Dive personal protectection from exposure

[trtspec]

Has any one seen any kind of regulation or standard that might help me in the research that shows the hazards or needs for more than wet suits for PPE for recue diving? Our dive team seems to be given the low bid equipment even when it comes to personal protective equipment. If we are to be exposed to blood on a medical call they freak out but, yet they have no hesitations on sending us into a water contaminated with blood or other hazards with only a wet suit. If any one has information on where I might be able to search for more info please let me know. I have already tried with OSHA and dive rescue international with no luck. You would think a department of more than 450 personnel would care a little more about their employees.

[Firediver]

Use the same words used in your post. Talk about the contaminated water, how it poses a danger to you as responding emergency worker. Ask them if they would send in a FF into a burning house without bunkers, or a medic on a call with out gloves, mask, etc?Make sure and educate them as to WHAT your needs are, WHY the team needs the equipment, and HOW they can help the citizens and the city As far as a specific standard, try the NFPA or OSHA under the diving section, unknown where. I know this isn't much, but I hope it helps. OSHA is probably your best bet.

[FDNYRR]

Try contacting Paul Hash from Rescue Co 1 in NYC, he's a pretty savvy guy and the FDNY had to go to dry suits specifically for safety reasons!

[KYMEDIC]

The dive stuff in OSHA is in 29 CFR 1910.401 thru 1910.441. Here's a link FYI.

I've read through it before but it's been a while and I don't remember anything about dry suit requirements. From an OSHA standpoint you'd probably have better luck griping about Hazardous environments (i.e. fuel and battery acid in water at a car submersion) or the general duty clause.

Good luck.
Jim

[CTWBFDDIVE]

You might want to try The NOAA Diving Manual For Science And Technology 4th edition as a reference point. There is a lot of information of Contaminated Water Diving.

[dly]

Try your Health Dept. Are there any bio. nastys in the water? Just like when they closed the beaches for to high of E coli. They can't expect you to go into contaminated water and expose yourself. The City brought us some nice Viking Dry Suit because the local River was high in E coli.

dly

[apatrol]

Shortly after Trop Storm Allison FEMA paid for all water rescuers to get there Hep shot...cant remember if it was A or B... Maybe they have some info on water exposure risk....Good Luck In Your Search

[BladesRobinson]

I noticed that you also are from Florida and I used to have the same problems that you are experiencing. Call me if I can help you with your budget request as I have "been there, done that."

You can call me on duty at 561-231-6493 (C-shift, work 24/48, on duty on 2/3/02) or drop me an e-mail.

There are several resources that you should have at your disposal:
"Diving In Polluted Environments" is available through Dive Rescue International by calling 800-248-3483, ext 12. This book is THE AUTHORITY for divers who work in contaminated environments.

Our team (Indian River County) uses Positive Pressure AGA/Interspiro masks and Viking Dry Suits (also available through Dive Rescue International). This was determined to be appropriate protection as evidenced by the EPA at the following web site:
http://www.epa.gov/r10earth/offices/...qip.htm#Viking Drysuit with AGA Divator MK II Full-Face Mask

Also, print the information from this site to help you justify dry suits and AGA masks. It relates to the pfiestria toxin. The site states, "Preliminary evidence suggests that exposure to waters where toxic forms of Pfiesteria are active may cause memory loss, confusion, and a variety of other symptoms including respiratory, skin, and gastro-intestinal problems. It has been shown that similar human health effects can be caused by exposure to Pfiesteria toxins in a laboratory setting." Fishermen and inland divers in North Carolina have been complining of these symptoms for a while and their illnesses are being investigated.
http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/pf...ia/fact.html#6

Take a visit to this site for information on diving in polluted environments. A lot of this information comes directly from the DIVING IN POLLUTED ENVIRONMENTS book:
http://www.gulftel.com/~scubadoc/dvpolwtr.html

These sites and others have been discussed at the SAR DIVER Discussion forum and are bookmarked there (that's how I was able to quickly find this information). All public safety divers should consider joining the FREE forum.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SAR-Diver

This free forum is moderated and restricted to professionals in the public safety diving industry.

One last resource is the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists. The IADRS publishes SEARCHLINES where these and other topics related to water rescue and recovery are discussed. More information is available at:
http://www.iadrs.org

Best of luck!

Blades Robinson, Lt
Indian River County (FL) Fire Rescue