REGISTRATION CRITERIA FOR DIVING ENTITIES IN

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REGISTRATION CRITERIA FOR DIVING ENTITIES

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMERCIAL DIVING

REGULATIONS, 2022.

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Table of contents

1. Definitions

2. Purpose

3. Legal background

4. Terms and conditions for registration

5. Documents to accompany the application of the commercial diving school and diving

contractor

6. Renewal

7. Renewal process

8. Submitting the application file

9. Banking details

10. Contact details

DEFINITIONS:

“Diving entity” means divers, supervisors, instructors, chamber operators, diving contractors and

commercial diving schools.

“The Department” means the Department of Employment and Labour

“The card” means a small rectangular piece of plastic containing the registration information of an

individual registered with the Department.

“The Minister” means the Minister of Employment and Labour

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this document is:

(a) To provide minimum requirements for registration of all diving entities,

(b) To ensure standardization of applications,

LEGAL BACKGROUND

In terms of the Commercial Diving Regulations, 2022, the following diving entities must be registered

with the Department and be issued with the certification that will be valid for four (4) years, except

for the diving contractors, whose certification will be valid for one (1) year:

(a) Divers

(b) Supervisors

(d) Chamber operators

(e) Commercial Diving schools

(f) Diving contractors

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR REGISTRATION

(a) The Department reserves the right not to register any diving entity that does not fully meet

the requirements whether in part or in full.

(b) The Department reserves the right to withdraw the registration if it is discovered that the

registered entity does not comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of

1993), its Regulations and all other relevant documents.

be submitted in writing within 14 days to the Department for verification.

(d) The Chief Inspector may deregister any diving entity that fails to comply with the

requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993), its Regulations or

other relevant documents. The de-registered diving entity will not be allowed to re-register

until the period of four years has lapsed since the de-registration.

Applications from the commercial diving schools and diving contractors must be submitted

physically to the Department at the given address below.

For the re-issuing of approval certificates/card, electronic means of submission is acceptable. If all

documents are in order, the application will be processed within 60 working days. In case, there are

missing documents, the Department will request the documents. If the documents are not received

within the 60 days of the date of receipt of the application, the application will be closed and the

person or the organization will have to re-apply.

DOCUMENTS TO ACCOMPANY THE APPLICATION OF THE COMMERCIAL DIVING SCHOOL AND

DIVING CONTRACTOR:

(a) Proof of registration with Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF)

(b) Copy of letter of “Good standing” from Compensation Fund

(d) CIPC Registration (Please ensure that the certificate is in the name of the organization

applying) and

(e) Any other information as requested in the application form.

RENEWAL:

The certification period is limited to four (4) years for the divers, supervisors, chamber operators,

instructors and commercial diving schools. The diving contractors’ period is one (1) year. The

purpose of renewing the certification is to ensure that the competency levels are reviewed within

the reasonable period so that the skills and abilities of the certificate holder remain current. This will

furthermore, ensure the occupational health safety of the individual and that of the teams they are

working in, is not compromised.

Certification will be renewed on the basis of the applicant certifying that he/she has retained their

operating competency over the previous period of certification. Applicants may be required to

provide the Department with evidence of current competency (e.g. certified copies of log book

and/or similar evidence demonstrating current practice in diving and/or other relevant activities).

The following Table of Renewal Requirements shows the minimum experience necessary for renewal

of various certificates:

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TABLE OF RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS

Class VI commercial diver certificate

 Candidate must have logged at least

20 dives as a diver, during the past 4

years at the class of certification.

 Valid medical certificate of fitness to

dive.

Class V commercial diver certificate

 Candidate must have logged at least

20 dives as a diver, during the past 4

years at the class of certification.

 Valid medical certificate of fitness to

dive.

Class IV commercial diver certificate

 Candidate must have logged at least

20 dives as a diver, during the past 4

years at the class of certification.

 Valid medical certificate of fitness to

dive.

Class IV supervisor certificate

 Candidate must have logged at least

20 dives as a supervisor during the

past 4 years, of which 10 must have

been supervisory at the class of

certification.

 Valid medical certificate of fitness.

Class III commercial diver certificate

 Candidate must have logged at least

20 dives as a diver, during the past 4

years at the class of certification.

 Valid medical certificate of fitness to

dive

Class III supervisor certificate

 Candidate must have logged at least

20 dives as a supervisor during the

past 4 years, of which 10 must have

been supervisory at the class of

certification.

 Valid medical certificate of fitness.

Class II commercial diver certificate

 Candidate must have logged at least

20 dives as a diver, during the past 4

years at the class of certification.

 Valid medical certificate of fitness to

dive.

Class II supervisor certificate

 Candidate must have logged at least

20 dives as a supervisor during the

past 4 years, of which 10 must have

been supervisory at the class of

certification.

 Valid medical certificate of fitness.

Class II Mixed Gas Commercial diver

certificate

 Candidate must have logged at least

20 surface-supplied decompression

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dives as a diver during the past 4

years; at least 5 of these dives must

have been on mixed-gas.

 Valid medical certificate of fitness.

Class II Mixed-Gas Supervisor certificate

 Candidate must have participated in

at least 20 surface-supplied

decompression diving activities

during the past 4 years; at least 10

must have been supervisory and 5

must have been on mixed gas.

 Valid medical certificate.

Chamber Operator certificate

 Candidate must have logged at least

20 chamber dives during the past 4

years.

Instructor certificate

 Candidate must have logged at least

10 supervisory dives and 10

instructional diving lessons.

Diving Contractor certificate

 The organization must provide the

list of commercial diving projects

undertaken in the past year

(Minimum of 5 projects) in addition

to proof of operating competency.

Commercial Diving School certificate

 The organization must provide the

list of commercial training classes

and their levels provided in the past

4 years. (Minimum of 4 per year) in

addition to proof of operating

competency.

The Department requires applicants to apply for renewal of their certification before the date of

expiry on the certification held. Failure to do so renders the certificate holder’s certification invalid

and details of the diving entity will be removed from the active data base. Final decision on the

renewal of lapsed certifications will be made by the Chief Inspector: OHS on an individual basis.

Re-issue of certification will incur a re-joining fee to cover the administrative expenses involved in

reinstating the person or the organization on the database and processing of late applications.

Applications received beyond the date of expiry of the certification will be processed as follows:

 Applications received within 2 years after the date of expiry of the certification will not incur

any additional charges from the fees published by the Minister, and certification will be

renewed from the original date of expiry.

 Applications received after 2 years from the original date of expiry of the certification will

incur a re-joining fee of R500. This fee is additional to the certification renewal fee. Renewal

will provide four full years of certification from the date of issue of the renewed certificate.

 The re-joining fee may be waived at the discretion of the Chief Inspector if the applicant had

a medical condition which precluded the applicant from undertaking diving work (Proof of

such may be required to support the application).

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Renewal process:

To renew your Department certification, please:

1. Complete the application form

2. Submit the application form to the Department along with:

 a recent colour photograph – taken within the last six (6) months

 a certified copy of your Identity Document or Passport

 relevant supporting documentation (as indicated on the application form)

 proof of payment

Once your application is received at the Department, it will be checked to ensure you have

submitted all the required documentation. If everything is in order, the application will be

processed within 60 working days. If there is a problem with your application, you will be contacted

immediately by a processing officer to explain the problem. If the problem cannot be resolved within

60 days, your application will be closed and the person or organization will have to re-apply.

Submitting the application

An application for registration should be sent at least 60 days before the expiry of the current

certification. The application can be hand delivered, posted or couriered to the Department of

Employment and Labour for the attention of the Chief Inspector: OHS

Banking details:

Account Name: Department of Labour

Bank: First National Bank

ACCOUNT NR: 62025135577

BRANCH CODE: 253145

To help us identify your payment, please quote on REFERENCE section as following:

OHS: DR: your Name

Contact details:

Postal Address

Private Bag X117

Pretoria

0001

Physical Address

215 Francis Baard Street

Occupational Health and Hygiene

Laboria House

Pretoria

Email address: Gi[email protected]v.za