The HDS Working Equipment Group. (WEG)
During 2023 the HDS board carried out an initial review of Working Equipment Group (WEG) activities and the legal duties and responsibilities associated with the continued practise of running recreational dives using historic diving equipment through the HDS WEG.
Following the outcome the board decided that WEG diving activities should be suspended until the board could arrange for an independent professional review of WEG diving activities with regard to the associated legal duties, responsibilities, risks and insurance requirements involved in future diving activities of the WEG.
The Registered objects of the HDS
“The Objects of the Charity are to advance the education of the public in the study of the history of diving and to establish and maintain a museum for the benefit of the public and preservation of items of historical and educational value.”
HDS Strategic Aims
In support of the Registered HDS Objects our strategic aims are to:
• Preserve and protect the UK’s rich diving heritage.
• Identify, preserve, and maintain archives associated with historical diving.
• Publish appropriate literature and organise regular meetings on historical diving subjects.
• To ensure that the Diving Museum becomes the most significant mechanism by which HDS delivers its charitable objects.
• The HDS’s long-term vision for the Diving Museum is to become ‘The Diving Museum – with national significance’, and to be recognised as the UK’s leading museum exploring the history of diving. The defined mission for WEG:
• To retain the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain and operate historic diving equipment in a safe manner.
• To provide the public and HDS Members with the opportunity to watch and experience the use of historic diving equipment being used.
Appointment of an Independent professional
In Q4 2023, Gavin Anthony kindly agreed to carry out a “Table Top” review of all WEG defined procedures and activities.
Gavin is a well-known and respected scientist who has worked across the RN, Industry, scientific and sports diving communities with over 40 years involvement in diving research, development and assessment of diving systems and procedures. This included the development and assessment of rebreathers, creating active thermal protection systems and producing mixed gas decompression tables. He is currently involved in the certification of diving equipment and standards for diving equipment. He is a diver and BSAC member since 1970, he is a BSAC Advanced Instructor and qualified as an HSE pt III commercial diver. He is a Trustee of DDRC Healthcare, Chairman of the British Sub-Aqua Jubilee Trust and provides technical support and advice to industry bodies including the BSAC, BDSG, IMCA and ADC.
Review – Scope
The scope of the review included.
• Dives solely involving HDS WEG volunteers with no public involvement.
• “Try” Dives.
• Demonstration dives for the public using HDS equipment and WEG volunteers.
• Future possible remunerated work for media and other interested parties.
• The current WEG procedures.
• The possibility of contracting out the responsibility to run the WEG diving activities.
Conclusion
At a board meeting on the 3rd of October the board studied and discussed the review. It was agreed unanimously that the ongoing legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities involved in actively diving with historic equipment has become too onerous to bear alongside the Society’s other obligations and priorities and therefore concluded that no more diving operations will be conducted under the auspices of the HDS.
The future
We. as a Board. recognise that while some members may be disappointed, the stark reality is that we cannot as an established charity continue to shoulder the increasing responsibilities and liabilities which the safe recreational diving of historic diving equipment demands.
We want to recognise the many years of dedicated hard work by successive WEG volunteers.
The HDS will continue to meet our stated objects and strategic aims through participation in public events, exhibitions and displays of historic diving equipment, involving laying out equipment, explaining its use and history, practical demonstrations of dressing a diver, photographic opportunities and handling the equipment.
The HDS owned equipment used by the WEG will be transferred to the HDS “Handling Collection” and will be at the disposal of those involved in the HDS Exhibition Group and the Diving Museum.
On behalf of the Board.
Mike O’Meara
HDS Trustee and Chairman