Dedicated workplace health and safety dive unit to be based in Cairns

Cairns will be home base for a team of specialist workplace health and safety inspectors dedicated to helping the state’s dive industry maintain high standards of public and worker safety.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel today announced that Workplace Health and Safety Queensland had established a Dive Unit, staffed by three experienced dive inspectors, to deal with health and safety issues specific to diving and snorkelling.

“The Queensland dive industry has a world class safety record, with the lowest dive fatality rate of any location in the world,” Mr Mickel said.

“With the tourism industry facing hard times in 2009 as a result of the global economic crisis it is critical that the State Government works with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland to maintain our reputation as a safe diving and snorkelling destination.

“The establishment of the Dive Unit underscores Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s commitment to providing both the resources and technical expertise to support the industry and dive safety initiatives.”

Mr Mickel said around 1.2 million people undertake recreational diving and snorkelling activities each year in Queensland and there is also a significant occupational diving sector including harvesting, construction and scientific diving work.

“It made sense to have a dedicated unit and to base it in Tropical North Queensland where most of the State’s recreational dive and snorkelling activities occur. But while it will be based in Cairns, the Dive Unit will provide specialist services throughout the State as needed.”

The Dive Unit will:

• assist all sectors of the diving industry in Queensland’s coastal regions
• work with the diving industry to develop education initiatives and information resources
• develop partnerships to develop and promote solutions for workplace health and safety
• provide consistent and high quality advice on diving related matters
• propose regulatory reform where necessary
• minimise the risks to divers, in accordance with an annual plan, by assessing workplaces, advising and educating the industry and providing information and training
• assist with enforcement work on an “as needs” basis
• assistance will be provided to the general workplace health and safety inspectorate to either:
• undertake investigations directly
• assist regional inspectors to undertake their investigations

Mr Mickel said it was no accident that Queensland has a good safety record.

“The Queensland Government takes the protection of divers and snorkellers very seriously – our recreational dive industry is the most strictly regulated of any region in the South Pacific and Asia. It has been covered by the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation since 1989.

“Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the industry have worked closely for many years to implement a wide range of safety initiatives.

“But we must do more because while the annual death toll has steadily decreased since 2002, on average there are between 4 and 6 diving and snorkelling fatal workplace incidents each year. Other injuries, dangerous events and complaints are also recorded. Most incidents involve members of the public.”

In the 10 years between 1998 and 2008, there were 70 diving and snorkelling workplace-related fatalities in Queensland - 63% from snorkelling and 37% from diving.

The majority of those involved were recreational overseas visitors - 27 from the USA, 13 Great Britain, 2 France, 5 Germany, 3 Netherlands, 3 Japan, and 1 each from Finland, Canada, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Columbia, New Zealand and Korea. Only 9 were Australians.

“The good news is that the annual death toll has steadily decreased to 3 in 2008 (all snorkelling) down from a peak of 11 (8 snorkelling and 3 diving) in 2002.

“And while every single death is regrettable, they represent only a very small percentage of the large number of local, interstate and international tourists who dive and snorkel in Queensland each year.

“A survey of overnight visitors estimated around 1.2 million international and domestic visitors undertook scuba diving or snorkelling activities while in Queensland in the 12 months to March 2007.”

Mr Mickel announced the establishment of the Dive Unit after earlier meeting with key members of the dive industry in Cairns to discuss significant and emerging health and safety issues.

“We discussed how we can best work together to further reduce dive and snorkelling incidents and create better education and awareness strategies to ensure the safety of our overseas diving visitors.”

Media contact: Joe Begley (07) 323 71944

21 January 2008