Gosport Borough Council - Swimming Pools

HSE webpage swimming pools

INTRODUCTION

This guidance provides information for those who have any involvement with the operation and management of health and safety in swimming pools; primarily pool owners (including local authority clients), pool operators (including management contractors). Aspects of this will also apply to pool hirers.

The aim is to provide guidance/information on the risks associated with swimming pool operation and the precautions which may be taken to help achieve a safer environment for people who use swimming pools and employees who work at them.

PARTICULAR LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Every pool operator is responsible for Health and Safety. The Health and Safety at work act 1974, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and other similar legislation place general obligations on pool operators.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require you to assess the health and safety risks to all your employees and to identify what you need to do to comply with your legal duties to prevent or control those risks and ensure your employees' health and safety. Under the regulations you have particular responsibilities towards young people:

to ensure your risk assessment takes into account their psychological or physical immaturity, inexperience, and lack of awareness of existing or potential risks;
to introduce control measures to eliminate or minimise the risks, so far as is reasonably practicable. You must also:
address certain specified factors in the risk assessment;

2. Provision and Use of Work Equipment

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) apply to all work equipment, which is used by employees. The primary objective of the Regulations is to ensure that no work equipment gives rise to risks to health and safety, regardless of the work equipment's age, condition or origin. All employees must be competent to use work equipment with due regard to health and safety.

The Approved Code of Practice and Guidance on PUWER Safe use of work equipment. Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 emphasizes the importance of training and proper supervision with the working environment.

3. Supervision arrangements to safeguard pool users

All pools require some measure of supervision but arrangements for each location must be determined by the risk assessment. The risk assessment undertaken at a swimming pool will need to include not only the physical hazards but those relating to swimmers and swimming-related activities.

Local circumstances
The pool structure and equipment
The way the pool is used and the characteristics of those who may use it

4. Potential hazards/risks

Inadequate or inappropriate supervision
Health problems(heart trouble, impaired vision/hearing)
Alcohol or food before swimming
Youth or inexperience
Weak or non-swimmers straying out of their depth
Diving into shallow depth of water
Unruly behaviour and misuse of equipment
Unclear pool water
Absence or inadequate response in an emergency

5. Duties of a lifeguard

Communicate effectively with pool users
Anticipate problems and prevent accidents
Intervene to prevent behaviour which is unsafe
Identify emergencies quickly and take appropriate action
Effect a rescue from the water
Give immediate first aid to any casualty

All lifeguards need to be qualified or effectively trained to enable them to carry out their role and tasks, efficiently for health and safety welfare of all in their charge. Their duties should be restricted and supervised until the necessary competence has been acquired.

REFERENCES/FURTHER DETAILS

1. safety in swimming pools HSG 179
2. Sport England guidance notes:
3. HSE Books:

4. HSE website:

5. managing safety in swimming pools HSG 179:-

For further information please call (023) 9254 5505, 5506 or 5507 during office hours

or e-mail ehs@gosport.gov.uk any time