ODIA Signature Companies Use of Decompression Tables North Sea Sector

Our ref: HSR

Head Office Circular: NP/115/24

2^nd May 2024

To: The Secretary

ALL MARITIME BRANCHES

REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague

 

ODIA SIGNATURE COMPANIES USE OF DECOMPRESSION TABLES NORTH SEA SECTOR

 

Your North East Shipping branch submitted the following resolution:

 

We, the Northeast Shipping & Maritime Branch, have ongoing concerns with the signature companies present use of decompression tables across the North Sea UK Sector.

 

Decompression and the use of decompression tables is a preventative treatment method for saturation divers returning to the surface, this technique uses prescribed tables to prevent divers from getting decompression sickness when diving at depths

 

The tables in use at present by ODIA Signature Companies do vary from company to company in the way decompression tables are administered. This invariably means that the effect on the health and well begin of our members varies from company to company 

 

Our members strongly feel that these tables should be standard across the industry implementing the same standards to maximum parameters for all, assuring the health, safety and well begin, is achieving best possible practice and any commercial advantage is taken out of the equation.

 

Therefore, we the Northeast shipping and Maritime Branch respectfully call upon the NEC to consider carrying out an independent study/review of current practices across the industry and instruct the General Secretary implement such study/review.

 

The result of this study/review to then be presented to the Health and Safety Executive and ODIA Signature Companies to justify the standardization and or the amendment of present decompression tables in practices.

 

At its meeting on 30^th April 2024, your National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee:

 

We note the resolution from our North East Shipping Branch, for which it is thanked.

 

The General Secretary is instructed to act in accordance with the resolution and undertake a review of current practices across the industry and thereafter present this review to the Health and Safety Executive and ODIA Signature Companies to justify the standardisation and/or the amendment of present decompression tables in practices.

 

To this end, the General Secretary is instructed to arrange an immediate meeting with the Regional Organiser, consider a survey of our diving members regarding decompression tables, identify an individual best suited to undertake this study and also identify two or three appropriate members to work on this issue.

 

I am acting in line with these instructions.

 

Please bring this circular to the attention of all relevant members.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary