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Copyright Wet Paper Publications 2014
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Figure 8.3 Reef entry and surrounding waters contain many
hazards
Figure 8.4 The snorkelling platform can be a hazard
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Figure 8.1 Risk assessment table
S
ECTION
6 R
ISKS
,
WEATHER
AND
SAFETY
If you are going to undertake scientific research using
snorkelling, you need to understand the hazards, risks involved
and methods used to control these risks.
Hazards, risks and control measures
Hazards
A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm. In this
section, some snorkelling hazards discussed are:
• weather, surface conditions and waves
• sun, wind, rain, turbidity, temperature
• rips and currents
• hazardous marine creatures
• entry and exit points, water depth
• other vessels and snorkellers
• physical exertion
Risks
Risk is the likelihood that harm will occur from exposure to the
hazard. Figure 8,1 shows a table that is commonly used to
determine the risk as either low, medium, high or very high,
(note that some tables add extreme).
Look at Figure 8.2. Compare the risks of you being run over
by the boat while standing on the bank compared to swimming
in the water.
Control measures
Control measures are actions that can be taken to reduce the
potential of exposure to or removal from a hazard.
They employ a six step process that employs elimination,
substitution, isolation, using engineering, using administrative
and finally using personal protective equipment to reduce the
risk of an accident.
The list is usually hierarchical, with elimination the most
preferred, and issuing personal protection equipment - least
preferred. Modern control measures usually contain a
combination at least two, with administrative instructions almost
always included.
For example, a snorkelling platform is a hazard and the
following sequence of control measures could be followed:
1.
Eliminate
the hazard.
Eg, remove the platform and use
rubber duckie with no metal parts.
2.
Substitute
the hazard with a lesser risk.
Eg, use a ladder.
3.
Isolate
the hazard - Weather bad day, waves on platform
-
Eg, do not go snorkelling off the platform.
4.
Use engineering controls
-
Eg, install rubber mats over
metal areas, install grab rails.
5.
Use administrative controls
-
Eg. issue instructions - all
snorkellers helped into the water by a crew member.
6
Use personal protective equipment
-
Eg issue gloves,
booties, wet suits to protect body.
Figure 8.2 Boats can be a hazard
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