The Engineer Diver Task Committee continues to make progress on its proposed engineer diver standard. The goal of the standard is to establish minimum levels for training and certification of divers who conduct underwater investigations as defined by ASCE SPM 101, Underwater Investigations: Standard Practice Manual.
According to the task committee, the goal is to build upon the practice manual produced by the Ports and Harbors Committee in 2001. Goals include addressing the diving investigation of offshore structures and nuclear facilities. Previously, the task committee says, specific guidelines for diver training and safety issues were not addressed. The committee also notes that the current lack of “restricted” diver training programs in the United States results in an inadequate pool of qualified engineer-divers, which increases the probability of underwater investigations being completed by diving inspectors who are not technically qualified to evaluate engineering structures.
The committee recently completed a second ballot on the standard which passed with one editorial comment. The committee plans to: hold a third ballot on the standard; resolve comments and revise; submit to ASCE Codes and Standards (if passed) for peer review; resolve ASCE Codes and Standards comments; announce and release for public comment; resolve public comments; and release for publication. Committee Chair Bryan Jones expects to have the third ballot open for comment by early summer. Results of that ballot will likely be discussed at a task committee meeting prior to the next Ports and Harbors Committee meeting in the fall of 2008.
