Queensland to update recreational diving and snorkelling code of practice

A recent Reef Safety Roundtable meeting in Cairns has been advised that Queensland’s recreational diving and snorkelling code of practice will be updated.

Queensland Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said specific Working Groups to be established this month will oversee a series of improvements to the snorkelling and diving parts of the industry code, to be completed bu July.

Minister Grace stated “the Working Groups will take a close look at snorkelling and diving safety with a view to updating the code by July (as) the recent tragic events we’ve seen on the reef show that the code needs to be updated – that was the clear consensus of the Roundtable.”

Minister Grace said the Working Groups would include marine tourism operators, Surf Life Saving Queensland, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) experts and other stakeholders, and would consider:

• Medical declarations for at risk snorkellers prior to them entering the water;
• Automatic external defibrillators on reef tourist vessels;
• Ensuring the use of floatation devices for at risk snorkellers; and
• Requiring at risk snorkellers to wear a different coloured vest or snorkel for easy visual identification.

Minister Grace added “these sensible and practicable measures aim to ensure all visitors return home to their loved ones safely after enjoying their time on the reef.

“Another key outcome from the Roundtable is that family of the deceased will be notified of the cause of death within 24 hours, once the cause of death is known.

“Industry stakeholders including WHSQ and tourism operators will be notified of the cause of death within 48 hours, and 24 to 36 hours after this, the information will be publicly released.

“This is a big step forward and I want to thank Northern Coroner Magistrate Kevin Priestly for his contribution in this regard.”

Another result from the Roundtablei is the establishment of an expert panel to assist Coroners in analysing any snorkelling or diving deaths on the reef on a case-by-case basis.

Held at the end of Feburary, the Roundtable meeting followed a series of tragic events on the reef, which last year attracted 2.5 million visitors.

Image used for illustrative purposes only.

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