This risk assessment has been prepared by JJ RIBS to cover activities in relation to the provision of boat trips and related sport diving services. It exists for the following reasons:
1.To indicate that the various hazards involved in the services provided by JJ RIBS have been considered and, wherever possible, that steps have been taken to reduce the associated risks.
2.To inform all skippers, crew and employees of JJ RIBS to a consistent standard of these hazards, risks and, wherever possible, the preventative/remedial actions/procedures.
3.To advise charterers/customers of JJ RIBS of the potential hazards involved in the services provided and to assure them that, wherever possible, steps have been taken to reduce the associated risks and that, wherever possible, JJ RIBS have a remedial action plan/procedure in place.
We have tried to cover as many of the hazards associated with Rib travel/Sport diving as possible, but cannot guarantee that this is an exhaustive list and cannot therefore be held responsible for any incidents occurring that are due to factors out of our control that are not included in this risk assessment.
This risk assessment should be read in conjunction with the JJ RIBS Terms and Conditions and the JJ RIBS Disclaimer which must be accepted by all passengers/divers using the services of JJ RIBS.
Hazard/Risk
Wet and slippery decks causing falls onto deck.
Affecting
All passengers/crew.
Preventative
Safety briefing advising passengers of this possibility and to remain seated whenever possible, especially when underway at speed or in rough conditions.
Remedial
Full first aid kit on hoard and crew qualified in the provision of first aid. VHF radio available to call for assistance if required.
Safety briefing advising passengers of trip hazard and to remain seated whenever possible, especially when underway at speed or in rough conditions. All loose equipment to be stowed as neatly and safely as possible.
Remedial
Full first aid kit on board and crew qualified in the provision of first aid. VHF radio available to call for assistance if required.
Hazard/Risk
Boat travel causing motion sickness.
Affecting
All passengers/crew.
Preventative
Ensure that any crew suffering from motion sickness take the relevant medication prior to the trip. Ask any passengers if they know that they regularly suffer from motion sickness as part of the safety briefing so that they may be monitored.
Remedial
Seasickness pills are available in first aid kit and these may be administered if required. Monitor severity of motion sickness and take appropriate action; e.g. in severe cases, return sufferer to land as quickly and safely as possible.
Hazard/Risk
Bad weather causing damage to vessel.
Affecting
All passengers/crew.
Preventative
Skippers to assess weather conditions at all times and return to port if conditions dictate this. Helmsman to maintain a safe speed and course for prevailing conditions.
Remedial
VHF radio available to call for assistance if required. Life rafts available for all crew and passengers if evacuation of vessel is required.
Hazard/Risk
Man overboard.
Affecting
All passengers/crew.
Preventative
Safety briefing advising passengers of MOB hazard and to remain seated whenever possible, especially when underway at speed or in rough conditions. Vessel should be helmed in a safe manner to avoid MOB wherever possible.
Remedial
Helm position provides view of all passengers at all times so in the event of MOB, skipper will be aware immediately and will activate GPS MOB position to enable return to MOB. All crew/passengers will wear either Dry suits (providing buoyancy) or suitable lifejackets at all times to ensure that they will remain on the surface (even if unconscious). Lifesaving equipment (lifebuoys/rescue lines, etc) are carried on board to assist with recovery into boat and first aid kit is carried to enable administration of any necessary first aid.
Hazard/Risk
Propellers causing injury to MOB/divers in water.
Affecting
All passengers/crew and especially divers.
Preventative
Awareness of helmsman in MOB situation – MKOB should be kept in sight by crew and passengers and retrieved over the side of the boat. If any risk of MOB near propeller, then engine should be taken out of gear immediately until MOB is clear. With divers, care should be taken at all times, especially when multiple divers/pairs are in water. Careful lookout should be maintained at all times for any divers on the surface in the vicinity of the boat. While on the surface all activities are controlled by the skipper. Brief divers to look and listen for boat during ascent. Advice location for safety stops. Use surface markers wherever feasible.
Remedial
Full first aid kit on board and crew qualified in the provision of first aid. VHF radio available to call for assistance if required.
Hazard/Risk
For increasing risk of collision.
Affecting
Boat and passengers/crew.
Preventative
Careful monitoring of weather forecasts to see if fog is likely. Skipper to cancel/postpone trip if an unacceptable risk is posed.
Remedial
Radar and radar reflectors carried on board. Crew trained in the use of radar. Speed to be reduced to take account of conditions. Manual and compressed gas foghorns carried on board to warn other vessels.
Hazard/Risk
Capsize/sinking of vessel.
Affecting
All passengers/crew.
Preventative
Safe and careful helming of the vessel is required at all time and a good lookout should be maintained to avoid collision.
Remedial
Lifejackets or flotation suits will be worn at all times by crew and passengers. VHF DSC radio carried on board to broadcast distress calls and crew are suitably qualified in its use. Additional handheld VHF is also carried on board. Suitable in-date flares are carried on board to attract attention/summon assistance. Fully equipped life rafts, capable of carrying all crew and passengers, are carried on board and crew are suitably qualified in sea survival techniques.
Hazard/Risk
Fire on vessel.
Affecting
All passengers/crew.
Preventative
No smoking or naked flames allowed on vessel. Petrol stored in under-floor tanks or suitable containers. Flares/thunder-flashes kept in storage box.
Remedial
Two fire extinguishers carried on board – crew always aware of location. Two buckets with lanyards for fire-fighting always carried on board.
Hazard/risk
Possible accidents of boarding and alighting passengers.
Affecting
All passengers/crew.
Preventative
Safety briefing prior to boarding and the use of lifejackets.
Remedial
Full first aid on board and crew qualified in the provision of first aid. VHF radio available to call for assistance if required.
DIVING
Hazard/Risk
Low underwater visibility.
Affecting
Divers.
Preventative
Dive Marshal to assess the capability/experience of the divers to carry out low visibility dives and to determine whether the relevant equipment is being carried.
Remedial
If necessary, the dive should be abandoned by the Dive Marshal or inexperienced/ill-equipped divers should be prevented from carrying out the dive.
Hazard/Risk
Low surface visibility.
Affecting
Divers.
Preventative
If conditions are bad before divers enter water, dive will be aborted or delayed until conditions improve. Divers advised to carry sound and visual signals.
Remedial
Abort if no improvement in conditions.
Hazard/Risk
Cold water.
Affecting
Divers (risk of hypothermia).
Preventative
Check that divers have chosen appropriate, well-fitting exposure protection in good order. Possibly reduce dive time; monitor student divers carefully for early signs of cold; ensure that Dive marshals brief student divers on appropriate signals to indicate chill and prepare to exit water early.
Remedial
Spare warm clothing available on board and warm drinks to warm affected divers slowly. VHF radio available to call for assistance if required.
Hazard/Risk
Running out of gas.
Affecting
Divers.
Preventative
Encourage gas planning/buddy checks to ensure that sufficient gas is carried for planned dive. Ensure that divers are suitably qualified for and informed of the planned dive and aware of gas requirements.
Remedial
Divers are responsible for their own gas management. If a diver is recovered suffering from either near drowning or DCI as the result of running out of gas, then the crew is suitably qualified to manage the incident via provision of first aid and summoning of emergency services.
Hazard/Risk
Nets/lines entrapment risk on wrecks.
Affecting
Divers.
Preventative
Where there is a known or likely hazard of this kind, divers should be informed by the skipper and encouraged to carry the correct net knives, etc. In such situations, the possibility of abandoning or amending the dive should be considered in consultation with the appointed Dive Marshal. This will depend to some degree upon the qualifications/experience of the least qualified divers in the party.
Remedial
Full first aid kit on board and crew qualified in the provision of first aid. VHF radio available to call for assistance if required.
