RISK ASSESSMENT

Manchester AIDA Ranking event

LOCATION - SWIMMING POOL

HAZARD

WHO

RISK
EVALUATION

Black out / LMC

Static Apnea

Athletes

Medium

DATE - 31st May 2014

CONTROLS
Athletes must be supervised during warm ups and actual
performance by suitably qualified freedivers. There will be
designated safety divers for each lane and each zone or
adjutant/coaches if the athlete doesnt require competition safety
in the warm up zones. No athlete to warm up or perform without
adequate safety cover. Athletes briefed that elimination from the
competition will result if they ignore this rule. Safety advised of
personal best of athlete and intended distance / time they are
attempting from entry form when in competition zone.
A system of checking the Freediver is responsive must be
administered and checks continue for at least one minute after
surfacing. This is normally a tap and then physical signal from the
diver. If there is any signs of BO/LMC then rescue procedures
should be immediately be put in place by safety diver

Black out / LMC

Dynamic Apnea

Athletes

Medium

O2 kit on site and pool side and ready to use, multiple kits in case
of multiple casualties. Advanced medical care in the form of a
Doctor/Paramedic on site.
There will be two qualified safety divers per lane covering the
STA and 25m lanes. Minimum qualification for main lines, AIDA
Instructor, or Pool competition safety diver qualification. Safety
to advise of personal best of athlete and intended distance / time
they are attempting from entry form.
Safety Freedivers must remain within 5 Metres of the athlete
whilst supervising and allow easy access to the surface for he
athlete at all times. A surface float should be made available or a
pool side or lane rope for physical support.
Any signs of BO/LMC and rescue procedures should be
immediately be put in place by safety diver.

Spinal injury

All

Low

O2 kit on site and ready to use. Advanced medical care in the

form of a Doctor/Paramedic on site
Spinal board on site. No athletes or safety divers to dive into pool,
all performances start from in water positions.
Adequate markings at pool end to warn the athlete of upcoming
wall. Freedivers briefed about pool markings.

IMMEDIATE MEASURES TO DEAL WITH

CONSEQUENCES IF RISK DOES OCCUR
Get the diver to the surface removing weights if necessary.
Gently hold the freediver so their airways are out of the
water. Remove any facial equipment. Blow, tap, talk
reassure them tell them to breathe. If they do not start
breathing within ten seconds, give up to five rescue
breaths.
If no recovery remove from the water, shout code red to
inform centre staff of a serious problem, commence O2
supported CPR and seek emergency medical assistance.
Diver must not make another performance for the rest of
the day.
Facility staff and EMS informed, centre staff to assist with
evacuation as per PSOP

Get the diver to the surface removing weights if necessary.

Gently hold the freediver so their airways are out of the
water. Remove any facial equipment. Blow, tap, talk
reassure them.
If they do not start breathing within ten seconds, give up to
five rescue breaths. If no recovery remove from the water,
shout code red to inform centre staff of a serious problem,
commence O2 supported CPR and seek emergency medical
assistance. Diver must not make another performance for
the rest of the day.
Facility staff and EMS informed, centre staff to assist with
evacuation as per centre PSOP
Safety diver and appropriate pool staff to assist in rescue

Collision with other

water users

All

Low

Collision with pool side

All

Low

All performance and warm up areas to be clearly supervised. No

one is to be in those areas before their appropriate time and
numbers to be controlled. Safety diver to organise safe practice
for the athletes. Athletes must conform to instructions from the
appropriate safety divers.
First Aid kit on site
Adequate markings on pool floor or physical indicator placed
underwater. Athletes briefed on markings.

Assistance / first aid by safety divers or first aiders

Assistance / first aid by safety divers or first aiders

Close supervision from safety divers near each end of the pool.
Drowning

All

Medium

Safety divers to be present during all in water activities. CPR

qualified individuals to be in attendance.

Assistance / first aid by safety divers or first aiders

O2 kit on site and ready to use

Slipping

All

Low

No running in pool area. Fins removed when walking on pool

surrounds. Backwards or sideways movements when moving with
fins. Monitoring by safety divers or first aiders

Assistance / first aid by safety divers or first aiders

First Aid kit on site

Negatively buoyant diver
unconscious on floor

Athletes

Low

All divers wearing weights must wear a quick release mechanism

Assistance from safety diver as BO/LMC protocol

Medical conditions such

as heart attack /
diabetes / epilepsy /
stroke / asthma / blood
pressure variations etc

Athletes

Medium

Medical self-declaration for safety divers and medical signed by

medical referee by athletes within 12 months.

Assistance / first aid by safety divers or first aiders. CPR if

needed. Emergency action plan put into place
If new conditions are found in the self declaration stage
athletes are removed from the competition.
De-fib located in Reception office until 4.00pm, located on
50m poolside on the highchair nearest balcony from
4.15pm

Tiredness of Judges and

safety divers.

Judges

On the day issue a self declaration form to screen out any changes
since medical. Doctor on site to decide whether athletes are fit to
dive in case of discrepancies.
Low

Safety
cover

O2 kit on site and ready to use

Breaks to be given every hour for Judges and assistants

First aid if required

Advice given prior to comp on adequate exposure protection due

to temperature of the large pool in particular.

Remove tired staff for hydration, food and warmth. Have

water and carbs on the side for safety divers
If there is an incident on the inside lanes, safety diver to
bring the casualty to the surface immediately, lifeguards
are to remain vigilant and ascertain whether or not it is a
serious or minor injury verbally with the safety diver. If it
is deemed to be serious by the lifeguard or a code red is
implemented by the safety diver staff are to immediately
implement Liverpool aquatics Centre PSOP
Diver to be pulled over ropes to nearest side to receive
First Aid after 5 initial breaths

Incident in warm up
centre lanes, 2,3,4,5

Athletes

Very low

Designated safety divers to cover warm up lanes at all times.

Additional cover when necessary, warm up safety divers ready to
go in the water when numbers require.

Incident in lane 1,2

Athletes

Medium

Safety divers briefed on how to retrieve a blacked out diver from

the centre lanes.

Fire in building or other

reason to evacuate
building

All

Low

All normal precautions to be taken.

Oxygen kit to be kept away from naked flames and enclosed
spaces and in the possession of a suitably qualified individual.

In the event of fire evacuation or other incident that

requires the evacuation of the facility all divers and
participants will be asked to clear the pools and assemble
at fire doors identified and await further instructions. Duty
supervisor will brief event organisers on the day prior to
the event. Divers underwater will be notified by a
continuous tapping on the poolside and the sound of the
alarm ringing. They must surface

General. 1) Pool staff briefed on necessary protocols. 2) Have Aquatic centre pool staff brief organiser on pool emergency procedures and emergency equipment available. 3) All safety staff to
have received copy of EAP/NOP and risk assessment. 4) After five rescue breaths revert to the centres Emergency protocols