| UK. IMCA reports on diving certification scheme’s track record |
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| Thursday, 21 September 2006 | |
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Association news: Ensuring the proper training and competence of those working in safety-critical positions is a priority for members of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). To achieve this, IMCA runs internationally accepted certification schemes for air or bell diving supervisors and life support technicians (LSTs). "To bring members, and others concerned with offshore diving, up to date on how the scheme administered from Aberdeenshire by Vicki Graham is operating, we have published a report in the latest issue of our quarterly newsletter," explains Jane Bugler, Technical Director of IMCA. "We are extremely pleased with the results achieved, and believe that the certification scheme adds greatly to diver safety worldwide." Development of the schemes commenced in 1984, when work started on an industry-wide standard for training and certification of diving supervisors and life support personnel. Some 700 people have qualified as life support technicians since then. Following the introduction of the diving supervisor scheme on 1 January 1987, approximately 700 air diving supervisor and 800 bell diving supervisor certificates have been issued by IMCA. The first LST examinations required written answers but, in 1987 all examinations were transposed into a multiple-choice format. In the early days, the schemes were designed for and available to personnel working in the North Sea and examinations contained questions relating to legislation and guidance in force in the UK and Norway. As membership of AODC (formed in 1972 and amalgamated with another trade association to form IMCA in 1995), and subsequently IMCA, became more international, the examinations were sat by an increasing number of personnel working in other parts of the world. In response, separate UK and Norwegian legislation modules were developed and, since April 1998, have been offered to candidates as optional extras, depending where they are working. Currently some 60 air and 12 bell divers along with 20 assistant life support technicians are sitting or resitting examinations in 2006, with the majority of these personnel working in the Asia-Pacific, West Africa or the Middle East regions. IMCA endeavours to facilitate the exam being sat in a location convenient to the applicant rather than asking the applicant to travel perhaps to another country for this purpose. "If current trends continue, it is envisaged that there will be a significant increase in the number of certificates issued, in particular to air diving supervisors and life support technicians, during 2006," says Jane Bugler. |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 21 September 2006 ) |
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