CHAPTER 5 — Dive Program Administration
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ACCIDENT/INCIDENT EQUIPMENT INVESTIGATION REQUIREMENTS
An accident is an unexpected event that culminates in loss of or serious damage to
equipment or injury to personnel. An incident is an unexpected event that degrades
safety and increases the probability of an accident.
The number of diving accidents/incidents involving U.S. Navy divers is small
when compared to the total number of dives conducted each year. The mishaps
that do occur, however, must receive a thorough review to identify the cause and
determine corrective measures to prevent further diving mishaps.
This section expands on the OPNAVINST 5100.19 (series) that require expedi-
tious reporting and investigation of diving related mishaps. The accident/incident
equipment status reporting procedures in this chapter apply, in general, to all
diving mishaps when malfunction or inadequate equipment performance, or
unsound equipment operating and maintenance procedures are a factor.
In many instances a Diving Life Support Equipment Failure Analysis Report
(FAR) may also be required. The primary purpose of this requirement is to iden-
tify any material deficiency that may have contributed to the mishap. Any
suspected malfunction or deficiency of life support equipment will be thoroughly
investigated by controlled testing at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU).
NEDU has the capability to perform engineering investigations and full unmanned
testing of all Navy diving equipment under all types of pressure and environ-
mental conditions. Depth, water turbidity, and temperature can be duplicated for
all conceivable U.S. Navy dive scenarios.
Contact NAVSEA/00C3 to assist diving units with investigations and data collec-
tion following a diving mishap. 00C3 will assign a representative to inspect the
initial condition of equipment and to pick up or ship all pertinent records and
equipment to NEDU for full unmanned testing. Upon receiving the defective
equipment, NEDU will conduct unmanned tests as rapidly as possible and will
then return the equipment to the appropriate activity.
NOTE
Do not tamper with equipment without first contacting NAVSEA/00C3 for
guidance.
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REPORTING CRITERIA
The diving and diving related accident/incident equipment status requirements set
forth in this chapter are mandatory for all U.S. Navy diving units in each of the
following circumstances:
! In all cases when an accident/incident results in a fatality or serious injury.
! When an accident/incident occurs and a malfunction or inadequate
performance of the equipment may have contributed to the accident/incident.
