Archived decisions

Appendix 2

Health and Safety for school swimming pools

A responsible person should be appointed at each site and have a written Pool Safety Operating Procedures Plan which will include:

1. Details of the pool including the dimensions, depths, features, capacity of people, equipment held and a plan of the building. The plan should include the location

    of the telephone, fire alarms, circulation routes, emergency exits & routes, first aid etc. This will allow staff to plan for emergencies including an evacuation.

2. Lifeguard duties and responsibilities will include adequate training, numbers of

lifeguards required for pool size, particular activities and special supervision

requirements for equipment. Life guards must be made aware of their duties and

areas of work.

3. The main hazards and risk to users are inadequate or inappropriate supervision.

For shallow water pools (no deeper than 1.2m) the life saver must hold at least the

HCC shallow water certificate or a higher RLSS (Royal Life Saving Society) award

and for deep water pools the deep water certificate or a higher RLSS award,

(both qualifications are valid for three years).

4. Staff/pupil ratio:

    Number of pupils

    Number of teachers responsible for welfare and discipline

    Number responsible for teaching /instruction

    Number responsible for life saving

    20

    1

    1

    1

    One teacher may carry all three responsibilities.

    40

    1

    2

    2

    The teacher is supported by an additional adult.

    60

    2

    3

    3

    A minimum of two teachers supported by an additional adult

    80

    2

    4

    2

    A minimum of two teachers supported by two additional adults

      * Staff who are non swimmers may not be responsible for teaching or life saving- only for welfare and discipline.

5. Systems of work should be clear to include lines of supervision, call out procedures. There must be clear operational systems which include control access to the pool and use of pool covers including manual handling issues. The pool must always be locked, when the pool is not in use.

6. Community use and hiring must also be considered with the appropriate information and checks by the school i.e. life guard qualifications, personnel injury insurance.

7. Detailed working instructions which gives clear instructions on pool cleaning

    procedures, assessment of hazards, safe setting up and use of equipment and

specific activity instructions.

8. Regular and correct maintenance of buildings, plant and equipment is essential and

must be programmed and controlled to protect the swimmers. Delivery and

storage and handling of chemicals should be recorded and only completed by

trained, competent persons.

9. Appropriate staff should be trained in pool management, COSHH etc and should

be present on site during opening times of the pool. The main hazards associated

with pool water treatment systems are irritation to the body from chemicals, leaks

from toxic gases and fire. Hand dosing is not recommended as this requires

chemical handling, storage of chemicals and a foolproof system.

10. First aid should include the appropriate equipment required, its location ( on plan), arrangements for checking it, first aiders, training and disposal of sharps and emergency contact systems.

Details of the alarm systems, pool telephone, fire etc should include the operation, location, maintenance, signage, testing arrangements and action to betaken in the event of an alarm sounded. There should be clear lines of management and supervision and this should be recorded and visible.

Accident History

Accidents continue to happen associated with the management and use of swimming pools, both nationally and in Hampshire, as illustrated by these examples in the last five years:

    _ 7 people drowned in UK swimming pools in 2002.

    _ A caretaker lost his eye in a Southampton school due to lack of training and maintenance.

    _ A child drowned in a commercial pool after gaining access to the pool and standing on the cover. The report identified that the gate was not locked at any time and the fencing was only 1.1 metre high.

    _ A seven year child nearly drowned in a school play scheme pool due to the misunderstanding of the permission form as the parents first language was not English and they failed to record that the child could not swim.

    _ A special needs school child nearly drowned in a West Sussex pool due to poor supervision and control procedures.

    _ Two staff members and five pupils of a Hampshire school were taken to hospital following the release of chlorine gas due to chemicals being mixed incorrectly following a blockage in the automated dosing machinery.

    _ Vandals poured pool chemicals into the pool at a Hampshire junior school.