NASA Dives Past OSHA Rules for Space Training Pool
Published Date: 8/21/2026
Notice
Summary
NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab team got a permanent green light from OSHA to skip a tricky diving safety rule about decompression chambers. This change kicks in on August 21, 2026, and stays until OSHA says otherwise. It affects the eight companies running NASA’s underwater training pool in Houston, helping them keep space training safe and smooth without extra red tape or costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Post‑Dive Watch Cut from 1 Hour to 10 Minutes
As of August 21, 2026, OSHA allows the eight companies in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Operations Contract (Vertex TTS; Oceaneering International Inc.; Bastion Technologies, Inc.; Rothe Enterprises; Rothe Development; International Preparedness Associates, Inc.; MRI; and EPro) to instruct divers who dive on nitrox and within the no‑decompression limits at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory to remain near the decompression chamber for at least 10 minutes after a dive instead of the usual 1 hour required by 29 CFR 1910.423(b)(2). This change applies only to diving at the NBL in Houston and only under the specified nitrox/no‑decompression conditions.
New Rapid Reporting and Annual Records Rules
NOC must notify OSHA of any recordable diving‑related injury, illness, or fatality within 8 hours and provide the incident investigation report (OSHA Form 301) within 24 hours. NOC must also submit an annual report by January 15 each year summarizing the prior year's dives and evaluating how the variance conditions worked.
Mandatory Medical Exams and Training Rules
Under the permanent variance, NOC must follow the NASA NBL Safety Program and ensure that the NBL medical officer or a human test support group medical technician physically examines all NOC employees conducting dives for fitness to dive before they enter the water. NOC divers must meet the NBL qualification and training requirements and follow any Dive Safety Board instructions.
Variance Limited to Named Contractors at NBL
The permanent variance applies only to the named NOC contractors (Vertex TTS; Oceaneering International Inc.; Bastion Technologies, Inc.; Rothe Enterprises; Rothe Development; International Preparedness Associates, Inc.; MRI; and EPro) and only to diving work performed at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston. The variance does not apply to any other employers, worksites, or locations, and it may not be transferred to another company.
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