Sadly on the 5th of July we lost well known diver and researcher Steve Cheshire. My thoughts go out to his family and friends and this is all I wish to say about the matter on a public forum. The inquest is the place for the facts to come out and for an examination of the events on that tragic day. Just before I resigned as a director of the PBA (Professional Boatman’s Association) earlier this year, I was asked to look at the construction, fitting and operation of diver lifts as one or two certifying authorities had expressed concern over there use. It was clear that draconian measures may well be put in place at vast expense to skippers as we are dealing with a form of lifting device. With the help of a marine surveyor and a lift manufacturer I came up with a voluntary code of practice and a risk assessment which if agreed to by all could be implemented at a reasonable cost and was just basically common sense written down for all to see and understand. I have not heard anymore but do know that diver lifts are on the agenda for discussion and the issue will not go away. Whatever happens I want to go on record offering the following advice. If you dive from a hardboat without a lift ask the skipper what his arrangements are for getting you out of the water in an emergency and make sure you are happy with them. Keep a watching brief on developments and if your skipper even thinks about let alone talks about having to remove his lift due to the expense of compliance with the new codes, shout as loud as you can, as soon as you can, at whoever you can. Diver lifts are an essential piece of safety equipment and it was the only way I could get Steve in the boat to try and help him. Lastly don’t think to yourself oh someone else will do it or the BDSG (British Diving Safety Group) will look after it. They didn’t even answer my email on another subject.

Grahame

if you could keep me informed I'd appreciate it

Gary K
TopGun

www.southwestdiving.co.uk

Hi Gary Since I resigned as a director of the PBA I have been out of the loop. The object of the post was to alert folk to the fact that diver lifts are about to have the spotlight put on them and from documentation I have seen things need to be kept in perspective. The last I heard from those in a position to influence was a little worrying in that it was very much tomorrow never comes and from my involvement in boat building where I talk to surveyors and certyfying authorities I think this is a head in the sand stance.