Fieldwork Risk Assessment – Compressed Air Diving
Risk Assessment Number:
General Information- (Note: Enter N/a in ‘Further Action Required’ Field if control measures are not applicable. Leave blank if no further action needed. Change risk rating as required)
Descripton of
Task/Activity:
Type of fieldwork:
Date of Assessment:
Location of dive sites:
Faculty:
Participants:
Department:
Number of First Aiders:
No:
Hazard and consequences
1.
Insufficient planning – injury/loss due
to inadequate planning
2.
Weather –
heatstroke
dehydration,
Risk
Rating
Control Measures
Residual
Risk
H
The Dive Coordinator will complete site
registration before fieldtrip. Site registration will
be approved by the university dive officer before
commencing work.
L
sunburn,
M
Responsibility
Date to be
completed
DC & UDO
Prior to Fieldwork
Onsite review of site registration: Does the site
registration need to be updated? Are the
Emergency procedures still optimal?
DC
On site
The DC will complete a fieldwork Notification
and dive plan before fieldtrip. This will be
approved by the UDO before commencing work.
DC & UDO
Prior to Fieldwork
The DC will brief participants (pre-dive brief) on
work to be undertaken, site emergency
procedures and hazards, and contents of this
risk assessment
DC
Prior to Fieldwork &
Dive team will have primary and secondary
means of communication as assessed in the
planning stage.
DC
Sufficient water and nutrition will be taken to the
dive site.
Further Action Required
On site
Prior to Fieldwork &
On site
Participants
Prior to Fieldwork
Sunscreen and appropriate UV protection will
be available for use by participants
Participants
Prior to Fieldwork
Each participant will have appropriate clothing
on site.
Participants
Prior to deploymeny
L
No:
Hazard and consequences
Risk
Rating
Residual
Risk
Control Measures
Further Action Required
On site risk assessment to be completed on site
before commencing diving and will be revisited
before each dive and if conditions change.
3.
Inclement weather
H
Planning will consider minimally acceptable
weather conditions, fitness of participants and
shelter.
Surface visibility needs to be
considered in relation to your ability to
conduct the research, how it will impact
your ability to respond in an emergency
situation, and how it may impact the
ability of others to avoid you.
e.g., use lights to mark position, maintain
surface watch, work close to vessel/shore, etc.
Wind speed needs to be considered in
relation to your ability to conduct the
research and how it will impact your
ability to respond in an emergency
situation.
e.g., Have boat on site, maintain surface watch,
use mermaid line, divers to have signalling
devises, work up wind from boat, etc.
Sea state needs to be considered in
relation to your ability to conduct the
research and how it will impact your
ability to respond in an emergency
situation.
e.g., Have boat on site, maintain surface watch,
divers to have signaling devises, etc. plus an
skipper with experience appropriate to see
state.
Tides and currents need to be
considered in relation to your ability to
conduct the research and how it will
impact your ability to respond in an
emergency situation.
e.g., Have boat on site, maintain surface watch,
use mermaid line, divers to have signalling
devises, work up current from boat, etc.
Lack of in water visibility may make it
difficult to navigate, for buddies to find
or assist each other, and it can cause
some divers to panic.
Use only experienced divers who are
comfortable in low visibility conditions, use full
face masks or other means of facilitating
communication, etc.
Responsibility
Date to be
completed
DC & Participants
On site
DC & Participants
Prior to Fieldwork
DC & Participants
On site
DC & Participants
On site
DC & Participants
On site
DC & Participants
On site
DC & Participants
On site
L
Guide: unrestricted surface visibility is lower
risk, visibility <1km is higher risk.
Guide: <5-10kt is lower risk, >15kt is higher risk.
Guide: calm / settled is lower risk, choppy is
higher risk.
Guide: nil to weak current is lower risk, strong
current is higher risk.
Guide: visibility >10m is lower risk, visibility <4m
is higher risk.
4.
5.
Participants becoming separated
H
Lost buddy procedures covered in pre-dive
briefing and agreed before dive. In low visibility,
buddy lines or voice communications to be
considered.
L
DC & Divers
On site
Equipment – injury/loss due to
insufficient
gear, untrained user,
inadequate selection
H
The planning stage will identify all equipment
required for the activity.
L
DC & UDO
Prior to Fieldwork
All dive gear to be serviced within the last 12
months. Pre-dive checks to be completed
before each dive.
Divers, DC & UDO
Prior to Fieldwork &
Spare parts will be taken where necessary to
ensure required equipment can function.
DC
Prior to Fieldwork
Equipment will be checked before each dive.
DC
On site
Hardcopies of this document are considered uncontrolled.
Please refer to the Health & Safety internet site for latest version .
Page 2 of 7
Source: Manager, Health & Safety
Created: 23/01/2013
Document No: 106
Revised: N/A
Version No: 1
On Site
No:
6.
7.
8.
Hazard and consequences
Risk
Rating
Site Access – slip ,trip, falls
M
Lack of first aid provisions – Delayed
assistance, inadequate treatment
Hazardous wildlife – bites, stings ,
injection, absorption/ ingestion with
poisons
H
M
Control Measures
Residual
Risk
Responsibility
Date
to
completed
Users of equipment will be inducted and be
supervised to the extent necessary to ensure
safety of individuals and environment and read
SOW/SWP where applicable.
DC & UDO
Prior to Fieldwork &
Where equipment relies on following a safe
work procedure, the SWP or information
necessary for the equipment to be used will be
on site.
DC & Participants
On site
DC & UDO
Prior to Fieldwork &
The best methods of reaching the dive site will
be determined during planning (boat, shore,
jetty, etc.)
Further Action Required
On site
L
On site
Ascent and descent lines will be used to help
diver maintain proximity to vessel.
DC & Divers
On site
Less experienced divers will be paired will more
experienced divers.
DC & Divers
On site
UDO
Prior to Fieldwork
First aid kits will be carried to ensure injury is
stabilised to the extent possible prior to arrival of
emergency services or professional medical
assistance.
DC
On site
First Aid kits will include items necessary and as
identified in the planning stage. Where
individuals have identified allergies etc. they will
bring their own ‘Epi-pen’ and/or medication if
applicable.
DC & Participants
Prior to Fieldwork &
Dive team to have the ability to provide 2 divers
with near 100% O2 until medical assistance can
be expected. Checked daily.
DC
During every dive operation a UDO approved
standby diver must be either in the water as part
of a buddy-pair, or be fully dressed in and ready
to enter the water and render assistance with
less than 15 seconds notice.
DC & all divers
All participants should have first aid including
CPR and O2 administration unless approved by
UDO.
Planning stage will consider potentially
dangerous fauna and flora within area of work.
VL
On site
On site
Page 3 of 7
Prior to Fieldwork &
On site
DC & UDO
Prior to Fieldwork
DC & all divers
Prior to Fieldwork &
L
Shark shields are available for divers to use on
any dive. Their use is encouraged during higher
risk times (dawn/dusk, water > 20°C), during
higher risk activities, or if dangerous sharks
have been recently seen at the dive site. Any
diver can request shark shields to be used at
any point for any reason.
Hardcopies of this document are considered uncontrolled.
Please refer to the Health & Safety internet site for latest version .
Prior to Fieldwork &
Source: Manager, Health & Safety
Created: 23/01/2013
Document No: 106
Revised: N/A
Version No: 1
On site
be
Hazard and consequences
No:
9.
10.
11.
Known medical risk associated with
diving.
Risk
Rating
M
Lack of air.
Handling animals – bites, biohazard
risk, acquired infection/illness
M
Responsibility
Date to be completed
Divers will be reminded during pre-dive briefing
to be cautious of wildlife/fauna hazards.
DC
On site
Gloves and appropriate PPE will be worn when
collecting research material as identified in dive
plan and SWP.
Divers
On site
DC & UDO
Prior to Fieldwork
Dive only when fit. Divers to monitor their ability
to equalize or any other signs / symptoms that
might indicate an increased susceptibility to
barotrauma.
All divers
On site
Dive within the limits of the DCIEM Diving tables
(maximum bottom time/depth and maximum
ascent rates) and the exposure to elevation
guidance provided in AS2299.1:2007 Tables 4.1
& 4.2
DC & all divers
Prior to fieldwork &
All divers to return to the surface with a
minimum of 30bar in their cylinder for dives less
than 15m or 50bar for dives below 15m.
AS2299 requires that bottom times are planned
to allow 30% reserve volume based on previous
RMV.
All divers
On site
SSBA bailout must be sufficient to allow diver to
return to surface.
DC
Prior to fieldwork &
All divers, but especially divers new to the type
of work being undertaken must closely monitor
their air supply. Divers should record RMV in
their logbook so that they can better estimate air
consumption in a variety of conditions.
DC & all divers
SSBA to be used by qualified divers with
requested certificate when appropriate.
DC & UDO
Prior to fieldwork
DC & Participants
On site
Protective clothing and equipment will be worn
and used as per safe working procedure and
training
DC & Participants
On site
Participants on fieldwork will be advised to have
tetanus inoculations and relevant inoculations
and will be advised to inform their doctors that
they have been on a recent field trip if they
become ill on, or after a trip.
Covered during
Induction by UDO
Prior to Fieldwork
Divers must complete AS2299 medical within 12
months of diving. Divers are required to notify
dive coordinator about any change to fitness.
Diver to initial forms before each dive indicating
that they feel fit to dive.
Animals and wildlife are handled as per safe
system of working and in line with university
animal ethics policy and guidelines and training
Hardcopies of this document are considered uncontrolled.
Please refer to the Health & Safety internet site for latest version .
Page 4 of 7
Residual
Risk
Control Measures
Further Action Required
L
On site
On site
On site &
In divers logbook
VL
Source: Manager, Health & Safety
Created: 23/01/2013
Document No: 106
Revised: N/A
Version No: 1
No:
Hazard and consequences
12.
Manual handling of heavy items
13.
Volunteers – Inexperienced
volunteers/contractors resulting in
accident and injury to self or others
Risk
Rating
M
M
Control Measures
Only lift what each individual participant feels
comfortable lifting
Residual
Risk
L
Further Action Required
Responsibility
Date to be completed
N/A
DC & Participants
On site
Training offered as
appropriate
Regular monitoring of lifting
techniques of participants
DC & Fieldwork
Managers
Prior to Fieldwork
DC & Participants
On site
Using correct manual handling techniques and
requesting training if need be
L
When loading / offloading air cylinders into cars
or boats, ensure that lift is done properly
(bending legs not backs) withou twisting of the
chest
L
Two-person lift, or using trolleys / wheelie bins if
available for very heavy items
L
N/A
DC & Participants
On site
DC will discuss with UDO the use of volunteers
and contractors. Volunteers have to be added to
UDR.
L
Yes.
DC & UDO
Prior to Fieldwork &
On site
Volunteers will be given information and
instruction necessary to ensure their safety and
the safety of others.
Contractors will be selected so far as
reasonably practicable taking into account
previous safety record, experience, insurance
cover, certification and their safe working
procedures. The work will be discussed with
them and the fieldwork leader on site and where
practical the fieldwork manager prior to the
fieldwork.
Hardcopies of this document are considered uncontrolled.
Please refer to the Health & Safety internet site for latest version .
Page 5 of 7
Source: Manager, Health & Safety
Created: 23/01/2013
Document No: 106
Revised: N/A
Version No: 1
Personal Protective Equipment Required
Walking
Boots/Shoes
Full Length
Trousers
Gators
Coveralls
Gumboots
Hard Hat
Sunscreen
Gloves – Specify Type Nitrile,
High Visibility Clothing
Personal
Locator Beacon
Sun Hat
Dive gloves
Life Jacket
Steel Capped
Boots
Other –
Eye Protection
Other –
Equipment and Transport Required (It is the responsibility of the Fieldwork Team Leader to ensure items are checked and loaded before departure)
Safety Equipment Required
First Aid Kit
Torches
Sat Phone
GSM phone
Matches/lighters
GPS
Flares
Compass
Spare warm clothing/specialist survival clothing
Other
Emergency equipment/shelter
Maps
EPIRBs/PLBs
(specify)
Vehicle Equipment Required (Winches & Snatchem Straps requires formal training & experience. See Fieldwork Manager for advice.)
Tow bar and tongue
Tools
Wheel brace
Transport Required:
Vehicle registration /
Vessel name
Spade
Snatchem Strap
Spare tyre
Car jack
University
Colour
Shackles
Drag Chain
High visibility Jacket
Private
Hired
Chock blocks
Spare fuel
Public Transport
Make and Model
Gloves
Spare bulbs
Boat
Jump leads
Spare fuses
Page 6 of 7
Other
(specify)
(refer to Marine Fieldwork risk assessment)
Public Transport
( e.g. Busways route 66)
NB: any private
vehicles MUST be
registered with
Veronica Peralta.
Contact her or UDO
for more info.
Hardcopies of this document are considered uncontrolled.
Please refer to the Health & Safety internet site for latest version .
High visibility Vests
Source: Manager, Health & Safety
Created: 23/01/2013
Document No: 106
Revised: N/A
Version No: 1
Flight Number
and Carrier
Hire company and branch
Accommodation (overnight and extended trips)
Date
Location
Address
Email/Website (if known)
Comments
Notes: (Include any hazards and control measures or equipment required not listed above)
Email completed document and any supporting documentation to: diveofficer@mq.edu.au
By signing below the Dive Coordinator agrees to follow the relevant control measures and actions identified above and is satisfied the controls will
eliminate or reduce so far as reasonably practicable the foreseeable risks to health and safety. The Supervisor and UDO are satisfied that the control
measures identified above will eliminate or reduce the risks to health and safety so far as reasonably practicable and will not approve a risk assessment
where the remaining risk is unacceptable.
Participant forms attached Y
N
(if not attached, please state reason) -
*Authorisation and Agreement
Dive Coordinator:
Name
Signature
Academic Supervisor (if different from above)
Name
Signature
University Dive Officer:
Name
Signature
Hardcopies of this document are considered uncontrolled.
Please refer to the Health & Safety internet site for latest version .
Page 7 of 7
Source: Manager, Health & Safety
Created: 23/01/2013
Document No: 106
Revised: N/A
Version No: 1