Jane Bugler speaking at NUI Diving Seminar

Published on 29 October 2013

Jane Bugler, Technical Director of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is to speak on ‘Learning from diving statistics and incident reporting – an IMCA perspective’ in the ‘Global Picture of Diving’ opening session at the Bergen International Diving Seminar 2013 being held in Bergen, Norway on 20-21 November.

The seminar is organised by NUI AS in co-operation with Statoil, ExxonMobil and Gassco and is the only event of its kind in Norway. Held since 1988 it attracts delegates from all parts of the diving industry, research communities and relevant authorities from home and overseas.

“Incident reporting is a key component in enabling those in the industry to learn from each other,” explains Jane Bugler.”I am looking forward to explaining to delegates at the Diving Seminar 2013 how IMCA collects safety statistics from contractor member companies, including what data is collected and how the data is used. I will also be discussing the collection of diving incidents from companies undertaking a wide range of activities and the issue of categorising diving related incidents.

“I will then go be highlighting IMCA’s role in the collection and dissemination of safety flashes – how we encourage members to provide details of their safety related incidents so that they can be circulated within the industry, and thus how lessons learnt from them have helped the industry as a whole. And, I will look at the work of the Safety, Environment and Safety Committee in reviewing the safety flashes to inform IMCA’s work programme.”

The IMCA safety flash system is intended to disseminate information on recent incidents and lessons learnt from them. This can be in terms of faulty equipment, gaps in procedures and risk assessments and reminders if the need for basic safety awareness. Numerous organisations generate, receive and circulate safety flashes and alerts but those issued by IMCA are specifically focused on IMCA members’ mainly vessel-based work in offshore construction. IMCA safety flashes also cover unique equipment and operations – such as diving systems and diving operations.

Jens Chr. Terjesen, Managing Director of NUI AS explains:”We look forward to a gathering of outstanding competence and experience, working in close cooperation to shape even safer and more predictable diving operations. By sharing experiences and exchanging opinions, we will all learn more.

“Professionals come together from across geographical boundaries which adds greater value as this will also add energy to the harmonising of global standards which benefits the operators, governments, suppliers and divers. Manned underwater operations are an intervention method widely used, and play an important role in a growing market. Future large offshore developments in Norway will also be carried out in shallow water, and this can be an additional motivating factor for all the participants.”