Audits, inspections and client reviews
Audits and inspections test whether what is on paper matches what happens on site. This page collects the source requirements they most often start from.
- Built from
- 10 primary sources Law Guidance ACOP / code
- Sources last checked
- 28 Sep 2026
- Editorial check
- 28 Sep 2026
How to read this page: four kinds of statement
- Law Law / regulation
- Legislation: Acts, regulations and statutory instruments. It has the force of law in its jurisdiction.
- ACOP / code Approved Code of Practice or code with legal status
- A code the law itself gives special status (for example an HSE Approved Code of Practice). Following it is one way of complying; alternatives must be at least as good.
- Guidance Regulator or industry guidance
- Guidance, industry codes and standards. No legal force by itself, although clients, contracts or regulators may call it up.
- Explanation Marine Deep explanation
- Our own plain-English explanation. It is not a requirement and not legal advice.
Every law, code and guidance statement links to its primary source. Read the source before relying on it: our summary is not a substitute.
Explanation Marine Deep's explanation, not a requirement.
Port cannot tell you what an audit will conclude, and no template or software can either. What helps is knowing which duties apply, keeping the records they require, and being able to find them. The points below are the published requirements that audits and inspections commonly refer to.
Telling the regulator you are a diving contractor or diving
- LawIn British Columbia, the employer has to submit a notice of project, or notify the Board by telephone, at least 24 hours before certain diving operations such as construction or engineering inspection diving. BC OHSR Part 24, s. 24.9(1)
- LawCertain diving work (e.g. deeper than 9 m, with planned decompression, breathing gas other than air, or longer than a week) has to be notified to the designated inspectorate at least five working days before it starts. Arbobesluit art. 6.13–6.18, art. 6.17 lid 1
- LawNo one may act as a diving contractor until the particulars listed in Schedule 1 have been supplied in writing to HSE. DWR 1997, reg. 7(1)
- LawIf any of the notified particulars change, the diving contractor must send the details of the change to HSE in writing straight away. DWR 1997, reg. 7(2)
- GuidanceHSE says the regulation 7 particulars (form OSDDC1) need not be resubmitted annually, but any change should be sent to HSE immediately. HSE OSDDC1 notes, OSDDC1 notes
- GuidanceHSE acknowledges receipt of the OSDDC1 form, but states the receipt is not a licence and implies no approval. HSE OSDDC1 notes, OSDDC1 notes
Records inspectors can ask for
- LawThe diving contractor has to retain diving operations logbooks and records delivered by supervisors for at least two years after the last entry. COGDR SOR/88-600, s. 9(5)(n)
- LawThe diving contractor must ensure a record containing the particulars approved in writing by HSE is kept for each diving operation. DWR 1997, reg. 6(3)(e), 6(4)
- ACOP / codeHSE says the listed particulars are a minimum and the diving contractor may add further particulars to the record. HSE DOR particulars, Guidance — The required particulars
- LawDive records must be kept for 1 year, or 5 years where there has been a case of decompression sickness. 29 CFR 1910 Subpart T, § 1910.440(b)(3)(iv)
IMCA audit guidance (diving systems)
- GuidanceThe ADSI scheme is described in IMCA D081, with reference also to the IMCA D018 code of practice on examination, testing and certification of diving plant. IMCA ADSI, Candidate requirements