Bail-out whip failures

A member has reported a number of failures of bail-out high pressure (HP) contents whips, at the area of the swage fitting.

The exact cause of the failures had not been identified by the member company, however ongoing testing and investigation into recent hose failures by the manufacturer had identified hose damage due to bending or crimping.

The company issued a notice to its dive sites to quarantine all hoses from the same manufacture batch code and is to replace all similar contents gauge whips with an alternative design as soon as practicable.

During the transition period and following the manufacturer’s recommendations, the following measures have been implemented by the company:

• Do not use either the whip or connection to lift or support bail out bottles;
• Ensure that the contents gauge hoses are not subjected to excessive bending with a proposed bend radius limit of 35mm suggested;
• Ensure that a bend restrictor is in place and firmly secured;
• Prior to use, visually inspect hoses before and after each dive. Look for any signs of kinking, flattening or change of hose diameter. Replace any hoses that show signs of being bent, kinked or damaged;
• Ensure that nothing is tied to or that any loading is imparted onto the hose end fitting;
• Where damaged or potentially damaged hose whips are identified they should be quarantined. All damaged and/or burst whips should be returned to a competent person ashore for investigation.

Whilst it is understood that the above relates to a particular make of HP whip, the advice and inspection regime suggested is relevant to all whips and hoses.