COMPETENCE PROGRAM DIVING 2007-2011

1. COMPETENCE PROGRAM DIVING2007-2011 MAIN OBJECTIVE The program shall ensure sufficient expertise in hyperbaric related questions. It shall further develop procedures and methods in diving that contribute to a high level of safety and that protect the divers against possible adverse effects that may reduce their quality of life, both in short and long term. Expertise is maintained through research projects where senior personnel have central roles both as scientists and as supervisors and by co-operation between the institutions involved.

2. COMPETENCE PROGRAM DIVING 2007-2011 A: Diving and Health B: Environmental Control C: Diving Equipment

3. COMPETENCE PROGRAM DIVING 2007-2011 • 5 years program - involving research- and competence groups: • Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim • Thelma AS, Trondheim • SINTEF, Trondheim • Haukeland University Hospital (HUS), Bergen • University of Bergen (UiB), Bergen • NUI AS, Bergen

4. A: Diving and Health AIM Historically long term health effects have been demonstrated in some professional divers. Comprehensive work through a number of years has resulted in considerable improvement in procedures and the safety level for offshore diving operations. The main aim for the competence program "Diving and Health" is to characterise and quantify possible health effects due to the current procedures for saturation diving. The program shall contribute to further development of the procedures for saturation diving at depths down to 225 msw with respect to efficiency and reduced strain on the divers. The program shall contribute to recruitment of scientists to maintain a sufficient level of expertise and scientific competence that contribute to the quality insurance of future diving activities. It is assumed that recruitment to the field is achieved by PhD students.

5. A: Diving and Health • NTNU - Baromedical group • Mechanism for endothelial dysfunction in diving: • Gas bubbles • Endothelial function/-injury • Biochemical factors - nitric oxide (NO), heat shock proteins (HSP) • UiB/HUS - neurology/neuropsychology/lung • CNS effect of diving: • Epidemiological studies on saturation divers • Hyperoxia - physiological/pathophysiological Interactions NUI/UiB/NTNU/Thelma Decompression and gas bubbles - exp. studies on rats Endothelial damage - defence mechanisms - exp. studies on cultured cells

6. B: Environmental Control AIM The aim is to further develop methods and procedures that ensure a satisfactory working environment, in particular with respect to chemical and microbiological contamination. This includes procedures that prevent, purify and survey/control the divers' atmosphere with respect to eventual contamination. It further includes updating and implementing available knowledge of health risk attributed to different types of contamination.

7. B: Environmental Control CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION - NUI/THELMA Diffusive (passive) sampling - improvement/simplification of routine surveillance of saturation systems Hyperbaric exposure limits - establishing dedicated values for selected compounds • MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTROL – SINTEF HEALTH • Elimination of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa infections • Infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa • Long term consequences of infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa - autoimmunereaction against HSP

8. C: Diving Equipment AIM Diving equipment shall be safe and efficient. This is achieved by setting standards, provide and maintain verification methods and -tools. • NUI/Thelma • Summing up - relevant knowledge available for the operational community • Test Handbook, Verification, Standardisation • Breathing equipment, Noise, Monitoring, Communication • Thermal challenges • Ergonomy

9. A: Diving and Health - recruitment NTNU - baromedical group 4 PhD students in progress, estimated completion 2007-2009, financial support from other sources UiB/HUS - neurology/neuropsychology/lung 1 PhD student expected start during 2007 - financial support from other sources NUI/UiB 1 PhD student start 2007/2008 - decompression and gas bubbles 1 PhD student start 2008 - endothelial damage and defence mechanisms - external funding

10. COMPETENCE PROGRAM DIVING2007-2011 Summary: • Extensive program - new knowledge on effects and mechanisms • Contributes to development of standards and tools • Improvement of procedures and equipment for saturation diving • Recruitment of scientists/expertise

11. Program management ExxonMobil StatoilHydro Administrator Program administrator 2007: NUI Eirik Myrseth Professional reference group Representatives from: Oil companies UiB, NTNU, Diving contractors PSA, NBHS, I&E (observ) Professional management Manager for each area B: Environmental control Manager: Rune Djurhuus A: Diving and Health Manager: Marit Grønning C: Diving Equipment Leder: Bård Holand

12. COMPETENCE PROGRAM DIVING 2007-2011 • The program shall ensure: • knowledge • sufficient competence in all relevant fields • recruitment of expertise • sharp focus on possible requirements in the different fields • The professional reference group shall ensure: • an academic basis and quality • a user/application basis and quality • a general view of the program and the aim of recruitment • Area managerers shall: • have general information of the different activities including • relevance • progress • The program management shall: • communicate with and utilise the reference group • report professional progress and status to the reference group • report general status to the program administrator