Health and safety guidance and resources for businesses offering recreational water activities including diving, snorkelling and pool operation.
Diving, snorkelling and recreational water activities
Codes of practiceAll codes of practice
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Occupational diving work code of practice 2005
This code of practice gives practical advice on managing risks when conducting occupational diving work.
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Recreational diving, recreational technical diving and snorkelling code of practice 2018
This code of practice provides practical advice on how to manage risks in recreational diving and recreational snorkelling.
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First aid in the workplace code of practice 2021
This Code of Practice on first aid in the workplace is an approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011...
Guides
All guides
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guide
Plan your dive, dive your planCertified divers have an obligation to dive safely and responsibly and to comply with the instructions provided during the dive briefing.
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guide
Snorkel safety: a guide for workersA guide for workers in the snorkelling industry to help reduce the potential for snorkelling fatalities and injuries to clients.
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guide
Safety Information for divers and snorkellersFull edition, includes non-English languages: Chinese; Chinese traditional; French; German; Italian; Japanese; Spanish; Swedish; Vietnamese;...
Tools
All tools
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tool
Risk assessment process for occupational dive workRisk assessment process for occupational dive work.
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tool
Risk assessment process for occupational dive work exampleRisk assessment process for occupational dive work example.
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tool
Recreational diving and snorkelling compliance checklistA sample form to use in your business to record assessments.
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tool
Recreational snorkelling compliance checklistRecreational snorkelling compliance checklist
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tool
General diving work compliance checklistUse this example to develop a tool for your business to assess your levels of compliance.
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tool
High risk diving work compliance checklistUse this sample checklist in conjunction with your risk management process
VideosAll videos
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Effective lookouts
A lookout on duty should do nothing other than monitor divers and snorkelers to have the best chance of to spot someone in difficulty and in...
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Supervising resort divers
In nearly all fatal resort dive incidents, the introductory diver was separated from their supervising dive instructor. Dive instructors sho...
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Managing the risk of cardiac death
Identifying at risk recreational divers and snorkelers before they enter the water may help prevent a cardiac-related issue. Additional care...
HazardsAll hazards
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Diving and snorkelling
This section includes information on specific hazards and risks in the diving and snorkelling industry.
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Supervision at public swimming pools
The primary objective of a pool lifeguard at an aquatic location is to supervise patrons within the aquatic environment and to assist in pre...
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Carbon monoxide in breathing air during air compressor use
Compressed air can be used to supply clean breathing air to respiratory protective equipment. However, there is a risk that the air supplied...
Forms
All forms
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Safety Information for divers and snorkellers
Includes a medical declaration for snorkelling
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Example of a certificated diver assessment form
Use this template to assess a certified scuba diver.
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Form 26 - Medical declaration for resort diving
For use by diver
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Medical declaration for entry-level certificate divers
This is a declaration in which you are informed of some potential risks involved in scuba diving and of the conduct required of you during the entry-level recre...
Case studiesAll case studies
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Fantasea Adventure Cruising - a case study on managing the medical risks of snorkellers
Case study highlighting best practice and innovative examples of ways diving and snorkelling operators are managing the risks of cardiovascu...
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Great Adventures case study - Safe use of hire snorkelling equipment
Case study on safe use of hire snorkelling equipment.
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Mike Ball Dive Expeditions case study - Managing the quick recovery of drifting divers
A case study about managing the quick recovery of drifting divers.
Alerts
All alerts
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Incident alert
Recreational diving fatalityIn February 2022, a man was participating in a recreational scuba dive with a dive tour operator. Not long into the dive, the man was unresp...
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Incident alert
Snorkelling fatalityIn October 2020, a woman was on a guided snorkel tour when she apparently panicked and needed to be taken back to the main vessel. However, ...
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Workplace health and safety alert
Minimise shark bite risks as diving and snorkelling activities peakWith holiday-makers heading to our waterways in droves, dive and snorkel tour operators should ensure their safety systems and processes are...
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Workplace health and safety alert
Emergency plans for recreational diving and snorkellingWorkplace Health and Safety Queensland is issuing a safety alert following instances where recreational diving and snorkelling businesses ha...
CampaignsAll campaigns
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Ambassadors
Our safety ambassadors share their stories and increase awareness of the importance of mentally healthy workplaces and work health and safet...
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Safety Advocates
Our Safety Advocates highlight the personal impacts that an injury can have on workers and their families.
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Mental Health Week
Mental Health Week, celebrated annually in October, promotes the importance of mental health and wellbeing and aims to reduce the stigma ass...
NewsAll news
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Managing risks in stevedoring Code of Practice 2023
The Managing risks in stevedoring Code of Practice 2023 (Stevedoring Code 2023) commenced as an approved code of practice under the Work Hea...
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Employer obligations in common law claims
When faced with a common law claim as an employer, you may feel worried or overwhelmed about what’s to come. However, it is in everyone's be...
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Annual review of Allied Health Services Tables of Costs for 2023-2024
WorkCover Queensland is commencing the annual review of the Allied Health Services Tables of Costs for the 2023-2024 financial year.
EventsAll events
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Mentally healthy workplaces workshops 2023
Designed for managers and supervisors, you’ll be equipped with foundational skills to identify, assess and manage risks to psychological hea...
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Workers’ Memorial Day 2023
Join us and the Consultative Committee for Work-Related Fatalities and Serious Incidents on Friday 28 April 2023 at 7:30am for Workers’ Memo...
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North Queensland Work Well Conference 2023
This one-and-a-half-day event in Townsville focuses on injury prevention, mental health, work health and safety, rehabilitation and return t...
Services
All services
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WorkCover Connect for employers
Manage your claims and policy with our free online service.
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Raise a workplace safety concern
To raise a concern about a work health and safety or electrical safety issue, please start by answering these five quick questions.
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news-article
Check insurance coverCheck to see if an employer has a current accident insurance policy.
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Hazardous chemical notifications
You must notify us immediately if hazardous chemicals are used, handled or stored under certain circumstances at your place of work.
Podcasts
All podcasts
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Providing a psychologically safe and positive workplace
Creating a psychologically safe workplace to improve health outcomes and reduce absenteeism and compensation claims.
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Navigating psychosocial hazards and factors within the workplace
Tanya Orszulak from the Psychological Health Unit talked to 4BC Radio about Mental Health Week and how to navigate psychosocial hazards and factors within the w...