Inspection Requirements and Procedures

Annual Dive Locker Inspection
Visual Cylinder Inspection (VCI)
More Information

Annual Dive Locker Inspection

Background
Since their implementation, the NOAA Diving Regulations have required annual dive locker inspections. In the past, inspection criteria were determined at each unit, were not standardized, and in many cases were incomplete. In 1987, a standardized inspection check list was developed and issued to units. The original version of this checklist was very long and several sections were not applicable to all NOAA units. Although not perfect, the checklist established NOAA-wide dive locker inspection guidelines. Several versions of the checklist have been developed over the years and the present version is significantly shorter and truly represents the typical NOAA diving locker.

Requirements
The Line Office/Fleet Diving Officers (LO/FDO) are responsible for ensuring that dive locker inspections are completed and documented within their line offices ANNUALLY .

The Unit Diving Supervisor and vessel Divemasters are designated by the LO-FDO to complete this task. Dive locker reports shall be completed and submitted to the respective LO/FDO by January 15th for the current calendar year.

Description
The inspection checklist provides NOAA wide guidelines for the condition and requirements of dive lockers. The checklist is divided into the following sections:

Administration Diving equipment Support equipment Recommended items

Training Breathing gas systems and storage Specialized operations Comments and recommendations

The checklist is a self-inspection tool that is used to ensure unit readiness. When completing the checklist, be honest and do a complete job. Any discrepancies will be identified and corrected with the help of the NOAA Diving Center (NDC).

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Visual Cylinder Inspection (VCI)

Policy and Procedures
The following procedures detail the administrative requirements for inspecting cylinders, monitoring the distribution of stickers, and maintaining certification as a Qualified NOAA Cylinder Inspector.

1. As a cylinder inspection is conducted, a NDP Cylinder Inspection Report Form (CIRF) shall be completed for each cylinder and kept at the unit. The NDP Visual Cylinder Inspection Summary Sheet (VCISS) shall be completed and maintained on file by the qualified inspector. If a cylinder fails inspection, the summary sheet should still be completed and the column for a sticker serial number should be left blank. The remarks column should state why the cylinder failed inspection.

2. NDC will issue VCI stickers to qualified inspectors. Written requests are required for sticker issue. The inspector will sign or initial the VCISS for each sticker used. If a sticker is destroyed or voided, an entry should be recorded on the summary sheet with blanks left where the information is not applicable. The remarks section should note that the sticker was voided or destroyed.

3. All qualified cylinder inspectors are required to submit annually; copies of VCISS to NDC for the cylinders inspected during the year. The report is due on January 31 following the year being reported. The report will account for all stickers that have been issued to the inspector during the reporting period, including those that are still on hand.

4. All inspectors must inspect a minimum of 10 cylinders per year to maintain their certification.

5. NOAA stickers are to be used only on NOAA cylinders and cylinders used to support NOAA-sponsored activities.

Training and Certification
The training and certification of cylinder inspectors will be conducted during NOAA diver training classes. The following procedures shall be followed to be certified as a NOAA Visual Cylinder Inspector:

1. An individual must attend a class that teaches the NOAA Diving Program protocol or an equivalent method (Professional Scuba Inspectors, PSI) of cylinder inspection. The class will be offered through NDP or may be obtained through other sources. The course, including the written examination, must be successfully completed.

2. Once an individual has successfully completed the required class work, they must inspect a minimum of 10 cylinders under the supervision of a currently certified NOAA Visual Cylinder Inspector. The inspections must be completed to the satisfaction of the certified inspector.

3. When the training requirements are met, the individual must submit to NDC, through their Unit Diving Supervisor the documentation to this effect and request certification as a NOAA Visual Cylinder Inspector.

4. The Director, NOAA Diving Program will review the request and issue a Letter of Certification or upgrade the current letter. You must be in receipt of a Letter of Certification before conducting any cylinder inspections.

More Information
More information about Visual Cylinder Inspection is available at the following external web sites:

Visual Cylinder Inspection Training by Dale Fox
http://users.erols.com/adalefox/Visual_Cylinder_Inspection.htm

CFR Title 29, Part 1910, Section 101: OSHA CFR Subpart H - Hazardous Materials: Compressed gases
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?...

Professional Scuba Inspectors
http://www.marinestudio.com/sunpacific/psi/

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More Information about Diving Safety Inspection Procedures (external web sites)

TRI Environmental Compressed Air Testing Program
http://www.texasresearchintl.com/env/compressed.htm

The Naval Safety Center Safety Checklists
http://safetycenter.navy.mil/afloat/download/chklst.htm

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