Product Overview

Summary: This Dive Accident and Incident Reporting Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, defensible process for capturing, escalating and investigating all diving-related events in Australian workplaces. It helps organisations meet their WHS due diligence obligations while improving diver safety, emergency preparedness and operational learning across all dive activities.

Diving operations carry inherent risks, and when an accident, near miss or equipment failure occurs, the way it is reported and investigated can make the difference between a one‑off event and a repeat incident. This Dive Accident and Incident Reporting Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step process for recognising, documenting and escalating all dive‑related events, from minor incidents and near misses through to serious injuries, decompression illness and potential fatalities. It is designed specifically for Australian conditions and WHS expectations, supporting organisations to demonstrate that they are actively managing diving risks, not just reacting when things go wrong.

The SOP guides dive teams and management through immediate response and notification requirements, the capture of critical information (such as dive profiles, gas mixes, environmental conditions and equipment status), and the preservation of evidence for technical and medical review. It also standardises how incidents are classified, investigated and closed out, ensuring that corrective and preventive actions are implemented, tracked and communicated to relevant workers. By embedding this procedure, businesses can improve safety culture, meet regulator expectations, and build a robust record of due diligence that stands up to scrutiny from SafeWork regulators, clients and insurers.

Beyond compliance, the document helps organisations turn incidents and near misses into actionable learning. It supports consistent reporting across multiple dive sites and contractors, integrates with existing WHS management systems, and provides templates and guidance that reduce the administrative burden on supervisors and divers. The result is a transparent, fair and timely reporting process that encourages early reporting, protects workers, and supports continuous improvement in dive safety performance.

Key Benefits

• Ensure timely, consistent reporting of all dive accidents, incidents and near misses across your organisation.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and diving-specific regulatory expectations.
• Reduce the likelihood of repeat dive incidents by identifying root causes and implementing effective corrective actions.
• Strengthen safety culture by providing a clear, fair and blame‑aware process that encourages divers to report concerns early.
• Streamline communication between dive teams, management, medical providers and regulators during and after an incident.

Who is this for?

• Dive Supervisors
• Commercial Divers
• Scientific Divers
• Dive Safety Officers
• WHS Managers
• HSE Advisors
• Marine Operations Managers
• Aquaculture Site Managers
• Emergency Response Coordinators
• University and Research Dive Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism (AGE)
• Barotrauma to ears, sinuses, lungs and other air spaces
• Drowning and near‑drowning events
• Loss of air supply or gas contamination incidents
• Entrapment, entanglement and restricted access emergencies
• Equipment malfunction or failure (regulators, BCDs, valves, communications)
• Environmental hazards such as strong currents, poor visibility and marine life interactions
• Thermal stress, hypothermia and heat stress during or after dives
• Psychological stress, panic and fitness‑to‑dive concerns
• Manual handling injuries associated with dive gear and vessel operations

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Objectives
• 2.0 Definitions and Classification of Dive Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Divers, Dive Supervisors, DSO, Management)
• 4.0 Triggers for Reporting and Notifiable Incidents
• 5.0 Immediate Response and Medical Management Requirements
• 6.0 Internal and External Notification Timeframes and Escalation Pathways
• 7.0 Information to be Collected (Dive Profiles, Gas Data, Environmental Conditions, Equipment Details)
• 8.0 Incident Reporting Forms and Digital Reporting Tools
• 9.0 Incident Investigation Process and Root Cause Analysis
• 10.0 Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) and Close‑Out Requirements
• 11.0 Recordkeeping, Confidentiality and Data Retention
• 12.0 Communication, Feedback and Lessons Learned
• 13.0 Integration with WHS Management Systems and Risk Registers
• 14.0 Training, Competency and Awareness for Dive Personnel
• 15.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the Procedure

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth)
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth)
• AS/NZS 2299.1: Occupational diving operations – Standard operational practice
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still commonly referenced)
• ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• Safe Work Australia – Incident Notification Information Sheet
• Relevant state and territory WHS legislation and incident notification requirements (e.g. Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW))