Australasian Diving Safety Foundation, Canterbury, Victoria, Australia.
Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
Diving Hyperb Med. 2021 Mar 31;51(1):53-62. doi: 10.28920/dhm51.1.53-62.
This study identified characteristics and diving practices of victims of fatal surface supplied breathing apparatus (SSBA) incidents in Australia from 1965-2019 to determine underlying factors and risks associated with these activities, better educate the diving community and prevent such deaths.
A hand search was made of 'Project Stickybeak' reports from 1965-2000 and SSBA fatality data were compared to the Australasian Diving Safety Foundation fatality database. The National Coronial Information System was searched to identify SSBA diving deaths for 2001-2019. Extracted data were collated and analysed using descriptive statistics and Poisson Regression. A chain of events analysis was used to determine the likely sequence of events.
There were 84 identified SSBA-related deaths during the study period. Most victims were relatively young, healthy males (median age 33 years). At least 50% of victims were undertaking work-related diving, and 37% were recreational diving. Equipment issues, mainly compressor-related, were the main contributor, identified as a predisposing factor in 48% of incidents and as triggers in 24%.
Preventable surface-supplied diving deaths still occur in both occupational and recreational diving, often from poor equipment maintenance and oversight. Incorrect configuration of the SSBA and lack of training remain on-going problems in recreational users. These could be addressed by improved education, and, failing this, regulatory oversight. The increase in health-related incidents in older participants may be controlled to some extent by greater medical oversight, especially in recreational and non-certified occupational divers who should be encouraged to undergo regular diving medical assessments.
本研究旨在确定 1965 年至 2019 年期间澳大利亚致命水面供气呼吸装置（SSBA）事故受害者的特征和潜水行为，以确定与这些活动相关的潜在因素和风险，更好地教育潜水界并防止此类死亡事件发生。
对 1965 年至 2000 年期间的“项目粘鸟”报告进行人工搜索，并将 SSBA 死亡数据与澳大利亚潜水安全基金会的死亡数据库进行比较。搜索国家验尸信息系统以确定 2001 年至 2019 年期间的 SSBA 潜水死亡事件。提取的数据使用描述性统计和泊松回归进行整理和分析。采用事件链分析确定可能的事件序列。
在研究期间共确定了 84 起与 SSBA 相关的死亡事件。大多数受害者相对年轻、健康，男性居多（中位数年龄为 33 岁）。至少 50%的受害者从事与工作相关的潜水，37%从事休闲潜水。设备问题，主要是压缩机相关问题，是主要的促成因素，在 48%的事件中被确定为诱发因素，在 24%的事件中被确定为触发因素。
在职业和休闲潜水活动中仍可发生可预防的水面供气潜水死亡事件，主要原因通常是设备维护和监督不善。SSBA 配置错误和缺乏培训仍然是休闲潜水用户面临的持续问题。通过改进教育，在无法实施监管的情况下，可加强对这些问题的监管。在年龄较大的参与者中，与健康相关的事件可能会在一定程度上得到控制，特别是在休闲和非认证的职业潜水员中，应鼓励他们定期进行潜水医学评估。
