1. BSAC Safety Update Jim Watson
British Sub-Aqua Club
BSAC Safety Update
Jim Watson
BSAC Safety &
Development manager

2. Outline 2015 Incidents Report - A review
Some comments on the issues involved
The wider UK picture
Conclusions on 2015 2

3. 2015 overview Incident year - Oct 1st to Sept 30th
252 incidents entered into the database
226 UK - sports diving, all affiliations
26 Overseas - involving BSAC members 3

4. UK Incidents by year 4

5. Incident types 5

6. Monthly distribution of incidents6

7. Monthly distribution of incidents7

8. Monthly distribution of incidents8

9. Monthly distribution of incidents9

10. Coastguard assistance
76 Incidents 10

11. Coastguard assistance11

12. Helicopter involvement
49 Incidents 12

13. Helicopter involvement13

14. RNLI assistance
56 Incidents 14

15. RNLI assistance 15

17. Houses of Parliament
29 February 2016

23. ACTIVITY BY GENDER

24. RATE COMPARISON 100 MILLION HOURS

26. Understanding Risk

27. Fatalities 9 UK fatalities (10 year average = 14.5)
3 BSAC members (10 year average = 6.2)
6 non BSAC members (10 year average = 8.3)
1 overseas fatality - Non BSAC member 27

28. Fatalities by month 28

29. BSAC Fatalities - History29

30. Fatalities – Related factors30

31. Fatalities – Related factors31

32. Fatalities – Related factors32

33. Fatalities – Related factors33

34. Fatalities – Related factors
An analysis of 4,463 dives indicates that separation is nearly 3 times more likely when diving in a trio (or more) compared to diving in a buddy pair 34

35. More than Buddy pair Safe Diving Inexperienced/unfamiliar Experienced
Agree Plan
Agree Leader
All monitor
Self sufficient

36. Fatalities – Related factors36

37. Freeflow advice
Coldwater regs
Precautions
Resolution
Practice

38. Fatalities – Related factors38

39. Practice, Practice, Practice
Weight Training
Ditch practice
Removal practice
Kit change
Standard
Intergrated Weight
Harness
BC/Wing crotch strap
Practice, Practice, Practice

40. Fatalities – Related factors40

41. Fatalities – Related factors41

42. Fatalities – Related factors42

43. Fatalities – Related factors43

44. Fatalities – Related factors44

45. EN250
Cold Water Regulators <10o C
Standard for manufacture
Applies to new models
Marking for Alternate ‘A’
Alternate not >30m

46. Fatalities – Related factors46

47. Fatalities – Related factors47

48. Fatalities – Related factors48

49. Fatalities – Related factors49

50. Average age
n=5743 50

51. Average age
n=269
n=5743 51

52. Age Distribution 52

53. Decompression illness
39 cases recorded in 2015
Data analysis indicates:-
21% involve repeat diving
19% involve rapid ascents
19% involve depths greater than 30m
11% involve missed decompression stops 53

54. Decompression Illness54

55. Conclusions on 2015
9 UK fatalities – significantly lower than previous average
‘Older diver’ fatalities continue to feature
How do we respond to this?
The number of reported incident has been falling for several years but may be levelling out
The temporal profile of UK diving incidents seems to be changing with a significant reduction in incidents in the April to July period
Are there less dives or less incidents in this period (or both)?
Or are efforts to promote safety making a difference? 55

57. 57