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In a safety flash published in 2022, an IOGP member stated that
one of the primary duties of the diving supervisor is to carefully
manage the divers' decompression to ensure their safe return to the
surface. Therefore, considering that distractions during
decompression phases should be avoided, and following an incident
where a supervisor missed a diver’s 3m stop because he was
playing games on a smartphone, this IOGP member has prohibited
cellphones in the dive controls.
While it is fully supported to consider that the diving supervisors’
primary function is to ensure the safety of the divers under their
responsibility and commendable to ensure that everything is in place
to ensure that this is done appropriately, the decision to forbid cell
phones in the dive control because one supervisor failed to fulfill his
duties is debatable for several reasons we can develop here.
The first point to consider is whether cell phones are toys or can be
regarded as efficient tools. This is an opportunity to remind us of the
evolution of communication systems since the 1990s and ensure the
usefulness of smartphones and tablets:
In the early 1990s, the only communication systems available to
divers and ROV teams on board most vessels were VHF radios. The
first satellite phone for public use was built by Motorola and was
only made available in 1998 by the company "Iridium"
(https://www.iridium.com/).
Communications with these phones were extremely expensive, so
only project leaders could use them to communicate with the shore
base. Additionally, satellite coverage was limited to the most active
business zones, leading many teams to continue using radios.
Concurrently, the late 1990s marked the era when the first public
cell phones became available.
Radiophones were previously available; however, their high cost, large
size, and significant weight limited their use to cars or offices.
Additionally, their coverage areas were restricted, confining their
usage to specific locations.
The first public cellphones supported only voice communication and
basic text messaging. However, it was possible to use them to
transfer emails through specific, expensive services. Regarding the
internet and email, it is important to note that although the concept
and initial attempts emerged during the 1960s and 1970s, the true
democratization of these technologies began in the late 1980s and
early 1990s. This period coincided with the development of portable
computers and user-friendly operating systems such as Windows,
macOS, and Linux, which were accessible to individuals without
specialized computing knowledge.
Internet connections began to be available on board vessels between
2000 and 2010, depending on the company. Initially, these
connections were limited to on-board management and were later
extended to other team members with metered access. It is also
important to note that during this period, many clients and
companies mandated the presence of a satellite phone in the dive
control.
Wireless systems, such as Wi-Fi, which were first introduced in
1997, started being installed on vessels around 2010. This was
facilitated by the development of satellite communications, which
offered services at more reasonable prices compared to those in
the 1980s. The widespread adoption of Wi-Fi on vessels occurred
concurrently with the emergence of tablets and the new generation
of cell phones, known as "smartphones." These devices, featuring
touch screens, are at least 10 times more powerful than the
notebooks used in the 1980s.
In conclusion, it is evident that electronic technologies evolve rapidly,
and overlooking this fact is a significant oversight. Smartphones and
tablets have become integral to the lives of many, particularly among
younger individuals, and this reality must be taken into account.
With the Wi-Fi connection now installed on most Diving Support
Vessels (DSVs), tablets and smartphones can be used to provide the
following functions:
Radiophone Motorola model MCR 9500 XL
Year 1988
•
Communication with the appointed diving doctor:
A tablet or smartphone has the advantage of enabling video
conversations through systems such as WhatsApp, Line,
WeChat, Skype, Skred, Telegram, and many others. This
provides the doctor with the possibility to guide the “diver
medics”, who are not real nurses and require professional
guidance. The cameras provided to the latest generation of
these devices allow sending high-definition pictures to the
doctor, which may enable him to observe in detail a wound or
the external condition of the casualty.
Note that conference call programs such as Microsoft Teams,
Meet, Webex, FreeConferenceCall, and many others allow the
doctor or the diving team to organize a video meeting with
multiple participants.
Additionally, documents and instructions can be sent, which can
be visualized on the device through these programs or
traditional email. As well as photos can be taken and sent
directly to him.
Note that, in addition to the tablet or smartphone, it is
recommended to provide the following tools:
Unscrambled phone communication will be necessary if the
divers are diving with heliox. This is possible with diver
communication systems, such as the one sold by Fathom
(http://www.fathomsystems.co.uk/). Of course, in such a
case, the doctor needs to use a second line to listen to the
diver medic in the chamber.
Also, monitoring the parameters of the casualty is essential.
This is possible with tools such as the D-MAS Remote &
HyperSat from Dan Medical (https://www.danmedical.com/),
that allow effective clinical interpretation and support from
outside the chamber, including from doctors onshore, or at
a base location (see the picture below).
Also, smartphones and tablets with access to the cellular
network can advantageously replace those using a satellite
connection when the operations are carried out onshore or
inland. Regarding this point, note that many petroleum
companies allow connections to the local cellular network on
their oilfields so that people working in these locations do not
need to use satellite phones.
•
Communication with the company management
It is evident that the various functions available on smartphones
and tablets can be used to communicate with the company's
management or the technical department of the company. For
example, a technician on the job site can be guided by a
specialist to solve a difficult problem using the video call
function, or a video conference call can be organized from the
site where a problem is being discussed and solved.
•
Secured communication on board the vessel
Several software applications can be installed on smartphones
to use them for close communication without relying on the
internet. This allows the supervisor or another onboard
manager to send messages on board without passing through
the phone, intercom, or radio.
•
“Bridgefy” (https://bridgefy.me/) is a system developed for
rural zones where internet coverage is poor. It uses bluetooth
to send either encrypted or unencrypted messages to
distances up to 114 m (330 ft).
•
“MeshMe” is another app that can work via Bluetooth or WiFi
for internal and external connections (Refer to Google Play -
https://play.google.com/).
•
“The Serval Mesh” (https://www.servalproject.org/) also uses
phones as relays and enables members of a community to
make private phone calls and send secure text messages
easily.
•
“Signal Offline Messenger” (https://signal.org/download/) is a
Wi-Fi-based app that allows people to communicate within a
range of up to 100 meters. Messaging could be one-on-one
or in a group. Messages sent via this app are delivered in a
secure way.
•
“Wi-Fi Talkie Free” allows users to organize communication
between smartphone devices at distances of Wi-Fi signal
without using an internet connection or a cellular network.
(https://www.appsapk.com/wi-fi-talkie-free/).
Many similar apps are available for Android or Apple systems.
•
Pressure gauge and other sensing device data transmissions
Gauge and sensor manufacturers are gradually designing
systems with displays on tablets and smartphones.
•
Auto Meter (https://www.autometer.com/dashlink-ii-obdii-
digital-gauges-apple-ios-android.HTML) is a manufacturer of
digital gauges with displays on Android and iOS devices.
•
Matheson (https://www.mathesongas.com/
gas-equipment/smart-devices/) is another
pressure gauge manufacturer that provide
systems with displays on smartphones or
tablets using bluetooth connection. This
system is appropriate for situations where
the cylinder or point-of-use station might be in another room
or outdoors (oxygen). The system also allows monitoring of
gas reserves stored in a yard far from the job site.
•
Video surveillance
There are many apps and hardware devices that can be used
to monitor areas via cell phones and tablets. They offer features
such as local streaming, cloud streaming, recording and storing
footage locally or remotely, and motion detection and alerts.
Many programs use the internet, allowing the user to monitor a
remote area from the job site.
Also, a wireless video transmitter and receiver can be used to
display video from a camera on a tablet via WiFi. Numerous
systems are available on the market that are often used on
drones, and for multiple applications such as reporting and
surveillance. Their maximum range is approximately 300m,
which is widely sufficient for transmissions on the job site. We
can, for example, consider the three following brands, but keep
in mind that many other manufacturers are present in this
market:
•
DJI transmission (https://www.dji.com/global/transmission)
•
Hollyland Cosmo C1 SDI/HDMI Wireless Video Transmission
System (https://www.ec-mall.com/product/live-stream/hdmi-
adapter/165408.html).
•
Stonkam (https://www.stonkam.com/products/HD-Vehicle-
Wireless-Transmitter), that provide systems for underwater
vehicles, making them usable offshore and in rough
conditions.
It is evident that the advantages of these systems are their
flexibility and reasonable price, considering that many systems
are sold for less than $1000, and that some tablets are sold at
prices below $200. They can be used to transmit video signals
to the dive control or the construction manager's office, making
the installation of video cables, which is sometimes problematic
on vessels of opportunity, obsolete.
Note that some of these Wi-Fi video transmission systems also
work with classic combos.
•
Wireless control of machines
As tablets and smartphones are often used to control drones,
they can also be used to remotely control other machines.
In an article called ”Smartphones and Tablets in Manufacturing,"
published on the website Control Engineering
(https://www.controleng.com/articles/smartphones-and-
tablets-in-manufacturing/), it is explained that the natural
progression is for industrial applications to explore the
possibility of adopting smartphones, tablets, and wearable
devices in manufacturing environments.
Portable satellite phone
Motorola model 1998
Cellular phone Nokia 5110
Year 1998
It is the reason why, instead of
forbidding them in chambers, the CCO
Ltd diving management study #8,
“Set a policy for electronic devices in
chambers”, recommends controlling
them and implementing similar
measures to those already in force in
the airline industry.
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document.
The list of applications offered by mobile phones and tablets is long
and growing, so I have probably overlooked many functions that
these devices can provide. We can, therefore, logically assume that
they are useful tools and that taking them away from supervisors
and other managers should be seen as a step backward, both
logically and historically.
Taking this point into account, we can consider that even though video
games are among the numerous software programs provided by
these tools, these applications do not represent the majority and are
also available for personal computers (PCs). The problem is,
therefore, not linked to the computing devices themselves but to how
people use them.
It is obvious that people who play with their phones or other devices
while on duty are not worthy of the positions they have been
assigned. Therefore, instead of attributing mobile phones and tablets
as the primary cause of the incident described in this safety flash, it
is possible to perceive an issue stemming from the insufficient
education of dive supervisors. Contrary to popular belief, "education"
encompasses more than just training. It also implies understanding
one's duties, the personnel under one's supervision, and the
surrounding individuals, which are crucial qualities for those in
leadership roles.
In addition to this educational problem, we can note the authoritarian
management methods of the authors of this document and some
other people who, instead of investigating an issue and looking for
balanced and appropriate measures, prefer using infantilization
procedures to solve it. As a result, we can see a conflict between the
professional qualities required for the diving supervisor function and
the authoritarian and infantilization measures of forbidding the use
of a communication tool that can be helpful based on the mistake of
only one person who proved not to have the necessary skills and
human qualities to operate as supervisor. Therefore, we can
consider that this poses a serious question about how these people
consider diving supervisors and divers, as well as themselves, as
this proves these managers have a severe superiority complex.
In conclusion, we can say that management procedures based on
infantilizing personnel to control them better prove inefficient and
result in incompetent personnel because they are based on fear and
careerism instead of knowledge, moral virtue, and the welfare of
people.