First reported 4 Feb 2014•Latest report 10 Apr 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of controls specifically dedicated to assessing individual participants before an activity, including obtaining relevant medical or personal risk information, evaluating suitability, and communicating the resulting information to activity leaders or providers.
Not included
Excludes generic activity risk assessments that do not concern individual participant risks or suitability.
Excludes generic information-sharing, liaison, training or documentation deficiencies unless they directly impair individual activity-risk assessment.
Excludes failures limited to assessing the physical venue, equipment or emergency arrangements where no individual participant assessment is involved.
Excludes post-activity incidents or outcomes where no deficiency in pre-activity individual risk assessment is identified.
Reports
8
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
9
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
8
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department for Education2
British Diving Safety Group1
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport1
Grupo de Turismo Gaviota S.A.1
Health and Safety Executive1
Ministry of Defence1
National Coasteering Charter1
N.D.A.C. Limited1
Recipient name withheld1
Sport Camp Tirol1
St Richard's Hospital1
Thomas Cook Tour Operations Limited1
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust1
Ministerial department4
Company2
Private limited company2
Professional membership body2
Healthcare site1
NHS trust1
Workplace safety regulator1
Type not available1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Sunderland
Concerns raised1
Lack of knowledge of participant competency and capability
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Dorset
Concerns raised1
Failure to assess prospective participants’ swimming ability and physical fitness during coasteering booking
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Produce a final updated Safety Advice for Coasteering Providers document incorporating consultation responses and advice.
Stated by National Coasteering CharterStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 November 2023.
Action
Consult NCC members by email and through a committee-led working group on updates to the Safety Advice for Coasteering Providers document.
Stated by National Coasteering CharterStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 November 2023.
Action
Produce a final updated Safety Advice for Coasteering Providers document incorporating member consultation responses and advice.
Stated by National Coasteering CharterStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 November 2023.
Gloucestershire
Concerns raised1
Failure to give sufficient consideration to a fitness-to-dive medical certificate as a prerequisite for diving participation
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Consider new information affecting fitness-to-dive guidance at each committee meeting.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 10 January 2022.
Action
Require health declarations to identify IPO and other health factors influencing IPO risk before referral for medical advice or physical examination.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 January 2022.
Action
Update recreational diving medical questionnaires to include specific screening questions or references concerning immersion pulmonary oedema.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 January 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.6
Position
The existing health declaration and referral process is considered sufficient; routine annual physical examinations add no benefit for those declaring no problems.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Reintroducing routine physical examinations would not identify independently diving people or those at risk because no specific test for IPO susceptibility exists.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Reducing dishonest health declarations remains difficult because access to general practitioner records has proved unhelpful in some cases.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
A medical certificate requirement based on IPO risk is considered justifiable only if an equivalent requirement applies to open-water swimming.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Responsibility for current diving-operation safety arrangements lies with DTSL, the new operator, which should be contacted for further information.
Stated by NDAC LtdRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Existing self-declaration questionnaires and referral arrangements are considered sufficient; a fitness-to-dive medical certificate is not required before participation.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Lack of a system to provide individual risk information for activity risk assessments
This report raised 21 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Add an individual-factor checklist and heat-illness risk-assessment direction to the new Army heat-illness prevention order.
Stated by Ministry of DefenceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 2 January 2020.
Northamptonshire
Concerns raised1
Failure of participant waivers to request participants' past medical history
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Review whether to request further waiver amendments covering medical history that may make sea excursions dangerous.
Stated by Thomas Cook Tour Operations LimitedStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 8 June 2018.
Inner South London
Concerns raised1
Inadequate pre-assessment of swimming ability before outdoor swimming activities
This report raised 11 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire
Concerns raised1
Lack of generic risk assessment for soldier suitability for rafting
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
South London
Concerns raised2
Failure to proactively obtain up-to-date participant medical information before departure
Failure to formally assess individual participants’ fitness for the activity
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes failures of controls specifically dedicated to assessing individual participants before an activity, including obtaining relevant medical or personal risk information, evaluating suitability, and communicating the resulting information to activity leaders or providers.
