Members Monthly Update

July 2013 German Diving fatality .

Following the sad news that a commercial diver died whilst at work on a wind farm project, first reported via a safety alert, it is now possible to confirm that, Richard James Boris Wilkinson-Lowe died on the 13th July 2013, aged 26, while working for a German diving company, RS. Diving, onboard the four point mooring vessel; Union Beaver. The vessel was working in the Riffgat offshore wind park to install concrete mattresses on cables at 30 monopiles, in approximately 21-22msw. Diving operations were carried out using SSDE with KM 27s, and twin LARS. The mattresses were approximately 3 x 6m, weighing around 9-10 tonnes each on surface. The procedure for installation was to lower the load with two long taglines, each with a strobe about half way up the tagline. Maximum allowable wave height was 1.2 1.5m. Dives were made at slack water only with currents of around 0.4kts. There was no active heave comp on the crane.

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spreader beam was sent back and the mattress hooked up and lifted so that he could be pulled out. He was recovered to surface without his helmet or neckdam. It is unclear why he was under the load, or the reason for his death. More information on the events that lead to this tragic accident will come out with the investigation. The Secretary will report further information on this matter as it comes available. ADC Annual Meeting. The first notice alerting Members to the plans for the annual meeting were circulated earlier this month and already a number of members have confirmed their intention to attend over the extended period plan for the AGM event. Confirmations for the reserved rooms and for places at the dinner gathering are going along nicely, but there is still time to confirm your intentions, early notification always ensures that you get what you want out of the event. There have been some minor changes to the agenda for the AGM. The final presentation on Wednesday 6th November has now been confirmed as Cygnus Instruments who are making this the official launch of their updated Cygnes Dive. This new version of the wrist mounted underwater multi echo UT meter aims to make it even easier to use for then working diver. Further updates on the plans for the AGM will be included in subsequent Month Updates and Newsletters.

The Association represents diving contractors who are involved with inland or inshore diving operations in the UK and Ireland

Two divers were in the water with diver 1 leading the operation. The load was lowered well clear of the divers until it reached 17-18msw. At this point it would be halted and the divers sent to locate the taglines and take control of the remainder of the installation. Each diver would locate a tagline, then the diver 1 would direct the crane over the worksite to lower the mattress into position over the cable. Visibility was relatively good, around 1-2m. At around 03:00 on the 13th July, Richard was in the water as diver 2. After lowering the load to seabed, the spreader beam was recovered to surface. At some point it was found that Richard was under the mattress, so the

Web Site: www.adc-uk.info

Information Notes and Safety Alerts.

Members may have noticed that there has been a flurry of circulars to members passing on a variety of information provided by other organisations in the recent months, and there are in fact a couple more in development that should be circulated in the coming week. The year has so far has been the quietest on record for information being provided by Members to Secretary on things that are happening Inland / Inshore. That of course might be a good thing, suggesting that everything is going along nicely and no near misses or serious incidents are occurring. Alternatively it could also mean that the reluctance to report things in case that attracts visits from unwanted sources is creeping back in and everyone is keeping things in house. Remember any report made to the Secretary are dealt with securely, unless there is a specific desire by the party involved to have there name used, information passed on to others will always be carefully sterilised so that lessons can be learnt, but embarrassment is felt. With the weather improving, work must be going on in any number of places around the UK, you might think what you do is boring, but I can assure you that out there any number of people are keenly interested in the work you do and would benefit from understanding the hard lessons you have learnt over many years of activity.

review and carried out by lawyer Richard Matthews QC, concluded in December 2012 that merging core health and safety regulations such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work and Workplace Regulations would lead to confusion over their requirements. Following the decision at HSEs board meeting in January 2013, HSE will therefore now recommend to ministers that work to improve guidance should continue instead. The Matthews report, Consolidation: the practicality and effects of the options for consolidating health and safety regulations, can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/ consolidation-of-regulations.htm

reduce the possibility of spreading germs or cross contamination between the users. Information obtained so far suggests that it is not uncommon for inadequate time and effort to be expended on the required cleaning prior to use. The activity of sanitizing the helmet or other life support equipment being given a lower priority than other preparations necessary before diving commences. In principal it is essential that whatever system is used that: - It has a broad acting, effective biocide that will address bacteria, viruses and fungi. - It has some element of surfactant (having detergent properties) to ensure adequate and effective surface contact is made and efficient cleaning is achieved. - It is not aggressive to the base material to the extent that it will degrade the materials of the diving apparatus

Information Note Sanitizing Diving Equipment

Some members may be aware that research is currently being carried out to update presently available guidance on the most appropriate actions and products that should be adopted for properly and thoroughly sanitize diving equipment in preparation for, during and after diving operations are being carried out. Whilst the work is ongoing, but should be concluded in the next couple of months, the information that is being uncovered is both interesting and in some places may challenge current thinking. Since this is a most important topic, I thought it appropriate to give a precis on some of the findings that have been confirmed so far. Sanitizing is essential at least daily with helmets to be used only by one person, or immediately before use by each another person sharing a helmet. Sanitizing is defined as eliminating germs and biological contamination or any small pieces of detritus that may have become lodged in the helmet, to help eliminate or at the very least

Care should be taken however when selecting the cleaning products do not contain chemicals that could react with the helmet components or be detrimental to the well being of the diving personnel were they to be ingested. Effective sanitizing could take up to 15 minutes if all components that would have been subject to contamination are to be properly cleaned It is hoped that the updated guidance will not only refresh existing practices but provide a summary of the most popular products used highlighting any concerns that could exist about some of the contents. But since this piece of work is still in the information compiling stage at the moment, there is still time for you to contribute any information or experiences that you may consider to be appropriate and warrant inclusion in the guidance. Please forward any information by E mail to the Secretary at: secretary @adc-uk.info

HSE rejects consolidation of health and safety laws

HSEs board is to recommend to ministers that general health and safety regulations should not be consolidated, in line with the findings of the recent Matthews report. The report, which was commissioned following a recommendation in the Lfstedt

E Mail: secretary@adc-uk.info

2. Meeting Agenda, Timetable and Program. Updated Agenda

(This may be subject to further minor change, as other arrangements are finalised)

Tuesday 5th November 2013 Location: Hilton Metropole Birmingham, NEC, and Dorset Room
(All times are approximate and provided for guidance only)

Arrival

1330 - 1400 1400 1430

Tea and coffee on arrival Session 1 ADC Annual Update. 1400 Introduction by Chairman
Including Apologies 1405-1430

All
PH

ADC Admin:
Approval of 2012 AGM Minutes Report on Secretary tasks from 2012 Financial report for 2013 Proposed membership Fees for 2014 (Including questions and answers) Sec

1430-1500 1500-1530 1530-1600

Extended Management Committee

An update on activity in 2013

Sec Sec Sec

ADC Supervisors Scheme 2013

An update.

Introducing New ADC Documents.

Various Guidance Procedures

Refreshment Break (Tea, coffee and biscuits provided) 1600 1615 1615 1730 Session 2 Special Presentation 1
Recovery of the Dornier 17Z from the English Channel and assisting with various salvage operations. Presented by Glenn Skelton and others from Seatech Commercial Diving Services. Followed by questions and a brief discussion.

1730 - 1900 1900 2200

Social gathering period in the bar

Association Annual Dinner in a Private Room

The dinner will be for a maximum of 32 Association members or their invited guests. Pre-booking on a first come basis will apply. (See booking form sent with Issue 1)

(Members Issue 3 July 2013)

AGM 2013
Wednesday 6th November 2013 Location: Hilton Metropole Birmingham, NEC, and Dorset Room
(All times are approximate and provided for guidance only)

0900 - 0930 Tea and coffee on arrival Session 3 Special Presentation 2 0930 - 1030 Health & Safety Update from HSE
Presented by Chris Sherman Chief Inspector of Diving Followed by a questions and Answer Session

All
CS

Tea, coffee and biscuits refreshment break (1030-1100) Session 4 Special Presentation 3 1100 - 1145 United Utilities What Clients Expect
Presented by Martin Berry and Jade Hundziak Civil Engineering and Design Managers for United Utilities. Followed by a questions and Answer Session MB

Session 5 Special Presentation 4 DWF-Legal Matters and the Importance of Contracts 1145 - 1245

Mark Treacher and Adam Nell of DWF LLP Followed by a questions and Answer Session (This will be a summary of the Insurance and Legal Seminar held in Manchester in March 2013)
(Discussions continue)

MT

1245 1330

Buffet Lunch with refreshments

Session 6 Special Presentation 5 1330-1430 Presentation By Cygnus Instruments launching the updated version of the Cygnus Dive, wrist Cygnus mounted UT gauge. All 1430 - 1445 Closing remarks by the Chairman
2013 AGM Concludes

An ADC Supervisors Exam will be held if there is a requirement from registered candidates. (1500 1600) Pre-registration with the Secretary for this exam sitting is essential.

Members Issue 3 - AGM 2013