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The Department of Employment and Labour has issued a notice of direction in terms of Section 27 (2) of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) ACT, read with Regulation 3 (11) of the Commercial Diving Regulations, for the renewal of diving entities previously issued by the Department of Employment and Labour. 

The notice, which has been issued by the Department on 6 July 2022 – states that “all commercial divers, diving supervisors, diving instructors and commercial diving schools are hereby instructed to re-apply to be issued with the new certification as required by Regulation 3 (11) of the Commercial Diving Regulations, 2022”. 

This was said by the Department of Employment and Labour’s Senior Specialist: Occupational Health and Hygiene, Ms Jabulile Mhlophe, during the Commercial Divers Workshop hosted by the Department at the University of Cape Town today, 13 July 2022.  

“Commercial diving schools must submit the applications to the Department within six months from the date of publication on this notice. Commercial divers, diving supervisors and diving instructors certified before the promulgation of the Commercial Diving Regulation of 20 May 2022 should submit applications within 24 months from the date of publication of this notice”, read the gazetted circular.

Ms Nozi Maphoto – Principal Inspector: Occupational Hygiene and Diving – said employers in the commercial diving sector must have proof of registration as a commercial contractor.

“Only registered diving schools and registered contractors can perform commercial diving operations”, said Ms Maphoto. 

Ms Somikazi Charlie – Principal Inspector: Occupational Hygiene and Diving, who also presented on the Commercial Diving Regulations said a commercial diver - “means a person registered as a diver in any of the classes listed in these regulations or who has an international qualification recognised by the chief inspector”.

Ms Charlie said a registered Commercial Diving School is an institution registered by a chief inspector to train learner divers, supervisors and learner commercial divers to the standards published in terms of these regulations.

Ms Bulelwa Huna – a Senior Specialist: in Occupational Health and Hygiene within the Department, delivered a presentation on the OHS ACT, 1993 in relation to the diving sector and according to the International Labour Organisation standards.  

Ms Huna told the gathering that: “Diving activities should take place in a safe and healthy working environment; Conditions of commercial diving activities should be consistent with divers and workers’ wellbeing and human dignity; and work and commercial diving activities should offer real possibilities for personal achievement, self-fulfilment and service to society”. 

The workshops follow the promulgation of the new commercial diving regulations on 20 May 2022. The workshop dealt with the application of the Occupational Health and Safety legislation in the commercial diving industry, the training standards for commercial divers, new regulations within the commercial diving sector as well as the sector’s logistical processes.

The next workshop is scheduled as follows: 

Date:   18 July 2022

Venue: Durban, uShaka Marine, Association for Marine Biological Research in South Africa (SAAMBR) uShaka Marine Services

Time:   08:30 am

Issued by Department of Employment and Labour