Who is responsible
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SAFETY TALK - October 2007
Responsibility
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The buck stops here?
Preparations are well underway for this year’s Diving Officers’ Conference, open to all BSAC members and instructors from other agencies. I am reminded yet again that I am the Diving Officer the event refers to and not, as is popular belief the individual DO’s of our branches who are in effect my deputies.
The role of Diving Officer as explained in the Branch Officers Handbook (recently updated) is to carry ultimate responsibility for all Diving and Training conducted within BSAC by our members. That is a substantial, if not impossible task for any one individual to carry out and so I rely on significant help and support in fulfilling my responsibilities.
Training is carried out using a comprehensive and constantly developing training system for which I am eternally grateful to the massive work carried out by volunteer members of NDC and related working groups. This is delivered by Instructors, in branches, regions and BSAC Centres, who are themselves the product of the ITS system.
 Diving safety is managed both through my delegated authority to manage that diving by branch Diving Officers and Centre senior instructors who in turn delegate responsibility to Dive Managers but the onus of responsibility also carries on down to every member.Sean Gribben
National Diving Officer
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Who is responsible?
We all truly believe that we want to and do dive safely and yet the moment an unfortunate incident occurs one of the first reactions is to question who is responsible for controlling the activity.
Individual Diver
The first and overriding responsibility is to the divers (buddy pair) themselves. Regardless of their background, training and experience, they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to make their own informed decisions for their own safety and that of their buddy. All divers should be encouraged to take responsibility to follow their training and restrict their diving to the limits of their qualification and refuse to be tempted beyond their limits by more experienced and qualified divers no matter how forceful or knowledgeable they may be. This would include Ocean Divers making sure they only dive where such activities are properly Dive Managed and approved by the Diving Officer.
Dive Leader/Manager
BSAC diver training provides a progressive range of dive leading skills from Ocean Diver upwards. By following training, not exceeding limits and applying common sense to all dives there should not be any concern over taking responsibility for leading a dive with a buddy of similar or lesser experience.
Similarly, those responsible for managing or supervising diving activities should not be concerned that this makes them in some way liable providing they apply the same principles of following their training in planning, monitoring and reacting to developing situations. The responsibility is clear where formally organised branch or other group diving is being conducted. However, what responsibility does an experienced diver have in situations such as taking a place on a shuttle boat or holiday dive?
Diving Officer
The DO seems to carry the full weight of responsibility, It certainly feels like it for many DO’s. They are responsible for the provision of training and award of qualifications as well as for any diving undertaken by members of the branch. It is important however, to recognise that this is not done in isolation. Training should be conducted according to the standards laid down in BSAC training materials and there should be no need to add or subtract from this. Qualifications should be awarded on the completion of such training again with no additions or subtractions made as a prerequisite of the award. Diving should be conducted within the guidelines recommended in the ‘Safe Diving’ booklet and in accordance with the limits of an individuals qualifications and experience. In addition to all that a DO can call on advice and support from the Advisors at HQ, the Coaching Scheme and ultimately the National Diving Officer himself. The only risk is in not making use of all these resources.
Think SAFE - Dive SAFE
Any suggestions for further items for inclusion would be welcome and can be made to divesafe@bsac.com
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Register for Updates To make sure you recieve a direct notification of each months topic for SAFETY TALK as well as other information about important BSAC changes, new BSAC services and BSAC benefits please register for the BSAC MAILING LIST |
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