live Boating Guidelines

A committee was formed to discuss live boating Guidelines in the Gulf of Mexico and the Document has been finished and is available on the Documents page of the website.

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Underwater Burning Guidelines

A committee was formed to discuss underwater burning in the Gulf of Mexico and the Document has been finished and is available on the Documents page of the website.

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Underwater Lift Bag Guidelines

A committee was formed to discuss lift bag guidelines in the Gulf of Mexico and the Document has been finished and is available on the Documents page of the website.

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Hyperbaric Evacuation System Planning

A committee was formed to evaluate the guidelines for the use of Hyperbaric Rescue Chambers / SPHL's that are utilized for commercial diving operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The document has been finished and is available on the Documents page of the website.

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Hand Jetting for Underwater Excavation

A committee was formed to develop guidelines for using Hand Jetting as a method for underwater excavation and the document is available on the Documents page of the website.

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Minimum Manning Levels

A committee was formed to evaluate the guidelines for minimum safe manning levels that are utilized for commercial diving operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The document is finished and is available on the Documents page of the website.