Safety Flash
Diving fatality
Diving fatality
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 01/03
- Control of WorkDivingEmergency ResponseInspection and Maintenance
- DrowningMechanical failure
- Diving operationsInspection and maintenance
- Breathing apparatus
- Competence and trainingEmergency responsePre-use checksPreventive maintenance
- Marine industry
- Subsea
Summary
A diver died during underwater burning and salvage after his helmet flooded. Investigators identified malfunctioning personal breathing equipment, inadequate maintenance and failures in emergency procedures and company oversight. The company introduced mandatory loss-of-air exercises, company-controlled maintenance of diver-owned equipment, an enhanced pre-dive checklist and compliance audits.
Classifications: Drowning; man overboard; person overboard.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Diving operations; diving; commercial diving.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Breathing apparatus; SCBA; self-contained breathing apparatus.
Classifications: Competence and training; competency assurance; safety training.
Classifications: Emergency response; emergency preparedness.
Classifications: Pre-use checks; pre-use inspection.
Classifications: Preventive maintenance; preventative maintenance; planned maintenance.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Subsea; underwater worksite.
Summary
A flooded diving helmet and poorly maintained personal equipment contributed to a fatality despite tested diving-system components.
IMCA SF 01/03. Themes: control of work, diving, emergency response, inspection and maintenance.