Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)Code of PracticeDiving Regulations, 2009Code of Practice for Inshore Diving10. Special operational conditions10.15 Diving in confined spaces |
A "confined space" means an enclosed, restricted, or limited space in which, because of its construction, location or contents, or any work activity carried on therein, a hazardous substance may accumulate or an oxygen-deficient atmosphere may occur, and includes any chamber, tunnel, pipe, pit, sewer, container, valve, pump, sump, or similar construction, equipment, machinery or object in which a dangerous liquid or dangerous concentration of gas, vapour, dust or fumes may be present;
It is the duty of the diving contractor to identify all confined spaces present at a diving project and ensure that the requirements of confined space entry stipulated in the General Safety Regulations are complied with.
The diving contractor must also take cognizance of risks associated with differential pressure situations as well as the risks associated with possible entrapment and manage these risks appropriately. (See also section 10.2).