Police and rescue divers: special regulations confirmed
The new ordinance on work in positive pressure has been in force since January 1. The Federal Council has now approved exemptions for police and rescue divers and diving instructors.
On January 1, 2016, the new Ordinance on the Safety of Workers at Work in a Pressurized Environment came into force. It regulates safety during work that takes place in an enclosed environment - such as tunnel construction - or underwater by divers.
On April 13, 2016, the Federal Council also enacted a transitional regulation exempting police and rescue divers and diving instructors from individual provisions. This was done after it became apparent that the new regulations did not take enough account of the special circumstances surrounding emergency and rescue work by police and rescue divers and the training activities of diving instructors. This interim rule will be in effect until the revised regulation goes into effect on October 15, 2016.
Exceptions for full-face mask and treatment chambers
With the exemption provisions, police and rescue divers are exempt from wearing a full-face mask where it is not suitable and if the dives are performed at least in pairs. Furthermore, treatment chambers do not have to be provided on site for long dives if a rescue concept is in place and the divers can be quickly transported to a specialized hospital after a possible accident.
Finally, it is made possible that emergency divers can carry out their missions in pairs without an additional specialist being present. For all divers, a guide line can be dispensed with in flowing waters if this would endanger safety.
Source: Federal Council
