HSE Safety Alert

There have been two recent fatalities involving shellfish diving in inshore waters leading to HSE issuing a safety.

In recent weeks, HSE has investigated two separate fatalities involving diving for shellfish. This can be a dangerous activity and needs to be carried out by competent and appropriately qualified divers. Suitable plans and procedures are key to the whole diving team conducting activities safely and reacting effectively in a diving emergency. Any diving activity undertaken without regard for the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 will be putting people’s lives at risk.

HSE has long established guidance for divers engaged in this sort of activity (Commercial shellfish diving in inshore water: Diving at Work Regulations 1997 ), which can be freely downloaded from HSE’s website.