8597 version 2
11-Dec-96
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DIVING - OCCUPATIONAL
Act as hyperbaric operations technician
level:
6
credit:
10
planned review date:
June 2002
sub-field:
Diving
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to
demonstrate knowledge of: plant and equipment used in
hyperbaric recompression chambers; diver physiology; gas
systems in offshore dive operations; and hyperbaric
technician skills.
entry information:
Open.
accreditation option:
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
moderation option:
A centrally established and directed national moderation
system has been set up by the Dive Industry Training
Organisation.
special notes:
1
Industry technical and safety criteria refer to the training
manuals and/or codes of practice of the training
agencies approved by the Dive Industry Training
Organisation.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
8597 version 2
11-Dec-96
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Act as hyperbaric operations technician
2
All workplace diving practice must comply with the
requirements of the Health and Safety in Employment
Act, 1992 (HSE) and subsequent regulations relating to
Occupational Diving. All practice must also comply with
Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance
Act, 1992 (ARCI) and Occupational Safety and Health
(OSH) guidelines.
Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Demonstrate knowledge of plant and equipment used in hyperbaric recompression
chambers.
performance criteria
1.1
Explanation of principles of chamber atmosphere cleansing systems identifies
maintenance and repair requirements.
1.2
Explanation of built-in-breathing systems (BIBS) and dumps identifies operation
procedures, design features, and repair and maintenance of systems and
masks.
1.3
Explanation of hyperbaric sanitary systems identifies design features and safety
systems.
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1.4
Explanation of operation of dive plant and equipment meets industry technical
and safety criteria.
Range:
medical locks, interlocks, compressors, fire suppression systems,
gas analysers.
element 2
Demonstrate knowledge of diver physiology.
performance criteria
2.1
Explanation of diver physiology in thermal balance situation identifies causes,
symptoms, and treatment of dive related illnesses.
Range:
2.2
hypothermia, hyperthermia, decompression sickness, barotrauma,
high pressure nervous syndrome (HPNS), gas toxicity.
Explanation of diver physiology identifies effects on the body of gases under
pressure.
Range:
oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, nitrogen.
2.3
Explanation of the principles of decompression and therapeutic treatments
identifies the effects of pressure on the body.
2.4
Description of diving medical kits identifies the contents, use, and maintenance
of items contained in the kit.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
8597 version 2
11-Dec-96
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DIVING - OCCUPATIONAL
Act as hyperbaric operations technician
2.5
Explanation of hygiene in saturation situations meets industry technical and
safety criteria.
Range:
control, detection, and treatment of bacterial growth in chamber.
element 3
Demonstrate knowledge of gas systems in offshore dive operations.
performance criteria
3.1
Explanation of the physical properties of liquids and gases and the relationship
between them meets industry technical and safety criteria.
Range:
depth, volume, pressure, partial pressure, temperature, solubility,
purity and impurity.
3.2
Explanation of gas schematics identifies symbols, logic, and functions.
3.3
Explanation of the principles of gas-mixing identifies changes of mixture for
heliox and trimix.
3.4
Explanation of gas separation and layering in a chamber identifies its effects
and procedures to counter problems.
3.5
Explanation of medical lock and transfer trunk venting identifies the effect of
these on permissible excursion limits in chamber.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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element 4
Demonstrate hyperbaric technician skills.
performance criteria
4.1
Gas analysers are calibrated to analyse stored gases and chamber
atmosphere.
4.2
Management of diving gases matches operation and meets industry technical
and safety criteria.
Range:
put on line to main and dive control panels, transferred around
system.
4.3
Operation of BIBS meets industry technical and safety criteria.
4.4
Operation of communication systems meets industry technical and safety
criteria.
Range:
4.5
Chamber management and house-keeping meet industry technical and safety
criteria.
Range:
4.6
through water communication, tapping codes, helium speech
unscramblers, telephone emergency signals.
prohibited material and substances, routine schedules, dive
preparation, monitoring for depth, temperature and humidity.
Diving systems are compressed and decompressed to meet industry technical
and safety criteria.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
8597 version 2
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4.7
Documents and records are maintained to meet industry technical and safety
criteria.
Comments to:
Dive Industry Training Organisation
Unit Standard Revision
PO Box 160
WELLINGTON
by June 2002.
Please Note:
Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority
before they can offer programmes of education and training
assessed against unit standards.
Accredited providers assessing against unit standards must
engage with the moderation system that applies to those unit
standards. [Please refer to relevant Plan ref: 0180]
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016