Safety Stand Down - Power SCUBA - San Diego CA

[FinnMom]

"One of our club members was driving under influence and crashed his car. We suggest that all club members refrain from driving for a week to reflect on that unfortunate event". Looks like a bit of an overreaction and unnecessary drama to me.

Actually overreaction is kinda the point. The idea is to yell "STOP", get everybody's attention, and maintain everyone's attention until the message truely penetrates both hearts and minds. Necessity can also be found in that this might already be reflectling badly on the whole club - esp. if the incidents had more than one tiny "he should have known/certainly did know better" -element.

Changing an established "it's OK/not that strict/we've all done it that way 100x" is extremely difficult. A standdown might help. They also maybe need to think if they can establish some carrots and sticks. For example: a zero reading on the breathalizer in the morning means free coffee and donuts, but another border value on the breathalizer means you stay on the dock and paid fees are not refunded

 

[VR78]

They also maybe need to think if they can establish some carrots and sticks. For example: a zero reading on the breathalizer in the morning means free coffee and donuts, but another border value on the breathalizer means you stay on the dock and paid fees are not refunded

Might work - and without the need for a stand down.
Still, pity that the community finds itself in a need for any such action

 

[drrich2]

Which raises the question of how far into Big Brother the members want things to go or are willing to put up with. Who wants to buy, service, generally maintain and use a breathalyzer for example? What next, dip stick urine drug testing before you get on the boat? How about checking blood pressures?

Some slippery slopes are best avoided.

 

[VR78]

Which raises the question of how far into Big Brother the members want things to go or are willing to put up with. Who wants to buy, service, generally maintain and use a breathalyzer for example? What next, dip stick urine drug testing before you get on the boat? How about checking blood pressures?

Some slippery slopes are best avoided.

- Dude, you look drunk and smell funny, perhaps you shouldn't be diving today!
- Nah, I'm fine.

From the club's perspective, only two options really: take the Dude's word for it or check his exhaust.

 

[drrich2]

I see your point, Which is different from routine screening of everyone.

But imagine how awkward that is when you tell someone in a group he looks drunk and will be tested.

What happens when a member doesn't get tested, drowns, someone else says he acted odd and should've been had the club followed their own policy? Or maybe the breathalyzer was broke that morning so they let it go?

At least for some entities, failure to follow your own policy can bring great liability even if you otherwise broke no law. Wonder if that applies to Power Scuba's type of organization?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Boat crews are subject to random drug testing and they don't always get in the water. Anyone who chooses to drink the night before a dive should stay home.

 

[Safediversocal]

Is there any update on the divers condition?

 

[Wookie]

I see your point, Which is different from routine screening of everyone.

But imagine how awkward that is when you tell someone in a group he looks drunk and will be tested.

What happens when a member doesn't get tested, drowns, someone else says he acted odd and should've been had the club followed their own policy? Or maybe the breathalyzer was broke that morning so they let it go?

At least for some entities, failure to follow your own policy can bring great liability even if you otherwise broke no law. Wonder if that applies to Power Scuba's type of organization?

It applies to any organization who has procedures, fails to follow them, and has assets.

 

[FinnMom]

- Dude, you look drunk and smell funny, perhaps you shouldn't be diving today!
- Nah, I'm fine.

From the club's perspective, only two options really: take the Dude's word for it or check his exhaust.

It's far easier than that: everyone takes the test before boarding the boat.

Exceptions can be limited maybe to those under 10 yrs of age and those who have taken the test in the last hour; no other exceptions. The club in no way whatsoever limits your right to drink, or to drink and dive. The club does however, limit who participates in club activities or uses club equipment, such as boats. Whether or not you stay in a state that allows the use of club property or participation in activities is entirely up to you & your free will.

Personally I have noticed that the problem with drinking is often not that people try to participate in activities for which they are in no condition, but that it's too darn hard to keep a group of people working and/or playing happily together if more than very slight amounts of alcohol are involved. Everyone creates and takes offense much too easily when alcohol is involved, 10x more true in a confined space like a boat.

Of course many, many kinds of impairment will not be indicated by a breathalizer, but that's no reason not to use the tool for the good it can do.

 

[VR78]

It's far easier than that: everyone takes the test before boarding the boat.

It's not as easy as that. Boats are very rarely (ever?) club equipment, and most members are likely to use their own gear and tanks or tanks provided by the boat. Testing everyone is expensive and will likely lead to riots anyways.