THERE’S MORE TO IT THAN ASSIGNING BLAME…
Playing around water is risky. It really makes very little difference whether the game is freediving, recreational diving on a shallow reef, or navigating through the twisted remains of a battleship sitting in the dark at 80 metres. It can be dangerous, and if something goes wrong, it’s human nature to look for someone to blame.
However, assigning blame is very different to actually fixing the problem. In fact, blaming ‘some clown’ for an accident or a near miss is as far away from fixing a issue as one can get.
The goal of every RAID instructor regardless of what they teach, is fixing problems. In fact, the goal should be to manage the risk before a problem shows its ugly head.
Here are some simple steps to help make that happen.
- ASSESS.
This is about identifying the risk or hazard. What type of risk is it? Equipment, environment, lack of training or no appropriate experience backed up by poor knowledge and bad judgement? Is it systemic or cultural? - PRIORITIZE.
Some risks carry a minimal potential to harm, and others sit at the other end of the spectrum… they can be life-changing or life-threatening. Getting seasick can make one feel like ending it all. Running out of breathing gas at depth can make it happen. - PROFILE.
A risk profile is figuring out the probability of each particular risk actually happening? Do you get seasick looking at a wave, have you not glanced at an SPG since open water class. An important part of risk profiling is to classify them as high, medium or low probability.
Obviously, risks that have a potentially serious outcome, and have a high probability of happening (a high incidence rate), demand serious attention. - STRATEGIZE.
How can risks be controlled? It there a practical way to avoid a risk altogether? If not, can that risk be mitigated. Are current controls enough to eliminate or reduce risks to a level that’s acceptable? Do you have a plan? Does it work in the field? - EXECUTE.
This is a key step and requires careful thought. Knowing and adopting best practices, following proven procedures such as using actual checklists, paying attention to pre-dive briefings, not hesitating to calling a dive before it goes totally pear-shaped, and honest, detailed post dive analysis are all helpful. But, while it’s fine to talk about risk management, it’s crucial to turn ‘talk’ into directed action. - MEASURE.
A successful risk management process is never actually a finite entity. The process is ongoing. Experience informs change and refinement. A good plan usually has movable fences, so try not to be dogmatic about the status quo… training, equipment, the simple dynamics of a non-static environment, plus the personalities within a dive team, all contribute to what is a moving target, at best.
And never gloss over a near-miss. Regardless of their magnitude, these events are the most precious learning opportunities. Many of us has jumped off the dive boat without fins or a weight belt. (Buddy check, anyone?) Best to learn from the mistakes of others. Failing that, learn from your own.
Unfortunately, we can never eliminate all risk from diving. Slippery poolsides, trips over an equipment bag left in a gangway, cylinders falling off a bench, the consequences of dehydration, bumping into firecoral or the sharp edges of a shipwreck’s hull: we cannot take them away. All we can do, as divers or instructors, is work at making the risks associated with this wonderful adventure, acceptable.
And that’s what risk management is all about.
#Theraidway™
MANY THANKS TO MHA CONSULTING FOR THE EXCELLENT GRAPHIC https://www.mha-it.com/
AND KUDOS TO PASH BAKER FOR THE ORIGINAL IDEA FOR THIS POST
