EPA divers practice how to safely tender a surface supply line.EPA's Diving Safety Program includes policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures that help minimize our workers' occupational hazards.

Our Diving Safety Manual (see below) addresses job-related hazards typically found at land-based EPA work sites, as well as hazards specific to underwater environments, including:

• Immersion in chemically and/or biologically contaminated waters, and
• Hyperbaric-induced illnesses, such as decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism (AGE).

Diving Safety Board

We have an active Diving Safety Board made up of experienced divers from each of our diving units. The Board recommends policy and changes in operating procedures, and routinely reviews existing policies, procedures and training to ensure a high level of technical skills and knowledge throughout our diving program.

For more information about diving safety at EPA, contact Alan Humphrey (humphrey.alan@epa.gov), 732-321-6748, Chair, EPA Diving Safety Board.

Additional resources can be found on the Technical Director Corner (EPA divers only).

Diving Safety Manual and Related Documents

• EPA Diving Safety Manual (PDF)(218 pp, 4 MB, April 2016, Revision 1.3)
  Policies, standard operating procedures, and standard methods for EPA's underwater/diving saftey program.
• EPA Vessel Safety Manual (PDF)(196 pp, 3 MB, April 2012)
  Requirements for safety and occupational health on EPA vessels.
• EPA National Diving Safety Program 2014 Annual Report (PDF)(24 pp, 2 MB, October 2015)
  Summary of EPA's National Diving Safety Program activities from October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014.
• EPA National Diving Safety Program 2015 Annual Report (PDF)(60 pp, 4 MB, May 30, 2016)
  Summary of EPA's National Diving Safety Program activities from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015.