IMCA highlights an incident the place lack of stress was reported on a diver’s main air provide
What occurred
A diver working underwater skilled a stress drop from the first HP provide regulator. The diver was recovered safely, and assessments had been subsequently carried out on the floor, and the identical stress loss was noticed. The regulator was faraway from the panel, stripped, and inspected. Throughout the elimination of the sensing meeting, previous/dry lubricant was noticed on the underside finish. The sensing meeting was checked by transferring the shaft up and down simulating what would happen inside the regulator throughout use. Friction between the shaft and the sealing face was evident, as it will not transfer as freely in the course of the up and down actions by the sealing face because of the dry lubricant.
The take a look at recognized that this sticking would happen when there may be gentle respiration from the diver as there wouldn’t be adequate stress on the sensing meeting to trigger it to maneuver freely up and down regulating the stress. In distinction, with heavy respiration, there may be ample instantaneous stress on the meeting which might then enable it to control the stress higher.
What went proper?
The diving supervisor was vigilant and skilled and noticed the stress drop because it was taking place. He was in a position to handle the first air provide whereas recovering the diver with out the necessity to activate a secondary air provide and earlier than any attainable harmful scenario developed;
The technicians on board had been in a position to rapidly diagnose and take a look at the difficulty inside a really brief time and with the instruments out there;
Enough spare regulators had been out there for component-level elimination and alternative, permitting diving operations to proceed swiftly.
What went unsuitable?
While there was deliberate upkeep on the regulators carried out following the necessities of IMCA D018, the regulators didn’t seem to have had adequate inner inspection, cleansing, or re-lubrication in keeping with their responsibility cycle.
What was the trigger
The interior lubricating grease had dried and was not offering lubrication, slightly it acted to limit the motion of the machined elements.
Classes and actions
Diving regulators require extra common checks when in high-use circumstances. Regulators ought to be rotated by high-use (Diver 1/Diver 2) and low-use (Stand by and spare) positions inside the system to make sure equal utilization.
Motion taken
Elevated deliberate upkeep schedule frequency for checks, take a look at and cleansing of seal kits, sensors and panel regulators to each 6 months;Examined and cleaned all different regulators on the panel and gasoline racks stream examined and cleaned, and adjusted deliberate upkeep schedule to each 6 months;Maintain cautious data of lubricant identification and batch quantity;Ordered newly up to date sensors and extra seal kits with new and extra delicate sensors;
Liaise recurrently with producer for any data on new sorts or upgrades which may be out there.
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Supply: IMCA
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