Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving

In this podcast episode, we delve into the dynamics of mentoring in the diving community, exploring how mentor-mentee relationships contribute to personal and professional growth. While traditionally seen as unequal, effective mentoring fosters mutual development, relying on trust, vulnerability, and constructive feedback from both parties. Mentors guide mentees to find solutions independently, balancing support with respectful critique. Through real-life examples, we witness how mentors facilitate learning by encouraging self-reflection and providing targeted guidance. Feedback plays a pivotal role in this relationship, promoting continuous improvement and mutual learning. Ultimately, mentoring in diving cultivates a culture of collaboration and skill development, benefiting both mentors and mentees alike.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/mentoring-both-sides-of-the-story Links: Blog about leadership in a short term team: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/leadership-in-a-short-term-team Blog about debriefing: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/debriefing Tags:  English, Followership, Jenny Lord, Leadership, Psychological Safety

In this podcast episode, we explore the concept of leadership in diving beyond traditional roles like Divemasters and Instructors. Leadership in diving involves guiding a team towards a common goal, prioritizing communication and maintaining situational awareness. Through real-life scenarios, we see how leadership can shift within a dive group, with experienced divers stepping up to lead even without formal titles. Effective leadership entails understanding each diver's goals, ensuring compatibility, and adapting plans accordingly. Whether navigating, monitoring gas levels, or supporting specialists like photographers, leaders prioritize safety and effective teamwork. Trust and communication are key components, fostering psychological safety within the team. Through briefings and debriefings, divers can enhance their leadership skills and ensure successful and safe dives.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/leadership-in-a-short-term-team Links: Part 1: building a short term team: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/building-a-short-term-team Blogs about how to build psychological safety: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4 Tags: English, Jenny Lord, Leadership, Teamwork

In this podcast episode, we delve into the crucial role of effective communication and trust in scientific diving. Communication underwater is essential for safety, coordination, and data collection, but it comes with its challenges, including language barriers and equipment limitations like Full Face Masks and helium distortion. Various methods such as hand signals and underwater writing tools facilitate communication but require practice and agreement among divers. Trust is equally vital, involving confidence in team members, equipment, and established procedures. Team cohesion and adherence to safety protocols are crucial for successful diving missions, emphasizing the need for ongoing training and preparation. Ultimately, prioritizing safety and effective communication enhances the efficiency and outcomes of scientific diving projects, ensuring the safety of all involved while gathering valuable research data.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/scientific-diving-trust-and-communication-in-the-depths Tags: English, Beatrice Rivoira, Communication, Trust

In this podcast episode, we explore the importance of Human Factors training in the diving industry, drawing parallels with its significance in aviation. A firsthand account reveals how insurance premiums reflect the recognition of this training's value, emphasizing the shift from blaming individuals to fostering a culture of learning for safety improvement. While insurance companies incentivize instructors to undergo such training, diving agencies have yet to mandate it, potentially impacting the industry's sustainability. The discussion underscores the necessity of viewing the issue holistically and integrating Human Factors training into all aspects of diving, beyond just formal instruction. Ultimately, change may only occur when instructors recognize the direct benefits, potentially through increased premiums, prompting a broader industry shift. The episode concludes with a reflection on the potential for a politically relevant event to drive change, echoing insights from Gareth Lock's presentation on the subject.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/diving-liability-insurance-enabler-or-barrier-to-diving-safety Links: Compliance to avoid litigation: https://gue.com/blog/compliance-provides-an-illusion-of-safety-in-diving/ Gareth’s presentation at Rebreather Forum 4: https://gue.tv/programs/5-gareth-lock-human-factors-in-diving Relevant slide: https://www.thehumandiver.com/rf4-resources Tags:  English, Decision Making, Guy Shockey, Risk Management

In this episode, we delve into the concept of learning loops in scuba diving, inspired by the works of Chris Argyris and Donald Schön. We explore single-loop learning, focusing on immediate problem-solving like fixing a malfunctioning buoyancy control device (BCD), and double-loop learning, which involves analyzing underlying issues such as calibration errors in a rebreather. Then, we introduce triple-loop learning, which considers broader contexts like team dynamics and learning culture within the dive community. Practical examples illustrate each loop's application, from troubleshooting equipment issues to enhancing training programs. Drawing parallels with other high-risk domains like wildland firefighting, we emphasize the importance of fostering a learning culture and embracing continuous improvement at every level of diving. Whether troubleshooting a BCD or revising safety protocols, remember that each dive offers opportunities for growth and deeper understanding, contributing to a safer and more knowledgeable diving community.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/the-value-of-loops-for-learning-don-t-just-fix-the-diver Links: Learning in Loops doc: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WOy5v81N5zkAAgwVOZD53G6LIVPMnZr5/view?usp=sharing Standards changes: https://fifthpointdiving.com/the-dive-pro-hub-teaching/changes-to-padi-dry-suit-standards/ Blog about moving too quickly through the system: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/racing-through-courses-how-fast-is-too-fast Human and Organisational Performance: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/five-key-principles-how-to-improve-individually-and-organisationally Brad Mayhew’s blog: https://bradmayhew.substack.com/p/38-the-first-law-of-learning What is a Just Culture?: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/a-just-culture-is-not-a-just-do-it-culture Tags: English, Gareth Lock, HOP, Human Performance, Leadership, Learning

In this episode, we explore the dynamics of teamwork in diving, emphasizing that although diving may not be a traditional team sport, divers typically operate in teams to ensure safety underwater. Key factors in team development include communication, shared goals, and role clarity. Whether diving with familiar partners or strangers, effective communication through pre-dive briefings and debriefings is crucial. Trust is built on competency, honesty, and consideration for others, while role clarity ensures everyone understands their responsibilities. These principles apply to both short-term dive teams and longer-term collaborations, fostering a culture of safety and cooperation in the diving community. For more insights, check out the links in the show notes.   Original link: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/building-a-short-term-team Links: Debriefing: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/debriefing Dummies blog about teamwork: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-teamwork Dummies blog about communication: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-comms How to build psychological safety in teams: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4 Tags:  English, Communication, Jenny Lord, Team, Teamwork, Trust

In this episode, we delve into the complexities of dive training agency standards and the challenges faced by instructors in evaluating student performance. While standards outline specific skills, determining their mastery isn't always straightforward. New instructors, lacking experience and nuanced judgment, often prioritize efficiency over thoroughness due to external pressures like time constraints and financial considerations. This efficiency-thoroughness trade-off (ETTO) can compromise the quality of instruction, leading to pass grades for students who may not be fully prepared. The root issue lies in instructors' limited exposure to diverse student experiences and the reluctance of dive centers to invest in extensive observation opportunities. As an industry, we must reconsider this trade-off, where financial concerns often outweigh safety and quality. Ultimately, the responsibility falls on individual divers to evaluate their skills, raising questions about the integrity of certification processes and the adequacy of diver preparedness.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/price-vs-quality-the-efficiency-thoroughness-trade-off Links: Erik Holnagel’s paper: https://erikhollnagel.com/onewebmedia/ETTO.pdf Another blog about ETTO: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/ETTO Tags:  English, Decision Making, ETTO, Jenny Lord

In this episode, we reflect on the tragic death of a fellow diver and the tendency within the diving community to rush to conclusions and assign blame rather than focusing on learning from incidents. Highlighting the need for a shift towards a more transparent and constructive approach, Gareth introduces The Human Diver's "Learning Review Guide in Diving," which provides a structured framework for analyzing diving incidents. Drawing on concepts from safety science and human factors, the guide emphasizes understanding the complexity of diving incidents and the role of various factors at play. Through a system-centric approach and steps for conducting a learning review, divers and organizations can work towards enhancing safety and preventing future mishaps. The guide, available for download, offers practical tools and insights for promoting a culture of learning and improvement within the diving community.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/learning-reviews-in-diving Links: Jenny’s blog about the death of one of her colleagues: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/blame-vs-learning Learning review technique understanding the relationships, tensions, and conflicts within the complex system of diving: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/can-divers-learn-from-the-us-forest-service Learning Review in Diving guide here Tags:  English, Gareth Lock, Incident Investigation, Incident Reporting

In this episode, we confront the harsh reality of diving accidents and the lack of transparency within the diving community regarding incident reporting and analysis. Reflecting on a recent tragedy involving a colleague, we emphasize the importance of learning from mistakes rather than engaging in speculation and blame. Unlike other sports, diving lacks a comprehensive reporting system, leading to misinformation and missed opportunities for collective learning. We advocate for a cultural shift towards open discussion and analysis of accidents, recognizing that understanding why incidents occur is essential for improving diver safety. By asking constructive questions and sharing insights, we can honor those who have lost their lives by preventing similar tragedies in the future.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/blame-vs-learning Links: Last week’s blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/racing-through-courses-how-fast-is-too-fast Incident analysis: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/why-diving-incident-stories-are-good-and-bad Incident investigation: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/don-t-just-focus-on-the-errors Just Culture: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/blame-or-learn Tags:  English, Incident Analysis, Incident Investigation, Incident Reporting, Jenny Lord, Just Culture

In this podcast episode, we delve into the complexities of diving instruction and the pressures to rush through courses without adequate skill consolidation. The author reflects on a student who quickly progressed from one course to another, raising concerns about the thoroughness of training and readiness for advanced dives. Despite the instructor's thorough evaluation process and warnings, the student passed the course but may lack crucial experience. The episode highlights the need for a shift towards quality over quantity in diving instruction, encouraging instructors to prioritize skill development and safety. As the diving community moves towards this ethos, instances of rushed training and unprepared divers may diminish, promoting a culture of skill mastery and responsible diving practices.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/racing-through-courses-how-fast-is-too-fast Links: Changing the way we think about training blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/changing-the-way-we-think-about-training Tags: English, Decision Making, Jenny Lord, Leadership