SH179: How and Why Checklists Work

In this episode, we explore the importance of checklists in diving, inspired by lessons from aviation and medicine. After a tragic 1935 plane crash, pilots introduced simple checklists to reduce human error—an approach now standard in high-risk industries. Checklists help compensate for our natural forgetfulness and distractions by providing quick prompts for essential tasks. For divers, effective checklists should be simple, fit for the environment, and backed by proper training. Teams benefit from shared checklists, improving safety through collaboration and consistency. Adopting checklists as a cultural norm, much like in surgery, can make diving safer and more efficient for everyone.

Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/why-checklists-work

Links: Atul Gawande’s Reith Lecture: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/6F2X8TpsxrJpnsq82hggHW/dr-atul-gawande-2014-reith-lectures

Reduction in mortality due to checklists: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmsa0810119

How a checklist can be the difference between living and dying: https://www.thehumandiver.com/ifonly

Tags:  English, Checklists, Decision-Making, Mike Mason