1910.420(a): Diving Safe Practices Manual
Diving employers must develop and maintain a safe practices manual and make it available at the dive location to each dive team member.
Key takeaways
- 1910.420(a) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart T).
- OSHA cited it 4 times in the last 3 years, in 4 inspections, with $171,726 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.420(a) ("General") is one requirement inside 1910.420 Safe practices manual, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart T). 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
(a) General. The employer shall develop and maintain a safe practices manual which shall be made available at the dive location to each dive team member. 4 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.420.
Injuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.420(a).
At 3:18 p.m. on October 2, 2024, Employee #1, employed as a shellfish fishing diver near Sisters Island, was diving for Geoducks in an area experiencing strong tides and rough seas. After starting his second dive of the day, Employee#1 radioed the tender aboard 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
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.420(a), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.420(a).
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Frequently asked questions
Does a diving employer need a written safe practices manual?
Yes. The employer must develop and maintain one.
Where must the manual be kept?
It must be made available at the dive location.
Who must have access to it?
Each dive team member.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.420 (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.