Mandatory change to the Sea Survival module following incident during training

All training providers are instructed to immediately review their risk assessments and mitigate potential risks connected to Sea Survival module sections:

6.2.4 Participants shall practice: The ability to enter the water from a height in a controlled manner.

AND

6.6.4 Participants shall demonstrate: Controlled entry into the water from a height.

Following an incident at a training provider (in which a course participant jumped from a height of four meters and injured his back during the fall ending in hospitalisation), the GWO Audit & Compliance Committee has issued a mandate that the height described in section 6.2.4 does not exceed 1 (one) meter.

The relevant section is being reviewed by the GWO Training Committee and until further notice, training providers are expected to follow the above mandate and implement mitigating measures where necessary without delay.

If you have any questions related to the measure, please contact info@globalwindsafety.org

Background

Following an incident in December 2021, GWO reminds training providers of the need for thorough risk assessments of training exercises and a renewed scrutiny of participants’ medical self-assessment forms.

The incident took place at a certified training centre during an exercise on entering water safely which formed part of a Sea Survival (SS) standard training course. During the incident a participant jumped (with a life jacket) into a pool from an approximately 4m high platform. Unfortunately, the participant sustained non-critical injuries to his leg and lower back which resulted in hospital treatment.

The training provider carried out its own investigation and root cause analysis. These included considering the participant’s weight, the jumping height and the injured party’s posture while entering the water.  

These analyses concluded the case should be referred to GWO to reconsider the requirement in the Basic Safety Training Sea Survival Module section 6.2.4, “The ability to enter the water from a height in a controlled manner”. Review of the provider’s case by GWO’s Audit and Compliance Committee did not indicate a change was needed, however it commended the training provider for its approach to the investigation and diligence in sharing the experience with the GWO training provider community.    

José Jimenez, GWO Governance and Risk manager said;  

“Having solid risk assessment processes in place is a sensible step to avoid unfortunate incidents like this. In addition, GWO strongly advises training providers to thoroughly review participants’ medical self-assessments and any potential pre-conditions which may increase the risk of a participant getting injured”

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