Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment

The DAN-SA Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment programme promotes a culture of safety at diving businesses. Here is an overview of the programme.
After being summoned to stitch up yet another finger mangled by the ladder hinges on a local diving boat, one of our colleagues, a diving doctor, notably said “That is it! I have had it with these sliced fingers!” The words echoed with frustration and a plea for intervention. And they were heeded, as DAN responded. This is the result of that response: a programme that is able to focus the attention of all parties invested in the diving industry on reducing avoidable and repeated accidents called the DAN Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) programme.
The idea of hazard identification and risk assessment is not new. These are well-established principles for most industries. The challenge, though, was not to simply create a new programme, but to establish a proactive culture of diving safety. This required buy-in and implementation; in a word: “participation”. So, how did we achieve this?
DAN has been working on improving the safety and efficacy of recompression treatment facilities around the world since 1999 with the DAN Recompression Chamber Assistance and Partnership Programme (RCAPP). The need for having access to reliable recompression facilities is obvious. However, following the appeal from our finger-stitching colleague, DAN decided to expand the chamber safety initiative toward diving operations. The question, however, was how to start?
The first step was to establish collaborative relationships with diving operators based on mutual trust. So, with this in mind, DAN began to actively acknowledge those diving operators who were willing to partner on issues of diving safety by demonstrating their compliance with established industry norms, including staff readiness, first aid training, emergency equipment and protocols. Then, as the interactive dialogue between DAN and the respective diving operators evolved, the HIRA programme was formally introduced in 2008, following the same core principles employed in RCAPP.
In this article, Francois Burman, the CEO of DAN Southern Africa (DAN-SA), provides an overview of the HIRA programme. This will be followed by regular contributions discussing specific operating aspects of the typical diving business and its interaction with clients – recreational scuba divers. The goal is to make a real difference to diving safety through the creation and promotion of a culture of safety at all scuba diving schools, charters and operations around the world. That is what DAN is all about.
After being summoned to stitch up yet another finger mangled by the ladder hinges on a local diving boat, one of our colleagues, a diving doctor, notably said “That is it! I have had it with these sliced fingers!” The words echoed with frustration and a plea for intervention. And they were heeded, as DAN responded. This is the result of that response: a programme that is able to focus the attention of all parties invested in the diving industry on reducing avoidable and repeated accidents called the DAN Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) programme.
The idea of hazard identification and risk assessment is not new. These are well-established principles for most industries. The challenge, though, was not to simply create a new programme, but to establish a proactive culture of diving safety. This required buy-in and implementation; in a word: “participation”. So, how did we achieve this?
DAN has been working on improving the safety and efficacy of recompression treatment facilities around the world since 1999 with the DAN Recompression Chamber Assistance and Partnership Programme (RCAPP). The need for having access to reliable recompression facilities is obvious. However, following the appeal from our finger-stitching colleague, DAN decided to expand the chamber safety initiative toward diving operations. The question, however, was how to start?
The first step was to establish collaborative relationships with diving operators based on mutual trust. So, with this in mind, DAN began to actively acknowledge those diving operators who were willing to partner on issues of diving safety by demonstrating their compliance with established industry norms, including staff readiness, first aid training, emergency equipment and protocols. Then, as the interactive dialogue between DAN and the respective diving operators evolved, the HIRA programme was formally introduced in 2008, following the same core principles employed in RCAPP.
In this article, Francois Burman, the CEO of DAN Southern Africa (DAN-SA), provides an overview of the HIRA programme. This will be followed by regular contributions discussing specific operating aspects of the typical diving business and its interaction with clients – recreational scuba divers. The goal is to make a real difference to diving safety through the creation and promotion of a culture of safety at all scuba diving schools, charters and operations around the world. That is what DAN is all about.
Programme Overview
The primary mission of DAN-SA is to offer assistance to injured recreational scuba divers. An important secondary mission is to prevent diving injuries. As part of a global campaign to reduce injuries and fatalities related to recreational scuba diving, DAN‑SA intends to fulfil its vision that every dive be accident and injury free by identifying and mitigating risks associated with diving operations.
The primordial prevention of injuries or losses implies the active prevention of accidents from happening, which in turn requires a programme that generates awareness, establishes control and ultimately mitigates health and safety risks.
So, how does one create, promote and then build such a preventative programme? After much deliberation and engagement with our diving Industry Partners, the following overall objectives were formulated:
The primordial prevention of injuries or losses implies the active prevention of accidents from happening, which in turn requires a programme that generates awareness, establishes control and ultimately mitigates health and safety risks.
So, how does one create, promote and then build such a preventative programme? After much deliberation and engagement with our diving Industry Partners, the following overall objectives were formulated:
- To provide risk and safety awareness education to all participants.
- To offer guidance on risk mitigation and control, based on actual operational aspects of a business.
- To initiate and then grow participation by all diving service providers.
- To monitor accidents and incidents so that we can continually assess the status of progress toward our vision of diving safety.
- Achieving these objectives has required inclusion and co‑operation at all levels, primarily through the empowerment of facilities to understand and then accept their responsibilities toward safety.
Programme Introduction
The extensive, 16-year experience with the RCAPP has clearly shown that there is great value in providing a structured, methodical and consistent process. The DAN Risk Assessment Guide is available in multiple languages and used around the diving world and has been instrumental in this regard.
This same concept is now extended to diving businesses by means of a structured, documented process – the DAN HIRA Guide.
This DAN HIRA Guide offers the means for realistic assessment of actual operational hazards and safety solutions over the whole spectrum of diving business activities from the welcome to the water! The focus is on identifying the real and present risks, not theoretical or merely superficial ones. We refer to this as identifying the potential hazards, followed by a risk assessment.
DAN-SA also backs this process up by providing practical measurement tools and resources to quantify the risks. In addition to obvious elements, like compressed air quality testing, DAN-SA also includes several less familiar concerns, such as the assessment of harmful environmental noise exposure and ensuring adequate lighting measurements are used for safety purposes.
After identifying the potential hazards, risk mitigation follows. This implies that the source of the risk should be clearly identified and isolated, so that it can then be addressed in a meaningful way.
When approaching any risk associated with an interface between man and machine, there is a tiered approach. By this we mean that the options for risk mitigation begin by trying to eliminate them at the source, using some form of technical or engineering control, like a barrier. If this is not possible or feasible, then operational methods are employed, such as providing instruction through policies or procedures to prevent any hazardous interaction with the risk. An example of such policies or procedures is teaching people how to use the ladder. If neither of these are possible, then physical protection is required, like supplying hearing protection to compressor workers.
As with any programme, monitoring or measurement is required to confirm its effectiveness. This also allows feedback on the success of the risk assessment and mitigation steps over a period of time and for a wider range of operational situations.
For the purpose of establishing a lasting safety culture, however, personal on-site discussion with diving business staff is required and all parties need to appreciate the risks and agree to the mitigation and monitoring strategies.
This same concept is now extended to diving businesses by means of a structured, documented process – the DAN HIRA Guide.
This DAN HIRA Guide offers the means for realistic assessment of actual operational hazards and safety solutions over the whole spectrum of diving business activities from the welcome to the water! The focus is on identifying the real and present risks, not theoretical or merely superficial ones. We refer to this as identifying the potential hazards, followed by a risk assessment.
DAN-SA also backs this process up by providing practical measurement tools and resources to quantify the risks. In addition to obvious elements, like compressed air quality testing, DAN-SA also includes several less familiar concerns, such as the assessment of harmful environmental noise exposure and ensuring adequate lighting measurements are used for safety purposes.
After identifying the potential hazards, risk mitigation follows. This implies that the source of the risk should be clearly identified and isolated, so that it can then be addressed in a meaningful way.
When approaching any risk associated with an interface between man and machine, there is a tiered approach. By this we mean that the options for risk mitigation begin by trying to eliminate them at the source, using some form of technical or engineering control, like a barrier. If this is not possible or feasible, then operational methods are employed, such as providing instruction through policies or procedures to prevent any hazardous interaction with the risk. An example of such policies or procedures is teaching people how to use the ladder. If neither of these are possible, then physical protection is required, like supplying hearing protection to compressor workers.
As with any programme, monitoring or measurement is required to confirm its effectiveness. This also allows feedback on the success of the risk assessment and mitigation steps over a period of time and for a wider range of operational situations.
For the purpose of establishing a lasting safety culture, however, personal on-site discussion with diving business staff is required and all parties need to appreciate the risks and agree to the mitigation and monitoring strategies.
Programme Tools
In terms of the actual implementation of a risk mitigation strategy, there are two primary concepts that need to be established.
Firstly, we need to determine the key or critical control points, namely the main sources of the hazards, so that we can be sure to address the root causes and plan for routine safety assessments and interventions to ensure optimal risk reduction.
Secondly, not all risks are of the same importance or magnitude. As such, a risk measurement system helps to focus the priorities of a business and to provide some degree of assurance that resources and efforts are directed appropriately. The assessment tool used is encapsulated in an accepted definition of the term “risk”: The probability that the exposure to a hazard will lead to negative consequences.
By establishing these two primary concepts we can consider all the potential hazards and then determine the chances or likelihood that people or equipment could actually be exposed to these hazards and whether the potential harm would be severe (namely unacceptable) or not. This turns the theory into practice: It allows us to identify the real issues over those that can be dealt with at a later stage or even disregarded.
The concepts of probability, exposure and consequence can all be quantified using a relatively easy-to-use, one-to-five scale. The actual risk can thus be calculated by multiplying these three scores by each other and by comparing the total score with a typical risk score table.
Firstly, we need to determine the key or critical control points, namely the main sources of the hazards, so that we can be sure to address the root causes and plan for routine safety assessments and interventions to ensure optimal risk reduction.
Secondly, not all risks are of the same importance or magnitude. As such, a risk measurement system helps to focus the priorities of a business and to provide some degree of assurance that resources and efforts are directed appropriately. The assessment tool used is encapsulated in an accepted definition of the term “risk”: The probability that the exposure to a hazard will lead to negative consequences.
By establishing these two primary concepts we can consider all the potential hazards and then determine the chances or likelihood that people or equipment could actually be exposed to these hazards and whether the potential harm would be severe (namely unacceptable) or not. This turns the theory into practice: It allows us to identify the real issues over those that can be dealt with at a later stage or even disregarded.
The concepts of probability, exposure and consequence can all be quantified using a relatively easy-to-use, one-to-five scale. The actual risk can thus be calculated by multiplying these three scores by each other and by comparing the total score with a typical risk score table.
Existing Regulatory Documents
Statutory and industry-regulating documents vary depending on national-, local- and industry-specific requirements. It is, however, essential that all parties know which of these apply to them and what their relevant responsibilities are.
The following documents apply to the South African recreational diving industry and there will be equivalents of these in all countries:
The following documents apply to the South African recreational diving industry and there will be equivalents of these in all countries:
- Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act of 1994, together with the applicable regulations such as the Noise, Driven Machinery, Electrical Installations, Environmental Safety, General Safety, General Machinery and Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations;
- Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA);
- National Conservation Act;
- Employment Equity Act;
- Labour Relations Act;
- South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) directives which are applicable to boating and diving operations; and
- South African National Standards (SANS) 10019 (compressed gas cylinders) and SANS 532 (gas quality).
How do diving businesses indicate their interest in participating in the DAN-SA HIRA programme?
The simple answer is just ask! Upon receiving the initial invitation, DAN-SA sends an experienced team of assessors to the diving business site to take a detailed look at their diving operation. This should include actual day-to-day activities, covering the full scope of the business and may include:
To capture the outcome of the assessment, a detailed, customised report is generated by the team and shared with the particular diving business and the key members of staff.
The final report is an invaluable document: It not only provides a baseline of the current safety status, but also offers a roadmap toward ongoing safety improvements according to importance. Specific recommendations are offered where existing mitigation strategies are lacking or incomplete. It is then up to the business management to review, accept and apply the recommendations.
Established industry standards are followed as the general guideline, but the DAN-SA HIRA programme is about something far more than rote compliance to a norm. The ultimate intention is for the DAN HIRA Guide to be the signature of a safety-aware diving operation.
- Staff health and safety;
- Client health and safety;
- Staff training and certification;
- Training pool area;
- Training room;
- Diving retail shop;
- Diving boat operations;
- Live-aboards;
- Compressor and cylinder filling area;
- Equipment storage area;
- Small instrument workshop;
- Vehicle safety;
- Travel and health advice for clients; and
- Recompression chamber dives.
To capture the outcome of the assessment, a detailed, customised report is generated by the team and shared with the particular diving business and the key members of staff.
The final report is an invaluable document: It not only provides a baseline of the current safety status, but also offers a roadmap toward ongoing safety improvements according to importance. Specific recommendations are offered where existing mitigation strategies are lacking or incomplete. It is then up to the business management to review, accept and apply the recommendations.
Established industry standards are followed as the general guideline, but the DAN-SA HIRA programme is about something far more than rote compliance to a norm. The ultimate intention is for the DAN HIRA Guide to be the signature of a safety-aware diving operation.
Download the HIRA guide
Posted in Alert Diver Fall Editions
Categories
2021
March
Old Habits Die HardSave a Diver, Save YourselfCylinder SafetyUndercover CrabsReef safe sunscreenPhysics, Biophysics and Decompression SicknessModels and Marine LifeSunscreen and CoralCristina Mittermeier: Commitment to ConservationDiving After a StrokeCurrent DivesThis Bites: Prevention TreatmentEnvironmental Considerations for Disinfection
April
Aqua Pool Noodle ExercisesUnderwater Photographer and DAN Member Madelein Wolfaardt10 Simple Things You Can Do to Improve Your Underwater PhotographyCOVID-19 and Diving: March 2021 UpdateDiver Return After COVID-19 Infection (DRACO): A Longitudinal AssessmentGuidelines for Lifelong Medical Fitness to Dive
2020
January
February
Group Fitness at the PoolHow to Rescue a Distressed diver at the SurfaceHow to manage Near-DrowningNo Sit-ups no problem How to manage MalariaHow to manage Oxygen Deficiency (Hypoxia)What to do when confronted by a sharkHow to manage Scombroid PoisoningHow to perform a Deep Diver RescueHow to perform One-rescuer CPRHow to perform a Neurological Assessment
March
DAN’s Quick Guide to Properly Disinfecting Dive GearCOVID-19 : Prevention Recommendations for our Diving CommunityGermophobia? - Just give it a reasonable thoughtScuba Equipment care – Rinsing and cleaning diving equipmentCOVID-19 and DAN MembershipFurther limitations imposed on travels and considerations on diving activitiesDAN Membership COVID-19 FAQsLancet COVID-19 South African Testing SitesCOVID-19 No Panic Help GuideGetting Decompression Sickness while FreedivingDown in the DumpsCardiovascular Disease and DivingDelayed Off-GassingDiving after Dental surgeryDiving with Multiple MedicationsPygmy Seahorses: Life AquaticAfrica DustCOVID-19 Myth BustersScuba Units Are Not Suitable Substitutes for VentilatorsDisinfection of Scuba Equipment and COVID-19Physioball Stability Exercises
April
COVID-19 AdvisoryScuba Equipment Care - Drying & Storing Your GearTransporting Diving Lights & BatteriesHow to Pivot Your Message During a CrisisTourism Relief FundCOVID-19 Business Support ReviewDiving After COVID-19: What We Know TodayEUBS-ECHM Position Statement on Diving ActivitiesPart 2: COVID-19 Business Support ReviewPress Release
May
Diving in the Era of COVID-19Dive Operations and COVID-19: Prepping for ReturnCOVID-19 & Diving Activities: 10 Safety RecommendationsCOVID-19: Surface Survival TimesThe Philippines at its FinestThe Logistics of ExplorationThe Art of the Underwater SelfieShooter: Douglas SeifertFAQs Answered: Disinfecting Scuba EquipmentStock your First-Aid KitResearch and OutreachCovid-19 ResearchOut of the BlueEffects of Aspirin on DivingThe New Pointy end of DivingDiving and Hepatitis CCaissons, Compressed-Air work and Deep TunnellingPreparing to Dive in the New NormalNew Health Declaration Form Sample Addressing C-19 IssuesDiving After COVID 19: What Divers Need to Know
June
Travel Smarter: PRE-TRIP VACCINATIONSAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and DivingCOVID-19: Updated First Aid Training Recommendations From DANDiving with a Purpose in National Marine SanctuariesStay Positive Through the PandemicFor the Dive Operator: How to Protect Your Staff & ClientsStudying Deep reefs and Deep diversAsking the Right QuestionsLung squeeze under cold diving conditions
July
Dive DeprivationVolunteer Fish Surveys: Engage DiversDAN Member Profile: Mehgan Heaney-GrierTravel Smarter: Don’t Cancel, Reschedule InsteadDive Boat Fire SafetyRay of HopePartner ExercisesDiving at AltitudeAluminium ExposureHip FracturesAcoustic NeuromaGuidelines for Lifelong Medical Fitness to DiveNew Dive Medical Forms
August
Women in Diving: Lauren Arthur, Conservationist & Natural History Story TellerWomen in Diving: Dr Sara Andreotti White Shark ResearcherTiming ExerciseWomen in Diving: The Salty Wanderer, Charlie WarlandWomen in Diving: Beth Neale, Aqua soul of freedivingWomen in Diving: Diving and spearfishing Diva, Jean HattinghWomen in Diving: Zandile Ndhlovu, The Black Mermaid
September
October
Freediving For ScienceStep Exercises with CardioFluorescence Imaging help Identify Coral BleachingChildren and DivingThe Watchman device and divingScuba Diving and Factor V Leiden gene mutationNitrogen Narcosis at shallow depthsOil and Particulates: Safe levels in Breathing Air at depthDive Principles for Coping with COVID-19The Importance of a Predive Safety CheckTalya Davidoff: the 'Plattelandse Meisie' Freediver
2019
February
April
May
DAN Press ReleaseYour Dive Computer: Tips and tricks - PART 1Your Dive Computer: Tips and tricks - PART 2Aural HygieneDCS AheadHow Divers Can Help with coral conservationRed Tide and shellfish poisoningDiving after Kidney DonationDiving with hypertrophic cardiomyopathyEmergency Underwater Oxygen Recompression
June
July
September
October
November
Exercise drills with DowelsHeart-rate TrainingCultivating ConservationTRavel Smarter : Evaluating an unfamiliar Dive operatorChallenging the Frontiers of Decompression ResearchTravel Smarter: Plan for Medical EmergenciesWhen should I call my Doctor?DAN Student Medical Expense CoverageAdvice, Support and a LifelineWetsuits and heat stressDiving after Chiropractic adjustments
2018
April
Flying after pool diving FAQLung squeeze while freediving FAQDiving after Bariatric surgery FAQMarine injuries FAQVasovagal Syncope unpredictable FAQIncident report procedure FAQDiving after knee surgery FAQDiving when in RemissionDive with orbital Implant FAQInert gas washout FAQOxygen ears FAQPost Decompression sicknessChildren and diving. The real concerns.Diving after SurgeryPhysiology of Decompresssion sickness FAQDiving and regular exerciseGordon Hiles - I am an Underwater Cameraman and Film MakerScuba Air QualityBreath-hold diving. Part 3: The Science Bit!Compensation Legislation and the Recreational DiverCape Town DivingFive pro tips for capturing better images in cold waterThe Boat Left Without You: Now What?
May
When things go wrongEmergency Planning: Why Do We Need It?Breath-hold diving: Running on reserve -Part 5 Learning to RebreatheSweet Dreams: When Can I Resume Diving Post Anaesthesia?Investing in the future of reefsTo lie or not to lie?THE STORY OF A RASH AFTER A DIVEFirst Aid KitsTaravana: Fact or Falacy?
June
Oxygen Unit MaintenanceKnow Your Oxygen-Delivery Masks 1Know Your Oxygen-Delivery Masks 2Emergency Oxygen unitsInjuries due to exposure - HypothermiaInjuries due to exposure - Altitude sicknessInjuries due to Exposure - Dehydration and other concernsHow to plan for your dive tripThe Future of Dive MedicinePlastic is Killing our ocean
September
Return to DivingDiagnoses: Pulmonary blebSide effects of Rectogesic ointmentDiving with ChemotherapyReplacing dive computers and BCDsCustomize Your First-Aid KitPlan for medical emergenciesHow the dive Reflex protects the brain and heartDry suits and skin BendsAltitude sickness and DCSScuba Diving and Life Expectancy
2017
March
April
Incident Insight: TriageA Field Guide to Minor MishapsSnorkels: Pros & ConsTime & RecoveryMedication & Drug UseDiving with CancerNitrox FAQCOPD FAQHyperbaric Chamber FAQJet Lag FAQHydration FAQAnticoagulant Medication FAQFluid in the Ear FAQEye Surgery FAQElderly Divers FAQNitrogen FAQHealth Concerns FAQMotion Sickness FAQMicronuclei FAQ
June
August
2016
February
March
Breath-Hold Diving & ScubaReturn to Diving After DCITiming Exercise & DivingHot Tubs After DivingSubcutaneous EmphysemaIn-Water RecompressionDiving at AltitudeFlying After DivingDiving After FlyingThe Risks of Diabetes & DivingFlu-like Symptoms Following a DiveHand & Foot EdemaFrontal HeadachesBladder DiscomfortLatex AllergiesRemember to BreatheProper Position for Emergency CareAches & PainsCell Phones While DrivingSurfers Ear Ear Ventilation TubesDealing with Ear ProblemsDiving with Existing Ear InjuriesPerforated Ear DrumENT SurgeryUnpluggedCochlear ImplantsPortuguese Man-of-WarJellyfish StingsLionfish, Scorpionfish & Stonefish EnvenomationsStingray Envenomation Coral Cuts, Scrapes and RashesSpeeding & Driving Behaviour
June
Newsflash! Low Pressure Hose DeteriorationItching & rash go away & come back!7 Things we did not know about the oceanMigraine HeadacheAttention Deficit Disorder Cerebral Vascular AccidentEpilepsyCerebral PalsyHistory of SeizuresMultiple Sclerosis Head TraumaBreast Cancer & Fitness to Dive IssuesLocal Allergic ReactionsSea LiceHow ocean pollution affects humans Dive Fatality & Lobster Mini-Season StatisticsPregnancy & DivingReturn to Diving After Giving BirthBreast Implants & DivingMenstruation During Diving ActivitiesOral Birth ControlBreast FeedingPremenstrual SyndromeOsteoporosisThe Aftermath of Diving IncidentsCompensation Legislation & the Recreational DiverNoise-Induced Hearing LossLegal MattersThe Nature of Liability & DivingDAN Legal NetworkWaivers, Children & Solo DivingHealthy, but overweight!Taking Medication while Scuba DivingGetting Fit for the Dive SeasonBone Considerations in Young DiversAsthma and Scuba DivingHepatitisDiving with HyperglycemiaShoulder PainDiving After Spinal Back Surgery
August
Hazard Identification & Risk AssessmentCaring For Your People Caring For Your FacilitiesCaring For Your BusinessScuba Air Quality Part 1Scuba Air Quality Part 2Chamber Maintenance Part 1Chamber Maintenance Part 2The Aging Diver Propeller SafetyRelease The PressureDon't Get LostMore Water, Less Bubbles13 Ways to Run Out of Air & How Not To7 Mistakes Divers Make & How To Avoid ThemSafety Is In The AirHow Good Is Your Emergency Plan
2015
January
March
No Comments