Government Wants Your Opinion on Underwater Paperwork Requirements
Published Date: 1/6/2025
Notice
Summary
OSHA is asking for public feedback to keep the paperwork rules for commercial diving safe and sound. This extension means employers who run diving operations will keep following the same info-sharing rules, with no new costs or changes. You’ve got until March 7, 2025, to share your thoughts and help keep diving workplaces safe!
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Paperwork Rules Continued for Diver Employers
OSHA is asking OMB to extend approval of the information-collection (paperwork) requirements in the Commercial Diving Operations Standard so employers that run diving operations will keep following the same recordkeeping and reporting rules. OSHA says this extension involves no new costs or changes and comments are due by March 7, 2025.
Estimated Paperwork Burden Reduced
OSHA proposes an adjusted decrease in estimated total burden hours from 170,806 hours to 135,450 hours, a decline of 35,356 hours. OSHA attributes this drop to a decrease in the number of professional divers from 3,460 to 2,900 and fewer affected facilities.
Specific Recordkeeping, Testing, and Retention Rules
Employers must keep detailed diving records, equipment maintenance logs, and test breathing-air and equipment on set schedules: air compressor output tested every six months at the distribution connection; breathing-gas hoses tested at least annually at 1.5 times working pressure; depth gauges calibrated or dead-weight tested every six months or if a discrepancy greater than two percent is found. Record retention rules include diving records for one year (five years if a decompression sickness (DCS) incident occurred), DCS assessments five years, and hospitalization records five years.
Training and Dive-Team Briefing Requirements
Employers must train all dive-team members in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid (American Red Cross standard or equivalent) and train those exposed to hyperbaric conditions in diving-related physics and physiology. Employers must brief dive-team members on tasks, safety procedures, unusual hazards, and ask each member about current physical fitness before assigning diving tasks.
Immediate Reporting and DCS Incident Timelines
If an employer deviates from the Subpart to prevent likely death or serious harm, they must provide written notice to the OSHA Area Director within 48 hours describing the reason and extent of the deviation. For any DCS incident, employers must investigate, take corrective action, and prepare a written evaluation of the assessment and corrective action within 45 days of the incident.
Worker Access to Exposure and Medical Records
Employers must make records required by the Subpart available on request for inspection and copying to OSHA, NIOSH, affected workers, and designated worker representatives; exposure and medical records (safe practices manuals, depth-time profiles, diving records, DCS assessments, hospitalization records, and equipment inspection/testing records) must be provided in accordance with Sec. 1910.1020. Employers must also make equipment inspection and testing records available to workers and their representatives on request.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-20724, Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Sentinel Deployment and Minuteman III Decommissioning and Disposal
The Air Force is updating its plan to replace old Minuteman III missiles with new Sentinel missiles across five states, including Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota. They’re checking how these changes might affect the environment and want your thoughts during a 30-day comment period starting now. This update could impact local lands and communities, with careful reviews to keep things safe and smart.
2026-20771, Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings
The Center for Scientific Review at the NIH is holding several closed virtual meetings in early November 2026 to review and evaluate grant applications. These meetings protect private info and trade secrets, affecting researchers seeking funding. No direct money changes are announced, but these reviews decide who gets research grants.
2026-20708, Self-Regulatory Organizations; Investors Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Pursuant to IEX Rule 15.110(a) and (c) To Amend the IEX Equities Fee Schedule
IEX is shaking up its fee schedule starting November 1, 2026, by tweaking who gets rebates for adding displayed liquidity and changing rebate amounts. This affects IEX members who trade stocks, giving them new ways to save or earn more on fees. The changes kick in right away after filing, so traders should get ready to adjust their strategies and cash flow.
2026-20710, Self-Regulatory Organizations; Investors Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Pursuant to IEX Rule 15.110(a) and (c) To Modify the Required Criteria To Qualify for the Reduced Incremental Fee
Investors Exchange (IEX) is changing the rules for who can get a discount on certain trading fees. Starting November 1, 2026, members will need to meet new criteria to qualify for the reduced incremental fee, which could save or cost them money depending on their trading activity. This change affects all IEX members and kicks in right away to keep things fair and clear.
2026-20779, Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires From Thailand: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2024-2025
The U.S. Department of Commerce found that tires from Thailand were sold in the U.S. for less than their normal price between July 2024 and June 2025. This means some importers might have to pay extra duties to keep things fair. The review process had some delays due to government shutdowns, but now the preliminary results are out and open for comments.
2026-20763, National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures: Wintertime Oil and Gas Exploration in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Categorical Exclusion
Starting October 9, 2026, the Department of the Interior is making it easier and faster to approve wintertime oil and gas exploration in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve by adding a special rule that skips some usual paperwork. This change mainly affects energy companies working in the area and aims to speed up projects while still protecting the environment. No new costs are expected, but the process will be smoother and quicker.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2024-31726, Certain Video Capable Electronic Devices, Including Computers, Streaming Devices, Televisions, and Components Thereof; Notice of Request for Submissions on the Public Interest
The U.S. International Trade Commission is asking the public and government agencies to share their thoughts on a possible ban of certain video-capable devices like computers, streaming gadgets, and TVs if they're found to violate trade rules. This could affect imports and sales of these devices in the U.S., with decisions coming soon that might impact prices and availability. If you have opinions, now’s the time to speak up before the Commission makes its final call.
Next: 2024-31728, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Common Performance Reporting
The Department of Labor is asking for public feedback on how states report job training program results under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. This helps make sure the data collected is useful and not too much work. Comments are due by February 5, 2025, so states and the public can weigh in before any changes happen.