The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) yesterday said that it has been trying to revise existing diving standards since 2007.
In a media release, the TTBS said that in the past 15 years it has not been able to reach a consensus with industry stakeholders.
However, the TTBS said that t it does not have any direct responsibility for regulating Occupational Safety and Health.
“TTBS supports this vital area through the development of voluntary standards which can help to establish safe work environments and manage risks to prevent injuries and ill-health.
We encourage the diving industry to utilise available voluntary national standards,” the TTBS said.
The admission from the TTBS comes weeks after four men lost their lives while diving to conduct repairs on infrastructure belonging to State-owned Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd.
In a media release yesterday the TTBS sought to reassure both the diving industry and the public that it is “committed to the development of standards that promote public and industrial welfare, health and safety.”
The body said that it develops and issues two types of national standards, Voluntary Standards and Compulsory Standards.
According to the TTBS, voluntary standards provide guidance on best practices that industry stakeholders can use at their own discretion to support their operations.
“These national standards include specifications, codes of practices, guidelines and test methods. The process of developing voluntary standards involves seeking input from knowledgeable stakeholders and experts, as well as consensus from a wide cross-section of parties involved in the relevant fields to ensure that the standards are aligned with international best practices and also support the local industry,” it said.
“Compulsory Standards are used by TTBS to regulate goods to ensure quality, environmental protection, public and industrial welfare, safety and health as outlined in the Standards Act,” it said.
The mandate of the TTBS excludes food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices.
“Under the Standards Act, compliance with the requirements of Compulsory Standards is mandatory for all goods from relevant manufacturers, importers, retailers and distributors that fall under the scope of the standard and this is enforced by the TTBS using a combination of inspection, product certification and testing activities, as necessary,” the TTBS said.
The TTBS is encouraging its stakeholders to participate in standards development process and provide feedback during the Public Comment period.
“In the meantime, the existing standard continues to be pertinent to the Diving Industry and can help to manage the risks associated with commercial diving.
TTBS believes that through continued communication with stakeholders in the diving industry, we can help in addressing the critical issues of industrial welfare, safety and health,” it said.
