Dive Industry
Technician Course Literature
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- In recent years the Health and Safety Executive have voiced increasing
concern about the quality and standard of service, repair and breathing gas
production in dive centers.
- The HSE are about to release an information video entitled “Dive Shop
Inspection”. This video will be made available to every Environmental
Health and Trading Standards Department in the UK.
- Until now you are unlikely to have had a visit from either an
Environmental Health or Trading Standards Officer, indeed many Environmental
Health Officers were not aware that they had any specific responsibilities
or duties regarding various aspects of your diving operation.
- The Video discusses five key areas: Warranties, Service and Repair,
Cylinder and Valve Thread compatibility, Compressed Gas Production and other
related safety issues.
- Armed with this information, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
Officers may decide to carry out spot checks, in order to gauge if there is
a problem and if so how extensive.
- We believe that this is the tip of the iceberg and that during the coming
months and years the HSE will be seeking to enforce the law in respect of
your Dive Center operations.
- A steady stream of complaints and incidents has raised concern about
safety standards in our industry.
- From the Health and Safety, Trading Standards and Quality Control point of
view our industry has hardly changed in the last 10 years, meanwhile, other
industries have moved on and met the challenges of tighter regulation,
European legislation and the growing insistence on Quality Systems.
- If we as an industry do not make vigorous efforts to improve our own
standards, Government agencies will be compelled to do it for us.
- A key problem is that small businesses are not well equipped to address
the overwhelming weight of health and safety and consumer legislation with
which they must comply.
- Too much reliance is placed upon short manufacturers courses as the sole
means of technician training. Close scrutiny particularly of those new to
equipment maintenance may reveal an inability to meet the criteria for a
Competent Person.
- Relying solely on manufacturers' manuals, few Dive Centers have Policy and
Procedures documentation that would stand up in the event of an incident and
subsequent thorough investigation.
- Until now there has never been any industry standards with which to
measure technical performance.
- When judged against criteria used in similar industries, our methods lack
credibility.
- Yes, rental and training equipment must be maintained and documented in a
similar manner to those of retail customers, in addition the Diving
Operation at Work Regulations must be complied with.
- If a third party maintains your rental and training equipment, you still
have a duty of care to your customers and must maintain suitable records.
- The most urgent requirement is for Dive Centers to be seen to be working
to credible standards.
- Each Center needs to develop written standards and procedures and maintain
proper records.
- Technicians must be able to demonstrate competence in a robust manner.
- Working to a code of practice that has the confidence of the HSE is an
essential aid.
- Approval by a body in which the HSE has confidence indicates competence.
- The Association of Scuba Service Engineers and Technicians working in
consultation with the HSE is the only organization to have developed a
comprehensive and integrated scheme encompassing Technician Training,
National Qualifications, Codes of Practice and a Service Center Inspection
and Approval scheme.
- Asset began in 1995 in response to a call from Diving Technicians and
others for a body to address their desire for training, standards and a
voice to speak on their behalf.
- ASSET Members are qualified Technicians and persons interested in diving
technical issues.
- ASSET Technicians have been trained and/or evaluated and have been awarded
a suitable qualification.
- In November 1995 a working party was formed to address the HSE’s growing
concerns.
- After discussion with HSE the working party developed a strategy to
address those concerns and to integrate the response with real improvements
in standards.
- Set Training and certification criteria for all grades of Technician.
- Designed a series of training courses for Equipment Maintenance, Cylinder
Testing and Gas Blending.
- Published six training manuals with more planned.
- The first ever codes of practice (3) written specifically for the SCUBA
maintenance.
- Designed a Service Center Approval Scheme for Equipment Servicing,
Cylinder Testing and Nitrox.
- Trained Over 250 Technicians.
- A Current Membership of 100+
- More than 20% of members have achieved NVQ level 2 in Engineering
Maintenance.
- The support and respect of the HSE and others.
ASSET has completed the majority of these in the last two years.
- This is the largest project of its type ever undertaken in the
Recreational Diving Industry anywhere in the world.
- The Health and Safety Executive have Stated: “The ASSET Code of Practice
has been recognized by HSE, Offshore Safety Division, as containing notes
that that would be helpful when considering how to meet your obligations
under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and relevant regulations”
- Frankly we’ve been too busy to think about publicity. Actions speak
louder than words!
- Peace of mind. An ASSET Approved Service Center has demonstrated that they
comply with accepted norms.
- Protection. Approval, working to standards and good documentation are
invaluable when dealing with complaints or more serious problems.
- Profitability. It is well understood that companies who implement quality
systems suffer fewer returns, and are more efficient. A high quality
reliable service center does not have to cut prices to get business.
- Kudos. Customers will soon come to prefer the peace of mind that an ASSET
Approval engenders.
- Status. Competitors will have to come up to your standard or do less
business.
- It should not be. Experienced Dive Center Management and Technicians were
consulted during the development phase. The problems of implementation have
been carefully considered.
- Any operation with adequate facilities and a suitably qualified Technician
will have little difficulty.
- Don’t worry we’ve thought of this. Our Engineers have experience of
writing operating procedures and have written comprehensive outlines, which
you simply alter to suit your specific situation.
- The inspection fee is quite modest and includes inspection visit,
documentation, outline procedures, certification and initial telephone
support. There are reductions for early action, multiple approvals at a
single visit, and companies with more than one site.
- It will partly depend on if and how much work has to be done in order to
bring the Center up to standard. A typical inspection will take one day. A
reasonably well organized and equipped center could be inspected and
approved in 2-4 weeks from application.
- Normally once an application has been made and the appropriate fees paid
one of our Inspectors will liaise with the Center to minimize the
possibility of significant deficiencies. During the inspection any defects
will be noted and action agreed. A further inspection will usually be
required only in exceptional circumstances.
- Immediately if you so wish, the ASSET approval scheme is in place now.
Chris Lee
Chairman
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