1910.410: Diving Team Qualifications
Commercial diving employers must ensure each dive team member has the experience or training to do assigned tasks safely, including tools and systems, diving mode techniques, and operations and emergency procedures, and that all members are trained in CPR and first aid. Tasks must match experience or training, divers may not be forced into hyperbaric exposure except to finish decompression or treatment, and a designated person-in-charge must be at the dive location.
Key takeaways
- 1910.410 is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart T).
- OSHA cited it 11 times in the last 3 years, in 6 inspections, with $425,273 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MN (7), FL (2), NC (1).
- Most-cited part: 1910.410(a) General (9 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.410, "Qualifications of dive team", is an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart T). It has 15 numbered paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
Show the full text of 1910.410 (15 paragraphs)
(a) General. Open (a) 9 citations
(1) Each dive team member shall have the experience or training necessary to perform assigned tasks in a safe and healthful manner. Open (a)(1) 2 citations
(2) Each dive team member shall have experience or training in the following: 2 citations
(i) The use of tools, equipment and systems relevant to assigned tasks; 2 citations
(ii) Techniques of the assigned diving mode: and
(iii) Diving operations and emergency procedures.
(3) All dive team members shall be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid (American Red Cross standard course or equivalent). Open (a)(3) 5 citations
(4) Dive team members who are exposed to or control the exposure of others to hyperbaric conditions shall be trained in diving-related physics and physiology.
(b) Assignments.
(1) Each dive team member shall be assigned tasks in accordance with the employee's experience or training, except that limited additional tasks may be assigned to an employee undergoing training provided that these tasks are performed under the direct supervision of an experienced dive team member.
(2) The employer shall not require a dive team member to be exposed to hyperbaric conditions against the employee's will, except when necessary to complete decompression or treatment procedures.
(3) The employer shall not permit a dive team member to dive or be otherwise exposed to hyperbaric conditions for the duration of any temporary physical impairment or condition which is known to the employer and is likely to affect adversely the safety or health of a dive team member.
(c) Designated person-in-charge. Open (c) 2 citations
(1) The employer or an employee designated by the employer shall be at the dive location in charge of all aspects of the diving operation affecting the safety and health of dive team members. Open (c)(1) 2 citations
(2) The designated person-in-charge shall have experience and training in the conduct of the assigned diving operation.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.410.
At 2:00 p.m. on June 25, 2024, an employee working as a commercial diver for a highway and bridge contractor had descended 19 feet to the ocean floor. The employee was acclimating himself for a commercial diving operation. The employeewas a new diver to the…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 7 |
Top states: MN (7), FL (2), NC (1), AZ (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| 107600 - YOUR LAKE AQUATIC PLANT MANAGEMENT LLC | SAINT PAUL, MN | $407,723 |
| NC BRIDGE CORPORATION | EBRO, FL | $16,550 |
| URX2025XMS021X0045 - REEF ON ENTERPRISES INC. | CHANDLER, AZ | $1,000 |
| COASTAL GUNITE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY | MANNS HARBOR, NC | $0 |
| 108012 - DIVE GUYS LLC | CROSSLAKE, MN | $0 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.410, plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Frequency of refresher training for first aid and CPR (2023-02-23)
- First aid for bleeding control (2019-06-19)
- Clarification of OSHA training requirements for basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). (2012-08-02)
- Training required for commercial divers. (2000-03-29)
- OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.53, Guidelines for First Aid Training Programs. (1997-08-21)
- Minimum number of dive team members required to support scuba diving. (1996-11-22)
- Minimum number of dive team members required to support scuba diving. (1996-02-22)
- The Medic First Aid program. (1990-12-19)
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1910.410(a) General 9 citations
- 1910.410(a)(3) 5 citations
- 1910.410(a)(1) 2 citations
- 1910.410(c) Designated person-in-charge 2 citations
- 1910.410(c)(1) 2 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What training must all dive team members have?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid (American Red Cross standard course or equivalent).
Can a diver be required to dive against their will?
No, except when necessary to complete decompression or treatment procedures.
Who must be at the dive location?
The employer or an employee designated by the employer, in charge of all aspects of the dive affecting safety and health.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.410 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.