Tragedy Highlights Importance of Swimming Pool Safety
Oct 29, 2010
On 2nd October tragedy struck at a North Wales Holiday park as an 8 year old girl drowned in a swimming pool.
Police said the incident was not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed.
The girl was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital in Bodelwyddan. The Welsh Ambulance Service said the girl was found at the bottom of the pool and had been taken out by the time they got there.
Whilst there is currently no indication that the park was in any way negligent this unfortunate event should again act as a reminder to parks to ensure their swimming pools are as safe as possible.
Although there are no “Swimming Pool Regulations”, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has produced an excellent guidance document “Managing health & safety in swimming pools (HSG 179)’’ which sets a standard that enforcement authorities would use when assessing a pool operator’s safety management. Each swimming pool should have a written Pool Safety Operating Procedure (PSOP), which should include two key documents detailed in the guidance:
Normal Operating Procedure (NOP)
The NOP should set out the way a pool operates on a daily basis. It should include details of the layout, equipment, manner of use, user group characteristics and any hazards or activity-related risks.
The NOP can be used to explain the pool operator’s strategy with regard to supervision and the provision or absence of lifeguards on a continual basis. There is a well laid out flowchart within the guidance for working through the key factors which determines the need, or otherwise, for constant poolside supervision.
Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
The EAP should give specific instructions on the action to be taken by all staff in the event of any emergency such as a serious injury to a bather, disorderly conduct, overcrowding or emission of toxic gases.
Staff must not only be aware of the NOP and the EAP but also should be instructed, and trained, in implementing these procedures.
Swimming pool operators should regularly review the NOP and EAP to ensure they are kept up to date and continue to be relevant.
Wilby Risk Management consultants have worked with clients in devising or reviewing pool safety operating procedures for their swimming pools. If you would like assistance with your PSOP or feel you would benefit from an audit of your swimming pool safety management in line with the guidance in HSG 179, please contact us.
“Managing health & safety in swimming pools (HSG 179)” can be downloaded from www.hse.gov.uk or contact us for a free electronic version.
