This safety alert updates the previous advice issued in May 2020 and highlights the serious health and safety risks posed for occupational divers if they have been exposed to coronavirus COVID-19.
What happened?
In the last few months we have seen the global spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and its entry into the New Zealand community.
The New Zealand Government has moved to a Protection Framework (traffic light system) whereby the spread of COVID-19 will become more commonplace within the workforce.
Though many people may not be affected, those that are can range from being asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) to suffering from severe respiratory responses.
Incidents of respiratory distress have resulted in some people showing possible longer-term damage to their lungs.
This increases the potential for serious harm to divers and highlights the importance of establishing safe medical standards for those who may have been infected with COVID-19.
International experience and medical studies have allowed hyperbaric specialists to establish updated advice on what to do if exposed to COVID-19 and how to best protect divers.
What we know
A respiratory injury can cause serious harm to a diver.
Occupational divers have to pass annual medical assessments to be deemed to be medically fit.
Though there has been no formal study into the effects of COVID-19 on occupational divers, general clinical observations indicate that COVID-19:
- transmits easily from person to person
- a person may be asymptomatic but still test positive
- may not present symptoms for 10-14 days
- often shows symptoms similar to influenza
- can include serious respiratory disease such as chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma.
The best way to protect yourself and others around you from the effects of COVID-19 is to be double vaccinated and boosted.
WorkSafe advice
Anyone with respiratory symptoms should not dive and should arrange for COVID-19 testing. If testing is negative, they should see their GP for further advice and appropriate treatment for their symptoms.
Anyone being vaccinated should monitor for any sideeffects (generally these are nil or mild) and do not dive if feeling unwell. A return to diving can occur when any symptoms have passed.
If someone is a 'Close Contact' (as per the Ministry of Health classification) they should not dive until cleared by the Public Health Service (PHS) to return to work. See the Ministry of Health's website for the definition
of Close Contact(external link)
