Self-employed diver sentenced for falsifying diving medical certificate
- Safety Flash
- Published on 12 December 2017
- Generated on 13 August 2026
- IMCA SF 30/17
- 2 minute read
A man has been sentenced after supplying falsified diving medical certificates to a diving company in 2016.
What happened?
A Magistrates’ Court heard that the man did not hold a valid medical certificate of fitness to dive.
What went wrong?
Investigation showed that in 2016 the defendant was in possession of a certificate closely resembling a genuine certificate but which had been altered to display a false expiry date. The defendant subsequently produced the falsified certificate to enter into a contract to provide his services as a commercial diver.
The defendant pleaded guilty to six breaches of Regulation 12 (1)(b) of the UK Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and one breach of Section 33 (1)(m) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
He was sentenced to 32 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months, 150 hours community service and ordered to pay costs of £12,000.
The HSE inspector commented that the UK HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against persons in possession of or using a falsified fitness to dive certificate.
Actions
- Contractors are reminded that it is their responsibility to check the validity of their diver’s medical certificates of fitness to dive, especially, when the doctor and diver are unknown to them.
- Divers, who may be unfit for employment, not only put themselves at risk but also others who may have to deal with the consequences.
Related safety flashes
-
IMCA SF 22/17
1 September 2017
-
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.