1910.423(d): Record of Dive
Employers must record and keep information for each diving operation, including team names, date, time, location, diving modes, work done, conditions, and maximum depth and bottom time. Extra records are needed for dives outside no-decompression limits, deeper than 100 fsw or using mixed gas, and for suspected decompression sickness.
Key takeaways
- 1910.423(d) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart T).
- OSHA cited it 2 times in the last 3 years, in 2 inspections, with $5,912 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1910.423(d)(1) (2 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.423(d) ("Record of dive") is one requirement inside 1910.423 Post-dive procedures, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart T). It includes 14 sub-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
(d) Record of dive. 2 citations
(1) The following information shall be recorded and maintained for each diving operation: Open (d)(1) 2 citations
(i) Names of dive team members including designated person-in-charge;
(ii) Date, time, and location;
(iii) Diving modes used;
(iv) General nature of work performed;
(v) Approximate underwater and surface conditions (visibility, water temperature and current); and
(vi) Maximum depth and bottom time for each diver.
(2) For each dive outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 100 fsw or using mixed gas, the following additional information shall be recorded and maintained:
(i) Depth-time and breathing gas profiles;
(ii) Decompression table designation (including modification); and
(iii) Elapsed time since last pressure exposure if less than 24 hours or repetitive dive designation for each diver.
(3) For each dive in which decompression sickness is suspected or symptoms are evident, the following additional information shall be recorded and maintained:
(i) Description of decompression sickness symptoms (including depth and time of onset); and
(ii) Description and results of treatment.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.423.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.423(d).
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…
Where and how often it was cited
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Related parts of this rule
- 1910.423(d)(1) 2 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must be recorded for each dive?
Names of dive team members, date, time, location, diving modes, general nature of work, approximate conditions, and maximum depth and bottom time for each diver.
When are extra records needed?
For dives outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 100 fsw, or using mixed gas.
What is recorded if decompression sickness is suspected?
A description of the symptoms, including depth and time of onset, and the treatment and its results.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.423 (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.