Section 26-11. Requirements for diving certificate and medical certificate
A person assigned by the employer to carry out work under water or under increased ambient pressure must have a diving certificate in accordance with these regulations that cover the applicable diving activity and must have a valid medical certificate.A class A diving certificate permits light and easy work under water down to a depth of 30 metres, but not work as described in the third paragraph. For the work to be considered light and easy, no equipment must be needed that would significantly change the diver's buoyancy. When assessing what is light and easy work, attention must also be paid to the weather conditions, wave height, currents, light, visibility in the water, and other factors that might affect the complexity of the tasks to be performed.For commercial diving down to a depth of 50 metres, a class B diving certificate is required. The same applies to diving on ship hulls, near a remote-controlled underwater vehicle, in or near sea pens, diving less than 10 metres away from pillars, quays, pipelines, constructions and facilities and anywhere else there might be a risk of getting stuck. A class B diving certificate is also required when using a game bag with a weight in water above 2 kg and for work with hydraulic, pneumatic or otherwise energy-consuming work equipment such as mud suction dredgers, flushing equipment, ejector pumps, cranes, hoists, lifting equipment, lifting balloons, etc.During diving for scientific purposes organised by universities, research institutions and government institutions, lighter work on the seabed may be performed, such as scientific research, taking samples, registration and taking photographs, near pillars and quays as stated in the third paragraph, without regard for the restrictions laid down for diving with a class A diving certificate near such constructions etc. in the second paragraph. This exemption does not apply to work on or in direct connection with the above-mentioned constructions etc., or near a remote-controlled underwater vehicle. The employer must prepare a written safety assessment in advance.To perform rescue diving and search for persons presumed dead, a diving certificate pursuant to Section 26-20 is required. For rescue diving and training in rescue diving, work equipment may be used, and diving may be performed in places without regard for the restrictions laid down for diving with a class A diving certificate in the second paragraph. This also applies to searches for persons presumed dead and when in an emergency the police ask divers who have been trained pursuant to Section 26-20 for assistance with other tasks than rescue diving, when the purpose is to protect people, material values, the common good or the environment, or to investigate criminal activity. For training in rescue diving, the safety assessment must be in writing.
