Rules on diving and caisson work
Are you active in diving and caisson work? You usually have to report this and have proof of registration.
There are various occupational risks (in Dutch) involved in diving. Divers work under excess pressure, and in hazardous locations (cold water and ship traffic). They also do heavy work and come into contact with chemical substances or polluted water. Therefore, the work must follow specific rules.
Reporting diving and caisson work
Does your company want to carry out diving or caisson work? You must report this to the Netherlands Labour Authority (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie, NLA, in Dutch) in advance if the work:
- takes place at a depth of more than 9 meters
- takes place with a current flowing faster than 0.5 meters per second
- is expected to involve decompression
- will be carried out using breathing gas other than air
- lasts more than a week
- is for the underground extractive industry or extractive industry extracting minerals by drilling
The NLA must receive your report at least 5 working days before the work starts. You can use the same online form (in Dutch) for reporting both caisson work and diving activities. You need eHerkenning (at least level EH3) or an authorisation from the labour authority to use the form. You can apply for this authorisation online (in Dutch).
Please note: You must report diving activities for mining, wind farms, or mineral extraction to the State Supervision of Mines (Staatstoezicht op de Mijnen, SodM) via email to info@sodm.nl.
Proof of registration
Do you work under excess pressure? You need a proof of registration (in Dutch) from a recognised training institution (in Dutch) if you are a:
- diver
- dive team leader
- medical diving supervisor/diving medical attendant
- diving physician
Most registrations are valid for 4 years, except for medical diving supervisor, which is valid for 2 years, and diving physician, which is valid for 5 years. You have to renew your registration after this period. You have to prove you have continuous professional experience to be eligible for renewal. The Dutch Divecentre Registration Institution (Nederlands Duikcentrum Registratie Instelling, NDC-RI) keeps a public register of registrants (in Dutch).
Foreign employees
For divers, dive team leaders, diving physicians, and diver medical attendants from abroad who want to work in the Netherlands the same requirements apply as for Dutch workers. This applies to temporary or occasional work as well as for permanent jobs.
You can have your foreign professional qualification(s) assessed by a certifying body and take a theory and practical exam:
For civilian dive work
For fire services dive work
For defence dive work
Safety requirements
A spare diver and team leader must be present at all times when diving work is carried out. Each diver, spare diver, and team leader must have valid proof of registration. These registrations should be kept at the work location. In addition, a registered medical diving supervisor must be present on site. Each diver must also maintain their own diver's log.
Are you the employer? You have to keep a maintenance system for all caisson work at the work location. You can find detailed requirements for a well-functioning maintenance system in chapter 3 of the Working under Hyberbaric Conditions System- and Maintenance Requirements (WOD-SOE, pdf). View all requirements for working under hyberbaric conditions on the website of SWOD (Stichting Werken onder Overdruk).
You are also responsible for identifying the risks for your company's work in your risk assessment and evaluation (RI&E). And you have todraw up a work instruction (in Dutch) with workplace safety measures and emergency procedures. You must inform your staff about safe working methods and ensure that they follow the procedures. A certified diving physician must examine your employees annually in a work-related medical examination.
Diving equipment and maintenance
Your staff can only work with equipment and tools that are in good working order. You must also be able to prove that you maintain the equipment properly. You have to keep maintenance records for this purpose.
Do you hire a diver who has their own diving equipment and protective gear? You must check that their equipment provides proper protection when diving.
Working hours and rest times
Specific rules for the working hours of divers are described in the Working Hours Act (pdf, page 19).