WAC 296-37-515
Definitions. As used in this standard,
the listed terms are defined as follows:
(1) "Acfm": Actual cubic feet per minute.
(2) "ASME Code or equivalent": ASME (American Society of
Mechanical Engineers) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section
VIII, or an equivalent code which the employer can demonstrate
to be equally effective.
(3) "ATA": Atmosphere absolute.
(4) "Bell": An enclosed compartment, pressurized (closed
bell) or unpressurized (open bell), which allows the diver to
be transported to and from the underwater work area and which
may be used as a temporary refuge during diving operations.
(5) "Bottom time": The total elapsed time measured in
minutes from the time when the diver leaves the surface in
descent to the time that the diver begins ascent.
(6) "Bursting pressure": The pressure at which a
pressure containment device would fail structurally.
(7) "Cylinder": A pressure vessel for the storage of
gases.
(8) "Recompression/decompression chamber": A pressure
vessel for human occupancy such as a surface decompression
chamber, closed bell, or deep diving system used to decompress
divers and to treat decompression sickness.
(9) "Decompression sickness": A condition with a variety
of symptoms which may result from gas or bubbles in the
tissues of divers after pressure reduction.
(10) "Recompression/decompression table": A profile or
set of profiles of depth-time relationships for ascent rates
and breathing mixtures to be followed after a specific
depth-time exposure or exposures.
(11) "Dive-guiding operations": The leading of groups of
trained sports divers, who use open-circuit,
semiclosed-circuit, or closed-circuit SCUBA, to local undersea
diving locations for recreational purposes.
(12) "Dive location": A surface or vessel from which a
diving operation is conducted.
(13) "Dive-location reserve breathing gas": A supply
system of air or mixed-gas (as appropriate) at the dive
location which is independent of the primary supply system and
sufficient to support divers during the planned decompression.
(14) "Dive team": Divers and support employees involved
in a diving operation, including the designated
person-in-charge.
(15) "Diver": An employee working in water using
underwater apparatus which supplies compressed breathing gas
at the ambient pressure.
(16) "Diver-carried reserve breathing gas": A
diver-carried supply of air or mixed gas (as appropriate)
sufficient under standard operating conditions to allow the
diver to reach the surface, or another source of breathing
gas, or to be reached by a standby diver.
(17) "Diving mode": A type of diving requiring specific
equipment, procedures and techniques (SCUBA, surface-supplied
air, or mixed gas).
(18) "Fsw": Feet of seawater (or equivalent static
pressure head).
(19) "Heavy gear": Diver-worn deep-sea dress including
helmet, breastplate, dry suit, weighted shoes.
(20) "Hyperbaric conditions": Pressure conditions in
excess of surface pressure.
(21) "Inwater stage": A suspended underwater platform
which supports a diver in the water.
(22) "Liveboating": The practice of supporting a
surfaced-supplied air or mixed gas diver from a vessel which
is underway.
(23) "Mixed-gas diving": A diving mode in which the
diver is supplied in the water with a breathing gas other than
air.
(24) "No-decompression limits": The depth-time limits of
the "no-decompression limits and repetitive dive group
designation table for no-decompression air dives," U.S. Navy
Diving Manual or equivalent limits which the employer can
demonstrate to be equally effective.
(25) "Psi(g)": Pounds per square inch (gauge).
(26) "Recreational diving instruction": The training of
diving students in the use of recreational diving procedures
and the safe operation of diving equipment, including
open-circuit, semiclosed-circuit, or closed-circuit SCUBA
during dives.
(27) "Scientific diving" means diving performed solely as
a necessary part of a scientific, research, or educational
activity by employees whose sole purpose for diving is to
perform scientific research tasks. Scientific diving does not
include performing any tasks usually associated with
commercial diving such as: Placing or removing heavy objects
underwater; inspection of pipelines and similar objects;
construction; demolition; cutting or welding; or the use of
explosives.
(28) "SCUBA diving": A diving mode independent of
surface supply in which the diver uses open circuit
self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.
(29) "Standby diver": A diver at the dive location
properly equipped and available to assist a diver in the
water.
(30) "Surface-supplied air diving": A diving mode in
which the diver in the water is supplied from the dive
location with compressed air for breathing.
(31) "Treatment table": A depth-time and breathing gas
profile designed to treat decompression sickness.
(32) "Umbilical": The composite hose bundle between a
dive location and a diver or bell, or between a diver and a
bell, which supplies the diver or bell with breathing gas,
communications, power, or heat as appropriate to the diving
mode or conditions, and includes a safety line between the
diver and the dive location.
(33) "Volume tank": A pressure vessel connected to the
outlet of a compressor and used as an air reservoir.
(34) "Working pressure": The maximum pressure to which a
pressure containment device may be exposed under standard
operating conditions.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050,
49.17.060. 04-18-078, § 296-37-515, filed 8/31/04, effective
11/1/04. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW and RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 92-22-067 (Order
92-06), § 296-37-515, filed 10/30/92, effective 12/8/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 87-02-002
(Order 86-44), § 296-37-515, filed 12/26/86. Statutory
Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.240, and chapters 42.30 and 43.22 RCW. 78-10-094 (Order 78-18), § 296-37-515,
filed 10/2/78.]