VISIBILITY OF SUBMERGED BODIES: TWO CASE STUDIES

摘要

This paper describes a methodology used to assist the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the investigation of two incidents at swimming pools where the visibility of a submerged bather was called into question. The methodology focuses upon assessment of the lit environment and luminance contrast between target and background within a broader Human Factors investigation. This information is used to inform a HEART Quantitive Human Error Assessment to provide an informed statement of the likelihood of a pool lifeguard failing to detect a submerged unconscious casualty in the water, which under certain environmental and organisational circumstances can be unacceptably high.