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Graham
16-12-2005, 14:55
G'day

With written risk assessment being described as best practice on the HSE & Recreational Divers Thread.
Is there a case for a database of generic risk assessments for well known dive sites which could be enhanced to make them dive specific?
Is there such a database in existence?

Graham
PeteM
16-12-2005, 15:15
G'day

With written risk assessment being described as best practice on the HSE & Recreational Divers Thread.
Is there a case for a database of generic risk assessments for well known dive sites which could be enhanced to make them dive specific?
Is there such a database in existence?

I think there is a potential problem in that dive sites vary enormousely. For example early September in Stoney water temprature is not going to be a major risk, in February it is.

What our branch has done is produced a number of template risk assessments which cover most common risks with the likelyhood and severity of some variable risks (like temprature) not complete, on the day the marshall is expected to fill these in and assess the site for other risks, if you want to have a look they are here:
http://www.chelmsforddiveclub.co.uk/downloads.htm
Graham
16-12-2005, 16:06
What our branch has done is produced a number of template risk assessments which cover most common risks with the likelyhood and severity of some variable risks (like temprature) not complete, on the day the marshall is expected to fill these in and assess the site for other risks, if you want to have a look they are here:
http://www.chelmsforddiveclub.co.uk/downloads.htm

Cheers Pete

I was thinking of other things not listed ie, access to site & known hazards etc. but your templates look good.
Maybe a few could be added for say a wreck dive or wall dive.

Also
Not to get too Anal.
Do you get signatures from Divers to acknowledge that they have read the risk assessment or it has been explained to them & understood?

Graham
PeteM
16-12-2005, 16:14
Cheers Pete

I was thinking of other things not listed ie, access to site & known hazards etc. but your templates look good.
Maybe a few could be added for say a wreck dive or wall dive.

That is why there is gaps for the marshall to add things on the back, trying to make it too generic did not work. A wall with a bottom at 20m has different risks to Ras Mohamad (1000m), a flat shallow wreck has different risks to a deep wreck with lots of oppotunity for penertration, particularly accidental. Our attempts at making it too generic just got too complicated.

Also
Not to get too Anal.
Do you get signatures from Divers to acknowledge that they have read the risk assessment or it has been explained to them & understood?

No but we do always have a dive brief including a run through the risk assessment, on multi day dives the second day would generally be brief, refering to the previous day and highlighting changes
Graham
16-12-2005, 16:37
No but we do always have a dive brief including a run through the risk assessment, on multi day dives the second day would generally be brief, refering to the previous day and highlighting changes

Same as but they are usually just a dive brief. ie, the pointy bit's North & the blunt bit lies South. Not a brief on the overall risks.

The Dive Leaders (most very experienced) tend to brief their Buddies on risks.

Graham
PeteM
16-12-2005, 16:40
The Dive Leaders (most very experienced) tend to brief their Buddies on risks.

We thought about that but decided against it, we came to the conclusion that it was the marshalls responsibility and the only effective way of ensuring you communicated to everyone was a formal briefing, it only takes a few minutes so IMHO it is worth it
Graham
16-12-2005, 17:00
We thought about that but decided against it, we came to the conclusion that it was the marshalls responsibility and the only effective way of ensuring you communicated to everyone was a formal briefing, it only takes a few minutes so IMHO it is worth it

Agreed. It is the DM's overall responsibility.

We tend to formulate a risk assessment by discussing the dive in detail between the appointed Dive Leaders. They then transmit that to their Buddies.
An overall DM risk & dive brief is probably the way forward but our Club has done it this way for years, the same Dive Leaders tend to look after & nurture Divers up until DL status.
Double a**e wiping Ocean & Sport Divers ;)

Graham