The Health and Safety Executive has issued a warning about equipment used by deep sea divers.
Safety chiefs fear latex neck seals which are too tight could lead to deaths on the seabed.
“A neck seal that is too large allows water ingress or gas escape and a neck seal that is too small can cause severe breathing problems leading to unconsciousness and death,” a spokesman said
“Diving contractors, supervisors and divers must ensure that neck seals are correctly sized for the individual diver.”
Latex neck seals are commonly used on drysuits and a range of diving helmets to provide a watertight seal around the neck. It is very important that these neck seals are the correct size for the diver’s neck.
They are supplied in a range of sizes which can then be trimmed for a comfortable yet waterproof fit. Some neck seals are marked around their inner circumference in order to help even trimming. It is most important that the right size neck seal is initially selected and then trimmed as required for a comfortable fit.
The spokesman added: “The wide use of neoprene seals in the diving industry can result in a diver progressing well into a diving career without using a latex neck seal.
“The assumption that all divers have been trained and are experienced in the use of latex neck seals is therefore not correct. Although it is a simple procedure, the potential outcome of getting it wrong is grave. It is not safe to assume that all divers realise the need to correctly size and, when required, trim the neck seal or that all divers understand the possible consequences.”