29 CFR § 1910.427 - Liveboating.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t29/s1910.427"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "29 CFR § 1910.427 - Liveboating."
title_number: 29
title_name: "Labor"
section_number: "1910.427"
section_name: "Liveboating."
chapter_name: "OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR"
part_number: "1910"
part_name: "OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "33 U.S.C. 941; 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754); 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 FR 35736), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-2000 (65 FR 50017), 5-2002 (67 FR 65008), 5-2007 (72 FR 31160), 4-2010 (75 FR 55355), 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), 08-2020 (85 FR 58393), or 07-2025 (90 FR 27878); 29 CFR part 1911; and 5 U.S.C. 553, as applicable."
regulatory_source: "39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1910"
---


# 1910.427 Liveboating.

(a) *General.* Employers engaged in diving operations involving liveboating shall comply with the following requirements.

(b) *Limits.* Diving operations involving liveboating shall not be conducted:

(1) With an inwater decompression time of greater than 120 minutes;

(2) Using surface-supplied air at depths deeper than 190 fsw, except that dives with bottom times of 30 minutes or less may be conducted to depths of 220 fsw;

(3) Using mixed gas at depths greater than 220 fsw;

(4) In rough seas which significantly inpede diver mobility or work function; or

(5) In other than daylight hours.

(c) *Procedures.* (1) The propeller of the vessel shall be stopped before the diver enters or exits the water.

(2) A device shall be used which minimizes the possibility of entanglement of the diver's hose in the propeller of the vessel.

(3) Two-way voice communication between the designated person-in-charge and the person controlling the vessel shall be available while the diver is in the water.

(4) A standby diver shall be available while a diver is in the water.

(5) A diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply shall be carried by each diver engaged in liveboating operations.