The Health and Safety Executive has produced a DVD called Diving Instructors, Roles, Responsibilities and Risk Assessment available free to instructors after 21 April from professional diver training organisations.

The DVD has been produced in response to a significant number of serious diving incidents while recreational divers were under training, and apparent confusion and misunderstanding among diving instructors as to exactly what standards the HSE expects.

The DVD features the step-by-step planning of a recreational dive by a diving instructor including a full risk assessment, and provides animated illustrations of common diving incidents. The steps to prevent these incidents from occuring, or from escalating out of control are covered.

Also included is an interview with the mother of a young diver who died during a recreational training dive; designed to bring home the full impact of avoidable diving incidents.

Frank Murray Principal Inspector of Diving at HSE said, "Diving instructors have the privelege of introducing trainees to the wonders of the underwater world - but it must be done safely. A duty of care exists for trainees, and instructors are responsible for their health, safety and welfare at all times. This DVD can help in explaining some of the practical steps that should be taken into account."

The DVD is launching at a meeting of the British Diving Safety Group in London on 21 April, and will be available free to qualified diving instructors through their professional training organisation.

More articles of interest

An inspector calls - Tim Ecott follows an HSE inspector checking on diver training procedures

The HSE website


News Index Page