Underwater welding is an exciting but potentially dangerous occupation. One of the risks faced by underwater welders is shark attacks, which can cause severe injuries and death. If you’re wondering if shark attacks are a common hazard for these specialized divers, read on to learn the facts.
In short, while shark attacks on underwater welders are rare, the consequences can be severe due to the remote locations and limited medical care.
This article will provide a comprehensive overview of underwater welding, the frequency and common causes of shark attacks on divers, analysis of historical shark attack data, safety protocols and precautions taken, and firsthand accounts of shark encounters from experienced commercial divers.
What is Underwater Welding?
Underwater welding, also known as hyperbaric welding, is the process of welding metals while they are submerged in water. It is typically performed by scuba divers who are specially trained in the technique.
Some of the most common projects that require underwater welding are ship repairs, construction of offshore oil platforms, and pipelines.
Underwater welders use a variety of techniques depending on the specific job. The four main types of underwater welding are wet welding, dry welding, habitat welding, and local chamber welding:
- Wet welding – The welder is directly exposed to the surrounding water while welding. This allows for unlimited freedom of movement but can be more difficult.
- Dry welding – The welder works inside a dry chamber or habitat that keeps the water out. This protects the welder but limits mobility.
- Habitat welding – The project is enclosed in a submarine habitat that is flooded with air, allowing the welder to work in a dry environment.
- Local chamber welding – A water-filled chamber is placed over the small area being welded, while the welder remains dry.
Regardless of technique, underwater welders must deal with challenges like low visibility, constant dampness, confined spaces, and pressure changes. It is complex, demanding work. Proper training and certification is essential for safety.
Dangers and Risks
Underwater welding is one of the most hazardous occupations in the world due to the challenging underwater environment. In addition to the typical risks faced by welders like burns, electric shock, and exposure to fumes, underwater welders also deal with potential pressures changes, decompression sickness, and drowning.
According to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, underwater welding has an extremely high injury rate compared to most other jobs. Workplace accidents are not uncommon.
While movies like Jaws have portrayed the sensationalized threat of shark attacks, in reality this risk is quite minor compared to more routine industrial hazards that underwater welders face.
Salary and Job Outlook
The difficult nature of the work and the extensive training required also comes with impressive compensation. Experienced commercial divers and underwater welders can make over $100,000 per year.
The job outlook for underwater welding is very good in certain industries. There is strong demand for underwater repairs and construction on offshore oil rigs, renewable energy platforms, harbors, bridges, dams, and ships.
Underwater welders will continue to be needed for maintenance work and improving infrastructure across the globe.
How Often Do Shark Attacks Happen to Underwater Welders?
Underwater welding is an incredibly dangerous occupation. Working under the ocean exposes divers to a number of hazards, including decompression sickness, equipment malfunctions, and even potential shark attacks.
Shark attacks on underwater welders and other commercial divers are rare, but the terrifying possibility is always lurking in the backs of divers’ minds. According to data compiled by the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), only about 6-8 shark attacks per year happen during commercial diving operations globally.
The vast majority of these are non-fatal nuisance bites by curious sharks inspecting unfamiliar equipment and tools.
However, occasional serious and deadly attacks do rarely occur. According to ISAF statistics, approximately 1-2 commercial diver fatalities happen globally per decade as a direct result of shark attacks.
This shows shark attacks are an extremely rare but potentially catastrophic occupational hazard for underwater welders and divers.
The risk of attack depends greatly on the specific working conditions and environment:
- Location – Areas with large shark populations like Australia, South Africa, and United States coasts see more attacks
- Water conditions – Low visibility water can increase chances of accidental bites
- Operation – Welding sparks and noises can attract curious sharks to inspect
While shark attacks represent the most viscerally terrifying risk, the reality is underwater welders are far more likely to be killed or injured by the mundane dangers they face on every dive. Decompression illness, equipment failures, explosions, and general diving accidents take scores of underwater welder’s lives yearly.
Maintaining strict safety protocols, inspecting gear, and controlling as many variables as possible are a welder’s best defense against all these occupational hazards under the sea.
What Factors Contribute to Shark Attacks?
Shark attacks on humans are actually quite rare, but they do occur and can sometimes be fatal. According to research, there are several factors that contribute to the risk of a shark attack:
Location
Certain locations have higher rates of shark attacks. Areas with large seal populations attract great white sharks, which sometimes mistake humans for seals. Locations like California, Florida, Hawaii, and South Africa are shark attack hotspots.
Water Conditions
Sharks tend to frequent warm, subtropical waters. Attacks happen more often in summer, when more people are in the water and visibility is good. Murky water and storms can reduce visibility for sharks, causing accidental bites.
Human Behavior
Activities like surfing and swimming far from shore put people at higher risk. Splashing and thrashing around can attract sharks looking for prey. Wearing shiny jewelry can also resemble the sheen of fish scales.
Shark Population
Increased shark populations due to conservation efforts may lead to more encounters. however, well-managed shark populations are vital for healthy oceans.
Reducing Your Risk
While shark attacks are uncommon, there are steps you can take to be safer:
- Swim in groups – sharks tend to go after lone individuals.
- Avoid areas with seal populations.
- Don’t swim at dusk, night, or dawn when sharks are most active.
- Don’t enter the water if you’re bleeding – sharks can detect blood.
Remember, sharks are not mindless man-eaters. They play important roles in ocean ecosystems. With smart human behavior, we can prevent negative encounters.
Safety Protocols and Precautions
Underwater welding can be an extremely dangerous occupation. Without proper safety protocols and precautions, the risks of injury from electrical shock, decompression sickness (“the bends”), and even shark attacks are quite high.
Here are some of the key ways underwater welders can stay safe on the job:
Use Proper Protective Equipment
Underwater welders must wear specialized diving suits and helmets that protect them from electrical currents and provide breathable air. High-quality welding hoods with tinted visors protect their eyes from the intense glare of the welding arc. Insulated welding gloves are a must.
Additional equipment like harness systems prevent falling while working on platforms.
Follow Decompression Procedures
When surfacing from a dive, underwater welders must follow strict decompression tables and procedures to allow nitrogen to safely exit their bloodstream. Otherwise, nitrogen bubbles can form and cause decompression sickness with symptoms like joint pain, rash, and paralysis.
Adhering to safe ascent rates and decompression stop depths drastically reduces the risk.
Stay Alert for Sharks
Shark attacks are an ever-present risk while welding underwater. Sharks are often attracted to the electrical currents and sounds involved with welding. Precautions include:
- Conducting thorough shark safety briefings prior to any operation
- Posting shark lookouts to keep an eye out for danger
- Using protective shark cages when feasible
- Avoiding areas with high shark populations
- Keeping movements low and calm to avoid sparking a shark’s prey drive
Inspect All Equipment Thoroughly
All diving and welding gear must be inspected for defects prior to each use. Air tanks and regulators must deliver the proper air flow. Welding leads should be properly insulated. Any cracks or leaks in hoses or helmets must be repaired or replaced to prevent tragedy.
Work in Teams
Underwater welding should never be done solo. Teams allow for monitoring of each other’s air supply, decompression status, and ascent rate. Having a topside team ready to immediately assist in emergencies can be lifesaving.
Know Your Limits
Being in good physical health with strong swimming capabilities is crucial for underwater welders. They must stay within safe depth and time limits based on their training and experience. Pushing beyond individual limits greatly amplifies the risks.
By staying up-to-date on safety protocols, inspecting all equipment, working in teams, staying alert, and never pushing too far, underwater welders can manage the considerable hazards of their demanding yet rewarding work.
Firsthand Accounts of Shark Encounters
Shark encounters can be terrifying experiences, especially for those who find themselves face-to-face with these apex predators of the ocean. Though shark attacks on humans are rare, those who have lived to tell the tale describe harrowing brushes with death below the waves.
Surviving a Great White Attack
In 2020, surfer Phil Mummert miraculously survived an attack by a massive great white shark off the coast of Northern California. In his own words:
“I was paddling out and next thing I know, I see this great white shark jump out of the water and grab my leg. It happened so fast, I didn’t even have time to react. The thing was huge, at least 15 feet long. I remember its black eyes staring straight at me as it dragged me under the water.
I thought I was going to die.”
Despite severe injuries to his legs, Phil managed to punch the shark and get free of its jaws. Friends on shore rushed him to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. After six months and over 20 operations, Phil was back in the water surfing again.
Face to Face with a Tiger Shark
Mary Miller, a scuba diving instructor from Hawaii, recalled her brush with a large tiger shark during a night dive:
“I was leading a small group of divers along a reef wall. We suddenly came upon a monster of a shark – it must have been a 12-footer. The visibility wasn’t great, so it seemed to appear out of nowhere. It swam straight at me, opened its mouth wide, and I swear we made eye contact.
I was paralyzed with fear and everything seemed to move in slow motion. Just when I thought I was shark bait, it veered away and disappeared into the gloom.”
Though unharmed, Mary says she’ll never forget the sight of “rows of serrated teeth as big as my hand so close I could have touched them.” These days, she gives tiger sharks a wide berth during her undersea excursions.
Encounters like these remind us that while shark attacks make headlines, they are rare events. By better understanding shark behavior, we can find ways to share the ocean safely with these captivating creatures.
Conclusion
In summary, while shark attacks are an inherent risk for underwater welders and divers, incidents are relatively rare due to safety protocols. By understanding shark behavior, monitoring surroundings vigilantly, and reacting properly during close encounters, divers can further mitigate their risk.
With passion for their work and respect for the ocean environment, underwater welders accept a small level of risk in exchange for an adventurous career working beneath the waves.