Summary
Stuart Elmes, a recreational diving instructor from Bournemouth, has been fined after falsifying a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) commercial diving medical certificate. In March 2025, Elmes used the forged document to apply for employment as a PADI instructor. The fraud was detected and reported by a local diving school, prompting an HSE investigation supported by the Approved Medical Examiners of Divers (AMED) board. On 17 April 2026, Elmes pleaded guilty at Bristol Magistrates’ Court to breaching Section 33(1)(m) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was ordered to pay a £700 fine, £2,620 in costs, and a £280 victim surcharge.
Analysis
This case underscores the HSE’s stringent enforcement regarding safety-critical certification. Commercial diving is categorised as a high-risk activity where medical fitness is a legal requirement under the Diving at Work Regulations 1997. By falsifying his medical status, the instructor bypassed essential safeguards designed to protect himself, his colleagues, and his students from potential underwater emergencies.
The prosecution serves several purposes:
Deterrence: It sends a clear message that the HSE will take criminal action against those who attempt to deceive employers with forged safety documents.
Industry Vigilance: The fact that a local diving school identified and reported the forgery highlights the importance of employer due diligence in verifying the qualifications of new hires.
Regulatory Integrity: It reaffirms the role of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in policing not just physical safety failures, but also the administrative honesty required to maintain a safe working environment.