Information guide - Managing drowning risks at publicly accessible pools
Published: 11 September 2009
Last Updated: 7 September 2009
Why manage drowning risks at pools?
Hazards and risks
Guidelines for safe pool operation
Guidelines for water safety
Royal Life Saving Society fact sheets
Why manage drowning risks at pools?
Swimming pools are used mainly by children and young people as an avenue for having fun. While the death of anyone from drowning is a tragedy, the death of a child or a young person is catastrophic.
There are substantial penalties in the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Act) if it is found that a pool operator hasn't taken adequate steps to prevent a person drowning.
More information on people's obligations under the Act can be found at www.worksafe.qld.gov.au.
Hazards and risks
Public swimming pools present a number of hazards that may contribute to the risk of drowning, such as:
- large bodies of water with a large number of people using it at any one time
- the presence of children and adults with varying levels of swimming expertise
- excited children who may have limited ability to make sound judgements about the riskiness of their behaviour, and
- the presence of devices, such as personal buoyancy devices (floaties, tubes) or pieces of equipment permanently or semi-permanently located in pools for common use (slides, jumping castles), that may impair vision of adults or pool operators supervising pool activities.
The preferred method for minimising risk is eliminating the hazard all together. However, eliminating these hazards would act to the detriment of the community benefits obtained by providing a place for healthy and active activities. With this in mind it is necessary for operators of public pools to minimise the risks arising from these hazards through other methods.
Suitable control methods can include but are not limited to:
- ensuring patrons either have a sufficient swimming competency or are accompanied by adults who will be able to provide the necessary supervision
- prohibiting activities that may increase the risk of people being injured while using the pool, such as diving, 'bombing' and running
- providing information or signage about pool safety, including the need for accompanying adults to supervise their children and the types of activities that are prohibited while using the pool facilities
- supervising pool occupants by appropriately competent and responsible people, i.e. adequately trained lifesavers or supervisors
- removing or prohibiting the use of permanent or semi-permanent flotation devices when adequate supervision cannot be maintained, and
- restricting entry to areas that present increased risk and require higher levels of swimming competency, for example slides, diving boards, deep water..
Guidelines for safe pool operation
The Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA) Guidelines provide useful information about applying suitable controls for the use of pools. These guidelines include a checklist, which can be used to determine the risks presented by particular pools and their uses so that suitable controls can be selected. The information below sets out the scope of the guidelines.
The RLSSA Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations should be used by pool operators as a minimum standard for the operating their pool.
Pool operators who cannot meet these requirements, including supervision, set out in these guidelines must identify other suitable ways to prevent or minimise the risks of drowning.
Although these guidelines are published by RLSSA, they were developed in consultation with, and represent the collective opinion of, the aquatics industry across Australia. As a result, the Guidelines have become a minimum standards document, similar to an Australian Standard, providing advice to the aquatics industry on the minimum requirements for particular situations.
The guidelines are a prime point of reference for the legal community when issues in the aquatic industry go to court, particularly in relation to the provision of supervision by lifeguards. They have been examined and referred to in various coroners and magistrates courts across Australia.
Guidelines for water safety
In addition to the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations, the RLSSA has developed Guidelines for Water Safety applicable for use in other aquatic environments including those:
- operated by:
- bodies corporate
- hotels, motel, camping and caravan grounds
- commercial learn to swim and school pools
- that are part of urban water developments.
The safety considerations listed here do not encompass residential swimming pools and spas that are covered by existing local building regulations and safety programs.
The Guidelines for Water Safety - Body Corporate Pools are relevant to any swimming pool and/or spa facilities that unit owners and occupiers can enjoy as common property under the governance of a body corporate.
These guidelines are intended to provide a general guide for the management of aquatic risk, and may be applied to a very wide range of activities or operations of any body corporate aquatic environment.
Such aquatic amenities may be found in:
- residential units
- apartment blocks
- high rise style apartments
- retirement villages.
These guidelines hold relevant advice for designers, developers, government authorities, real estate agents, governing bodies, local council authorities, body corporate members and residents on water safety considerations that should be integral to the design, development and the long-term operation of the swimming pools and spas within the body corporate setting.
The Guidelines for Water Safety - Hotel, Motel, Camping and Caravan Grounds are relevant to any swimming pool and/or spa facility located within a resort, hotel, motel, camping or caravan ground environment.
These guidelines are directed to:
- swimming pool and facility operators
- maintenance personnel
- managerial personnel
- industry bodies
- staff.
These guidelines have been created to give relevant advice to designers, developers, government authorities, tourism industry personnel, governing bodies and hotel, motel, camping and caravan ground staff and clientele. These guidelines should be integral to the design, operation and long-term success of swimming pools and spas within the resort, hotel, motel, camping and caravan ground environment. They offer pool operators significant and detailed information on the management of aquatic facilities, while providing a secure, user-friendly aquatic environment for all guests.
The Guidelines for Water Safety - Commercial Learn to Swim and School Pools are relevant to any swimming pool and/or spa facility located within a commercial 'learn to swim' environment or a swimming pool located at a school.
These guidelines are designed for commercial 'learn to swim' and school pool:
- facility operators
- maintenance personnel
- managerial personnel
- industry bodies
- staff.
These guidelines have been created to give relevant advice to designers, developers, government authorities, aquatic industry personnel, governing bodies, educators, fitness industry practitioners and commercial learn to swim staff and clientele.
The Guidelines for Water Safety - Urban Water Developments are relevant to purpose-built water environments, near or around areas which the general public may frequent, and would include:
- residential developments in both urban and rural settings
- commercial developments such as shopping precincts and hospitality venues
- a combination of residential and commercial developments, and
- public spaces, e.g. parkland and reserves.
These guidelines contain vital information for land managers, developers, landscape architects, urban planners, local government agencies and state/territory government agencies..
Royal Life Saving Society fact sheets
The Royal Life Saving Society Australia produces a number of fact sheets and national polices which are likely to be of assistance to swimming pool operators and inspectors.
The policies are approved by the Royal Life Saving National Council and are reviewed at regular intervals.
Copies of the fact sheets can be found at:
www.royallifesaving.com.au/www/html/156-fact-sheets.asp
Copies of the policies can be found at:
www.royallifesaving.com.au/www/html/441-national-policies-.asp
For more information:
Visit www.worksafe.qld.gov.au or call the Workplace Health and Safety Infoline on 1300 369 915.
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