Topside Competency

I would very much like to echo those sentiments and expand it to include Technicians. Certain associations preach safety and competency but have no guideline on what a Dive Tech should be capable of. I’ve had the misfortune to see, first hand, the standard of competency and work ethic of “Dive Tech’s†who are more of a liability to the Dive Team than an asset. Personally I would like to see more attention paid to this aspect. At least LST’s have certification schemes, albeit not perfect, no such program is available to the guy that maintains the Life Support Equipment. I believe that a Tech’s position should be considered safety critical and job specific certification be implemented instead of every Tech doing the best he can as he goes along. I know that if I was a Diver sitting in the Bell, the last thing I should be concerned about is if the thing is going to get me back topside again.

This is EXACTLY the type of issue the Divers' Association needs to address. I was almost killed in an explosive decompression due to incompetent topside personnel.producers MUST endorse proper training/experience parameters for the crews diving contractors send on projects. 'Warm bodies' lead to cold , dead bodies and damaged assets.

Russ;

Thanks man, on the money. Those pieces of paper/certification, that coast a lot of money, do not an LST, LSS, Dive Sup or Diver make!

Rus you hit the nail on the head there mate.

Thanks for the feedback.

Been discussing it with fellow colleagues. An oral exam is achievable, albeit not without difficulty on IMCA's part.

A step in the right direction would be to have the examination include a written section, to test the subjects listed above.

I would very much like to echo those sentiments and expand it to include Technicians. Certain associations preach safety and competency but have no guideline on what a Dive Tech should be capable of. I’ve had the misfortune to see, first hand, the standard of competency and work ethic of “Dive Tech’s†who are more of a liability to the Dive Team than an asset. Personally I would like to see more attention paid to this aspect. At least LST’s have certification schemes, albeit not perfect, no such program is available to the guy that maintains the Life Support Equipment. I believe that a Tech’s position should be considered safety critical and job specific certification be implemented instead of every Tech doing the best he can as he goes along. I know that if I was a Diver sitting in the Bell, the last thing I should be concerned about is if the thing is going to get me back topside again.

As a tech, I would like to comment on what you have said and agree with you entirely. The problems with techs are two fold. Firstly, many of them have no real trade background outside diving. Their skills and knowledge levels are rubbish.

Secondly, many techs have no diving knowledge and learn on the job. I was one of these. I found it pretty scary, but read my IMCA standards big time and learnt as much as I could, quickly. I kept my mouth shut as I was earning good money, and asked lots of questions, but the reality is that every tech, as a bare minimum should do an LST course and a reclaim course. Doesn't matter if he is electrical or mechanical.

The third issue with techs is that the portable systems used on barges and decks generally run with only one tech per shift, meaning that the tech is either mechanical or electrical. If the tech on shift has a problem outside his area of expertise, he wakes the other tech up to help out. This can result in extremely fatigued techs in a position where they influence the safe outcome of a dive big time. (In most portable systems I have worked on the tech launches and recovers the bell). Only DSVs run 2 techs per shift. Why??

I realise that this is a big thread drift but I would like to add my support to Ronnie's comments.

I will start my own thread on the standards of Dive techs and some of the issues involved, but thanks for bringing this to the fore Ronnie!

Good post, Russ. Unbelievable when you think about it that Life Support personnel, who's very job title spells out the importance of their role in the operation, would not have the knowledge or competency to actually carry the job out. This has to change before it is the next "root cause" of a disaster.

Multiple choice papers guarantee good odds of a mark of 25% to anyone who is totally ignorant and those odds improve with only cursory knowledge of the subject. A written test should be mandatory.

There is, in addition, the problem of schools which take the money and shell out tickets to substandard graduates regardless.

It has since occurred to me that there is even the potential to score100% without any knowledge of the subject whatsoever???

Guesswork has no place in examinations on subjects where lives could be at stake...Simple!

Russ,

Thanks for a good Post and pointing out a well valuable point. I came across some people who does n't know the difference between a NPT and a JIC fitting, but they are qualified to be on the panel. A exam method is not right, they should seriously think about having a better way of giving a certificate to some one in a responsible position.

Here's a thought ....

There should be an expiration or renewal period for all IMCA certifications. Our industry is constantly changing, constantly upgrading ... especially on the equipment side of the house. Our skills need to be upgraded and honed in pace with those industry changes.

When a certification expires the holder should be required to attend a RELEVANT refresher course, pass a REAL test, and offer documentation that he/she is still an ACTIVE member of his/her profession.

This recertification process should be sponsored and paid by his/her employer as a cost of doing business.