About the proposed changes

WorkSafe is proposing changes to the occupational diving certificate of competency (CoC) categories.

We invite feedback on the proposed changes set out in the consultation paper:

We would especially like to hear from occupational divers, diving operators, associated client PCBUs engaging divers to undertake work, and any other stakeholders engaged in occupational diving activities.

The proposed changes to the categories aim to provide a modified model of diving categories based on the level of risk associated with the type of work and equipment used. This would allow for previously unclassified dive work to be certified more accurately and for current work types to be better delineated by the level of risk involved.

It would create a regime that would encompass all diving work. It would also enable contracting/employing PCBUs to be more able to rely on the CoC to show in detail the competencies for carrying out different levels of diving work. Divers could enter the industry to perform lower risk types of diving work with more appropriate qualifications before completing additional training if they wish to progress to undertake higher-risk diving work.

How to have your say 

The consultation paper includes a number of questions to guide submissions - you may respond to any or all of the questions. You are invited to make your own individual submission and/or to work with your industry associations and representatives to prepare a group submission.

You can send us your feedback by downloading the submission form and emailing it to occdiving@worksafe.govt.nz

Submissions close at 5pm on Friday 10 March 2023. 

Use of information  

We will use the information you provide in submissions to inform the review and development of risk-based categories for occupational diving CoCs. We may contact you directly if we require clarification of any matters you raise.   

Release of information

Release of submissions is subject to the Official Information Act 1982. Please tell us as part of your submission if you have any objection to the release of any information in the submission, which parts you consider should be withheld, and include your reasons for withholding the information (for example, commercially sensitive material). We will consider any objections you note and consult with you when responding to requests under the Official Information Act 1982.

Please indicate on the front of your submission if it contains confidential information and mark the text accordingly.

Private information

The Privacy Act 2020 establishes certain principles with respect to the collection, use and disclosure of information about individuals by various agencies, including WorkSafe. Any personal information you supply to WorkSafe in the course of making a submission will be used in the collation of feedback to inform the review and development of risk-based categories for occupational diving CoCs.

Please clearly indicate in your submission if you do not wish your name to be included in any summary of submissions that we may publish.