diving heath and safety oliver coleman and adam martin

Diving

Heath and Safety

Oliver Coleman and Adam Martin

2British Universities Lifesaving Clubs’ Association

Who are responsible for what in term of diving?

NGB (RLSS UK,BULSCA)• Provide appropriate guidance and training

around the issue• Create a structure in which clubs can create

Risk Assessment and control measures• Advise on current best practice• Consult with other organisation with similar

requirement so best practise is shared across sports and environments (ISRM,RoSPA,ASA,FINA,SLSGB)


Who are responsible for what in term of diving?Promotor-Ultimately responsible for everything in the competition

-When it goes wrong they are the ones who will need to justify what they did to make it safe

-Will complete Risk Assessments

-Consult RLSS UK,SLSGB & ISRM for best practice

-Produce the Procedures for their club

-Ensure those are implemented

-Trains and Update personal at the event to follow their plan

-Can stop people from diving if they feel the evidence provided does not satisfy their risk assessments (Could stop after seeing a competitor dive, normally consult with referee)

-Must ensure their risk assessment and procedures are followed failure to do so would mean they could be responsible if someone was injured


Who are responsible for what in term of diving?Referee• Will check that the equipment meets the required standard (May

Delegate)• Check pool side, blocks for defects or issues• Might impose fixes for minor issues ( e.g tape or cones over chipped

tiles)• Ensure timekeeper are briefed for torp positioning• Apply extra control measures as deemed by the risk assessment• Will check RLSS UK guidance on control of diving has been

followed or the local control measures meet the needs• If the control measures have been followed could b responsible if

someone is injuried• Can stop anyone at any time diving if they feel it would be unsafe to

let them do so


Who are responsible for what in term of diving?Team Manager/Coach• Train to meet the required standards• Be able to evidence that training• Have provision in your club to do that training in a safe and

controlled manner that is documented• Be confident that when your declare the competence of a competitor

that you can evidence this should a problem arise• Meet the need of your own risk assessment for diving but also be

aware the conditions the promotor may have on there event which may differ from your own.

• Can you show how your members have met the requirement?• Ultimately if you make the declaration and the competitor injuries

them selves you will be the person needing to show why they should have been safe.


Who are responsible for what in term of diving?

Compeittior• Must dive in line with training• Follow guidance from timekeepers/officials on

positions on blocks, placement of their torps ect• If feeling unwell/injuried will withdraw from diving

if they feel will cause them issues• Personally check there block and equipment for

defect ad report if unhappy• Unsure any safety procedure they are asked to

follow is completed


Documents that will help(Copies have been printed for you)

• RLSS UK Diving Competence check sheet

You will only need to do the deep water sections typically but can cover shallow if you wish

We will look in the pool today at these descriptions

• RLSS UK Support Guidance for diving• We have also provided a sample risk

assessment but see next slide for changes that may be need to bring up to date


Changes to RA

• Where it reads RLSS TA

Should read RLSS TA or S&S instructor

-must keep with relevant experience• Reference to ASA Level 2 Teacher could also be ASA

Coach(2,3). You may wish to add also that relevant CPD or experience is expected.-Or just start of those qualified to deliver the ASA Competitive start award

• You may with to remove reference to the LCSA as this does not seem forth coming currently

• On for your comp you may wish to ask for card of authority and widen to allow an SLSGB Coach to also declare they are suitable to sign off visiting competitors


What BULSCA think

• Club need to complete a risk assessment about their diving follow best practice of RLSS UK,ASA,FINA.

• Club should have document how and when member were tested and will there competency ever be review

• Competition organiser must ensure all people who are diving meet the required standard

• It is recommended that the RLSS UK Template on diving competency is completed by appropriate coaches/instructors

• Make sure you then follow the procedures you agree upon at a local level with your leisure centre and SU.