Working Underwater Safely and Cost-Effectively

摘要

As the demand for underwater services grows, so does the need for more knowledge about working underwater, including technological advances and diving safety. Advances in technology allow hydro project owners to conduct more and more work underwater. For example, with the rise of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), machines can go where divers cannot to conduct underwater inspections. At a fraction of the price of hiring divers, ROVs can be an extremely cost-effective tool for project owners, as evidenced by the experiences of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Mobile District. With this increase in underwater work comes another issue: diving safety. Owners of hydro projects can take several steps to increase underwater safety. One hydro project owner, American Electric Power, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, incorporates specific safety steps to d crease the risks of working underwater.