§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will seek powers to have diving fatalities arising from oil-related operations in waters outside territorial limits but within the Scottish jurisdiction sector of the North Sea reported to his Department.
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§ Mr. StrangThe death of any diver employed on operations in connection with offshore installations on the United Kingdom sector of the Continental Shelf is required to be reported to my Department under the provisions of the Offshore Installations (Inspectors and Casualties) Regulations 1973.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he will publish regulations under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 for the safety of diving operations; and what provisions they will contain.
§ Mr. StrangIt is proposed to lay the regulations before Parliament and to publish them next week. They will come into force on 1st January, 1975.
The regulations will place responsibilities on persons concerned with diving operations and will include requirements for the immediate supervision of such operations by competent persons; for every diver to be experienced or accompanied under water by a diver with experience and to have a certificate of medical fitness valid for up to 12 months issued by a doctor and approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State; for the provision of adequate surface support, plant, equipment and facilities and the maintenance of such plant and equipment; for the use of a decompression chamber in all diving operations and the use of a submersible compression chamber at depths of 50 metres or more; for restrictions on the use of specified equipment; for the maintenance of diving records; for all operations to be carried out in accordance with written procedures and for diving tables to be approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.