4.12 Incidents Reports
4.12.1 Purposes
Diving incidents and accidents should be reported for two reasons:
In 1969 BSAC established a voluntary incident reporting scheme which has grown into a valuable source of information. Over the years, analysis of the information provided on Incident Reports has proved indispensable in identifying trends. Every year the National Diving Committee publishes an Annual Incident Report that highlights the years incidents along with detailed information on specific categories. Information is gathered from a large variety of sources, including the individuals and Branches involved, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), British Hyperbaric Association (recompression chamber operators), the Institute of Naval Medicine, and a press cuttings service.
4.12.2 How Lessons are Learned and Applied
The National Diving Committee, through its Incidents Adviser, analyses all facts relating to diving incidents and accidents. An annual Diving Incidents Report is published and is launched as a presentation at the BSAC Diving Officers' Conference. This Report is available to every Branch of BSAC so that members can learn from the mistakes of others and avoid the same errors themselves.
The National Diving Committee considers whether changes in training and tests, diving recommendations, etc. should be made as a result of knowledge gained from BSAC Incident Reports. The 'Safe Diving' booklet emphasises points which are revealed or learnt from the analysis of incidents and accidents. The Incidents Adviser liaises with the Royal Navy, Health & Safety Executive Diving Inspectors, the Coastguard Service and other interested organisations.
Not all incidents or accidents have an unhappy ending. A Branch's involvement may be to assist or rescue others - and not necessarily divers. Good publicity can be gained, and where diver rescues do take place, there might be a BSAC Award (Section 1.6.3) for those who made the rescue.
4.12.3 Incident / Accident Reporting
Diving incidents analysis can only work effectively if full information about incidents and accidents is disclosed. All incidents and accidents should be reported, not just serious ones. A great deal can be learnt from analysing a 'near miss' or oversight. BSAC has an Incident / Accident Report Form, and it is desirable that this form should be used when reporting an incident or accident. Copies are freely available here (pdf file) and from the Technical Department at BSAC Headquarters.
An initial written report may be made by letter, email, or fax. Any report is better than none, but the use of the official document saves time when analysing the incident. The Incident / Accident Report Form should be completed and forwarded to BSAC Headquarters, for the attention of the Incidents Adviser. Other relevant material such as statements from witnesses, press cuttings, etc., should accompany the report.
4.12.4 Fatalities, Injuries, Damage to Property
Should an accident occur in which lives are lost, serious injuries sustained or property damaged, the Diving Resources department at BSAC Headquarters must be notified at the earliest possible opportunity.
Diving incidents and accidents should be reported for two reasons:
- So that training and diving techniques can be developed and improved.
- So that any claims on the Membership Liability Insurance can be actioned without delay.
In 1969 BSAC established a voluntary incident reporting scheme which has grown into a valuable source of information. Over the years, analysis of the information provided on Incident Reports has proved indispensable in identifying trends. Every year the National Diving Committee publishes an Annual Incident Report that highlights the years incidents along with detailed information on specific categories. Information is gathered from a large variety of sources, including the individuals and Branches involved, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), British Hyperbaric Association (recompression chamber operators), the Institute of Naval Medicine, and a press cuttings service.
4.12.2 How Lessons are Learned and Applied
The National Diving Committee, through its Incidents Adviser, analyses all facts relating to diving incidents and accidents. An annual Diving Incidents Report is published and is launched as a presentation at the BSAC Diving Officers' Conference. This Report is available to every Branch of BSAC so that members can learn from the mistakes of others and avoid the same errors themselves.
The National Diving Committee considers whether changes in training and tests, diving recommendations, etc. should be made as a result of knowledge gained from BSAC Incident Reports. The 'Safe Diving' booklet emphasises points which are revealed or learnt from the analysis of incidents and accidents. The Incidents Adviser liaises with the Royal Navy, Health & Safety Executive Diving Inspectors, the Coastguard Service and other interested organisations.
Not all incidents or accidents have an unhappy ending. A Branch's involvement may be to assist or rescue others - and not necessarily divers. Good publicity can be gained, and where diver rescues do take place, there might be a BSAC Award (Section 1.6.3) for those who made the rescue.
4.12.3 Incident / Accident Reporting
Diving incidents analysis can only work effectively if full information about incidents and accidents is disclosed. All incidents and accidents should be reported, not just serious ones. A great deal can be learnt from analysing a 'near miss' or oversight. BSAC has an Incident / Accident Report Form, and it is desirable that this form should be used when reporting an incident or accident. Copies are freely available here (pdf file) and from the Technical Department at BSAC Headquarters.
An initial written report may be made by letter, email, or fax. Any report is better than none, but the use of the official document saves time when analysing the incident. The Incident / Accident Report Form should be completed and forwarded to BSAC Headquarters, for the attention of the Incidents Adviser. Other relevant material such as statements from witnesses, press cuttings, etc., should accompany the report.
4.12.4 Fatalities, Injuries, Damage to Property
Should an accident occur in which lives are lost, serious injuries sustained or property damaged, the Diving Resources department at BSAC Headquarters must be notified at the earliest possible opportunity.
This is best done by telephone (+44 (0)151 350 6200) - leave a message if the call is made outside normal Headquarters hours - or by Email (see BSAC Headquarters Contact List for current e-mail addresses) or fax (+44 (0)151 350 6215).
Serious accidents may result in a claim on the Membership Liability Insurance policy. It is therefore essential - and a condition of the insurance policy - that the insurers are advised quickly that a claim is a possibility; otherwise the cover could be invalidated. BSAC Headquarters will notify the Incidents Adviser and the Insurers who if necessary will appoint legal specialists and other experts. (See also Section 1.5.3 - Conditions of Insurance).
BSAC Headquarters will notify the Regional Coach, whose duties include the investigation of accidents and incidents. The Coach can help the Branch with its own internal enquiry and with the completion of the Incident / Accident Report Form.
It should be stressed that except in the initial enquiry at Branch level or in the Courts (if the matter ever gets that far), BSAC will not publish the names of those persons involved: anonymity is assured. The report to the Diving Officers' Conference makes no reference to the Branch involved and refers only to 'Diver A', 'Diver B', etc. Reports should be honest and factual. Attempts to conceal the truth bring only disrepute to those involved and perhaps serious legal trouble in the event of a fatality or serious accident.
4.12.5 Media Interest
It is a sorry fact that the local media will be among the first to want to know more about serious diving accidents and fatalities, and will have no hesitation in trying to learn more from those involved 'in their darkest hour'. If BSAC Headquarters is quickly given all the facts from the Branch involved, media calls can be directed to the Operations Manager, see also Media Contact (Section 2.1.4).
4.12.6 Branch Inquiry after a Diving Incident
Lessons can be learned from any diving incident, however minor. Branches should make an effort to find out what initially caused the problem; or lead progressively to a more serious accident if that was the case. Remember the 'Incident Pit' - see BSAC 'Safety & Rescue for Divers' Manual.
Do not think that you must find someone to blame: the same thing could happen to you on your next dive - but is less likely to if you have analysed the causes of someone else's mishap and know why it happened. Learn from the mistakes which we all make from time to time, and share the knowledge with all members of the Branch. Members of BSAC Regional Coaching Teams may be able to act as an independent co-ordinator of a Branch inquiry, if required.
In the case of very serious accidents or fatalities, members may be traumatised and even in shock. In such cases great care and sensitivity may be necessary when consoling those who feel that they are to blame; that they could have done more to prevent an accident or effect a rescue. It is not for any Branch to accuse or blame if it is clear that someone was careless or negligent, but this must be made clear in the Incident / Accident Report. In the event that a claim for damages is made, the insurers will need this information, and will do their best to defend the actions of the member as the claim takes its course. But remember the Membership Liability Insurance Policy protects that member.
4.12.7 Post Traumatic Stress Counselling
Incidents leading to serious injury or death are fortunately rare in diving but it would be unrealistic to pretend they never happen. Often, after a significant incident, the survivors are shocked and approach BSAC Headquarters to seek counselling or support. Over the last decade or so, critical incident debriefing and counselling has become part of many people's expectations. However, recent research has suggested that professional debriefing after traumatic events, rather than helping, may make the situation worse. In consequence many agencies to which distressed people might turn to for help are now advising support from family and friends in the first instance rather than from counsellors, psychologists or psychiatrists.
If something happens to your group you should certainly do all you humanly can to offer extended sympathy and support to the survivors, their friends and family. If an individual close to you or in your group has such a 'near miss' then it would be only reasonable to expect them to be very upset, distressed, perhaps tearful and have difficulty in concentrating immediately afterwards.
This can go on for many days depending on the person, how close they were to the victim and to the incident. Do all you can to support them in this period and if they want professional help, try to encourage them to talk to their GP who should know of local services that may be able to help.
Keep in contact, and be aware that if after six months, the individuals are still so affected to the extent that they are still getting flashbacks, finding it difficult to sleep or just get on with their lives, that is the time when they should be encouraged to seek professional help.
Serious accidents may result in a claim on the Membership Liability Insurance policy. It is therefore essential - and a condition of the insurance policy - that the insurers are advised quickly that a claim is a possibility; otherwise the cover could be invalidated. BSAC Headquarters will notify the Incidents Adviser and the Insurers who if necessary will appoint legal specialists and other experts. (See also Section 1.5.3 - Conditions of Insurance).
BSAC Headquarters will notify the Regional Coach, whose duties include the investigation of accidents and incidents. The Coach can help the Branch with its own internal enquiry and with the completion of the Incident / Accident Report Form.
It should be stressed that except in the initial enquiry at Branch level or in the Courts (if the matter ever gets that far), BSAC will not publish the names of those persons involved: anonymity is assured. The report to the Diving Officers' Conference makes no reference to the Branch involved and refers only to 'Diver A', 'Diver B', etc. Reports should be honest and factual. Attempts to conceal the truth bring only disrepute to those involved and perhaps serious legal trouble in the event of a fatality or serious accident.
4.12.5 Media Interest
It is a sorry fact that the local media will be among the first to want to know more about serious diving accidents and fatalities, and will have no hesitation in trying to learn more from those involved 'in their darkest hour'. If BSAC Headquarters is quickly given all the facts from the Branch involved, media calls can be directed to the Operations Manager, see also Media Contact (Section 2.1.4).
4.12.6 Branch Inquiry after a Diving Incident
Lessons can be learned from any diving incident, however minor. Branches should make an effort to find out what initially caused the problem; or lead progressively to a more serious accident if that was the case. Remember the 'Incident Pit' - see BSAC 'Safety & Rescue for Divers' Manual.
Do not think that you must find someone to blame: the same thing could happen to you on your next dive - but is less likely to if you have analysed the causes of someone else's mishap and know why it happened. Learn from the mistakes which we all make from time to time, and share the knowledge with all members of the Branch. Members of BSAC Regional Coaching Teams may be able to act as an independent co-ordinator of a Branch inquiry, if required.
In the case of very serious accidents or fatalities, members may be traumatised and even in shock. In such cases great care and sensitivity may be necessary when consoling those who feel that they are to blame; that they could have done more to prevent an accident or effect a rescue. It is not for any Branch to accuse or blame if it is clear that someone was careless or negligent, but this must be made clear in the Incident / Accident Report. In the event that a claim for damages is made, the insurers will need this information, and will do their best to defend the actions of the member as the claim takes its course. But remember the Membership Liability Insurance Policy protects that member.
4.12.7 Post Traumatic Stress Counselling
Incidents leading to serious injury or death are fortunately rare in diving but it would be unrealistic to pretend they never happen. Often, after a significant incident, the survivors are shocked and approach BSAC Headquarters to seek counselling or support. Over the last decade or so, critical incident debriefing and counselling has become part of many people's expectations. However, recent research has suggested that professional debriefing after traumatic events, rather than helping, may make the situation worse. In consequence many agencies to which distressed people might turn to for help are now advising support from family and friends in the first instance rather than from counsellors, psychologists or psychiatrists.
If something happens to your group you should certainly do all you humanly can to offer extended sympathy and support to the survivors, their friends and family. If an individual close to you or in your group has such a 'near miss' then it would be only reasonable to expect them to be very upset, distressed, perhaps tearful and have difficulty in concentrating immediately afterwards.
This can go on for many days depending on the person, how close they were to the victim and to the incident. Do all you can to support them in this period and if they want professional help, try to encourage them to talk to their GP who should know of local services that may be able to help.
Keep in contact, and be aware that if after six months, the individuals are still so affected to the extent that they are still getting flashbacks, finding it difficult to sleep or just get on with their lives, that is the time when they should be encouraged to seek professional help.
Page last modified: 9th Sep 2007 - 18:23:00