Edition 52, November/December 2007

Dive safety strategy launched in Queensland

Seafood harvest divers are undertaking training to improve their skills and safety at Tropical North Queensland TAFE as part of the Work Safe Dive Safe strategy. 

Work Safe Dive Safe was created to help Queensland's occupational harvest divers meet new health and safety regulations. In May 2005 the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997 was amended in response to calls for greater diver safety. This comprehensive training program addresses these new regulations by giving recognition of prior learning and gap training for experienced divers.

The training is open to experienced Queensland harvest divers, primarily those from the crayfish, aquarium, aquaculture and sea cucumber sectors. It will give nationally recognised safety training for both SSBA (surface supply breathing apparatus) and SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) divers across a number of locations in Queensland until October 2008.

As competencies are achieved and/or recognised, divers will be issued with a statement of attainment and a statement of attainment card which lists what types of underwater diving work they are qualified to undertake.

The project will give divers access to quality, affordable training and the chance to gain workplace health and safety compliance. An estimated 600 divers are expected to undertake the training.

Work Safe Dive Safe was funded through the Queensland Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative and delivered through an innovative public-private partnership by Tropical North Queensland TAFE, IRES Remote Corporate Services and The Underwater Centre Tasmania.

For more information visit www.deir.qld.gov.au (Select 'Workplace health and safety' > 'Subject index A-Z' > 'Diving' > 'Occupational diving' > 'Occupational diver competency')

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