Quote: (Originally Posted by
Mark Chase)
However.
As someone who has been through the learning curve of CCR recently (over the last four years) I believe that the machines have design issues that the training courses fudge over. They do it so well the divers can be forgiven for not understanding the enormity of the problems. The training courses work around the design issues of the unit being trained. They highlight the good bits and gloss over the bad bits.
To add to Marks point. It frustrates me that any one could seriously believe that explaining design flaws and giving training to mitigate the effects can be seen as a realistic alternative to preventing or fixing those flaws in the first place. Responsibility of the diver is one thing, but responsibility of the manufacturer is another. If you dont get it by now, I doubt you ever will.
Failure modes; There is a big difference between expected and unexpected failures. A KISS needs constant attention, if you dont then bad things happen. Its a known cause and effect that is infinitely reproducable. An unexpected failure that may or may not happen is not. This is not to say that training and skills can not get you out of it 'if' you see it in time, but the point is that it should not happen if a design change can prevent it
and the manufacturer is aware of it.
Sometimes, sh1t happens. Cars breakdown, computers crash. Things get broke, but these are problems that are not to be expected. And this is the crux of my point, what is reasonably expected is that a product perform as is the manufacturers intention.
Some time ago Narked at 90 brought out the Beanie holder, the first production run had a design flaw. It had the potential to cause a fairly major failure. We informed every purchaser within 48hrs and replaced them free of charge . What we didnt do was let the diver take responsibility because he/she should have a plan to get him out of the s$(*)#& when/if it all goes wrong.
It is a general duty that producers and distributors supply only products that are safe in normal or reasonable foreseeable use and that if information in their possession and as professionals, indicates that the product
poses risks or potential risks to the consumer that are incompatible with the general safety requirement, then the product is recalled or modified as soon as possible.