 |
Home | Search | Browse | About IPO | Staff | Links |
|
Home | Search | Browse | About IPO | Staff | Links |
|
Here's your guide to the new pool,
Accidents and injuries can be avoided at By Andrew Johnson, ARM The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recently revised the 1984 Minimum Sanitary Requirements/or Design and Operation of Swimming Pools and Bathing Beaches, hereafter referred to as MSR. The initial 1984 requirements were developed in response to the Swimming Pool and Bathing Beach Act of 1974. The purpose of the initial Act is to . . . protect, promote and preserve the public health, safety, and general welfare by providing for the establishment and enforcement of minimum standards for safety, cleanliness, and general sanitation for all swimming pools and bathing beaches. . . . This article is intended to guide you through the important safety considerations included in the IDPH requirements effective July 15, 1987. To assure your district's compliance with the requirements, you should obtain a new copy of the MSR. General requirements The first items outlined are the general requirements, of which most park districts are already aware. These include mandatory annual licensing, and IDPH approval of construction plans for new pools or renovation plans for older pools. (These requirements do not apply to beaches operated by units of local government located on Lake Michigan.) The IDPH may grant conditional/temporary licenses and, in extreme cases, elect to close the beach or the pool. Governmental bodies may self-administer the requirements of this Act providing they meet requirements set down by the IDPH. Safety hazards Climbing apparatus has been installed in some park district and privately-operated pools. This is not acceptable under current guidelines. The MSR specifically state that . . . obstructions creating a safety hazard shall not extend into or above the swimming pool, or shall not protrude from the floor of the pool. The MSR also contain specifications governing depth markings and rope placement: Pool water depth markings must be posted at or above the water surface on the pool wall. . . . If it is not possible to place the markings on the wall of the pool, then depth markings must be placed on fencing or the pool enclosure so it is plainly visible. The spacing of these markings should be at the shallow and deep ends, at the transitional point where the change in slope occurs between the shallow and deep ends, and spaced at not more than 25 foot intervals measured peripherally around the pool. Pools must be equipped with safety ropes and colored buoys one foot toward the shallow end of the pool to mark the transition point. Devices used for attaching the rope to the walls of the pool must be recessed. If there is no transition point, as in many pools which have a constant slope, the ropes may be installed where water depth reaches five feet. Non-slip surface requirements Reference to non-slip surfaces can be found throughout the MSR. Pool decks, equipment rooms, bath houses, wading pools, waterslide walkways and decks must all be provided with non-slip surfaces. In addition, any ladders leading to diving boards and diving platforms, and coming out of pools, must be provided with non-slip surfaces. To help prevent against slips and falls, flush mounted covers must be installed where there may be openings in the deck or floor covering. Illinois Parks and Recreation 17 May/June 1988 Pool requirements One very important change which was made to the 1984 MSR states, The dimensions of the diving area of a pool should conform to those shown in Illustration C in the Appendix. The new standards adopted in 1987 qualify this statement, reading: The dimensions of the diving area of a pool constructed after February 16, 1976, which has diving boards or platforms of three meters or less in height, shall conform to those shown in Appendix A; Illustration C. . . . This clarification effectively grandfathers diving area dimensions in any pools constructed before Feb. 16, 1976. While "grandfathering" may satisfy that older pools were constructed to the state of the art at the time, it should prove to remind that the safety standards used at the time of construction may not be adequate to today's usage. Waterslide safety The MSR include information pertaining to waterslides as well as pools. Another excellent source of waterslide safety information is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' publication, Suggested Health and Safety Guidelines for Recreational Waterslide Flumes. Similar to safe driving, waterslides require safe following distances. To help assure this, the MSR stipulate that . . . waterslide flumes must be smooth and continuous for the entire length, and must have a distinctive line or marking to indicate a starting zone in which only one rider at a time is permitted. This line must be in accordance with manufacturer's specifications or thirty feet, whichever is the longer distance. A sign must be posted at the top of the slide warning all sliders not to proceed down the slide until the slider in front of them has passed this line. This marking helps provide a good point of reference for attendants at the top and bottom of the slide to control timing of persons on the slide. Safety rules for waterslides should be posted at the bottom of the slide to alert users about height and other safety requirements. During the operating season, inspection requirements should be specifically spelled out for waterslide operators. A daily inspection of each flume must be made, and any of the following conditions must be eliminated before the slide is opened: • loose railings, • leaking seals at butt joints, • rough patching at cracks or joints, • loose guards at turns, • unusual movement of flume bed when walked on, • growth of algae, Illinois Parks and Recreation 18 May/June 1988 • sharp edges or rough surfaces on flume and safety rails, and • projection of any structure or plant growth near or into the flume. This inspection should be documented to assure consistency and employee accountability for conducting the inspections. A very easily developed checklist could be made from the above mentioned points. Chlorine leaks One constant threat to the safety and health of pool visitors as well as employees is the potential of a chlorine leak. The MSR set down specific guidelines and procedures for use of chlorine gas. A chlorine storage room should be relatively airtight, and have an exhaust system that draws air no higher than eight inches from the floor. The discharge of that air must be out of doors in a direction which minimizes exposure in the event of a leak. The fresh air intake for this room should be at a high point opposite the exhaust fan intake and the room should have at least an eighteen square inch window and interior lighting. The MSR also require that, Electrical switches and lighting for this room should be located outside of the room next to the door. This should enable anyone entering the room to immediately switch on the fan and light. The fan switch may be interconnected to the door opener. The fan would then turn on automatically when the door is opened. Scales for weighing cylinders should be provided and ideally located opposite the window looking into the room. Employees could then read the scales and check on conditions in the room prior to entering. The MSR also specify that: A gas mask designed for use in chlorine atmospheres must be provided. Self-contained breathing apparatus may be provided instead of gas masks, and they are preferred. If a self-contained breathing apparatus is provided, adequate employee training must be provided and should be documented. A "DANGER, CHLORINE" sign should be posted outside the chlorine room. Phone numbers for the fire department and other emergency response teams should also be posted. Personnel aspects The operation of many pools is dictated by the construction and design. Therefore, the personnel aspects of operating a pool or a bathing beach become the primary safety concern. Pool employees — whether slide attendants or lifeguards — must receive first aid and lifesaving technique training through the American Red Cross, YMCA or equivalent training agency. At least one attendant must be on duty to control the individuals using the slide when a water-slide is in operation. According to the MSR, No attendants or lifeguards should be assigned any duties that might Illinois Parks and Recreation 19 May/June 1988 Pool requirements distract their attention from proper observation of persons in the pool area or that would prevent immediate assistance to persons in distress. The IDPH requirements stipulate there be one lifeguard for every 200 bathers or one lifeguard to every 2,000 square feet of pool surface area, whichever is less. Elevated lifeguard chairs are required for every 2,000 square feet of a pool's water surface. These elevated lifeguard chairs should be movable. Lighting on the pool is constantly changing, creating glare. This can create different blind spots at different times of the day. It is quite possible that a drowning could occur and, because of glare, the lifeguard may not be able to see below the surface to locate the victim. Therefore, lifeguard chairs should be mobile and moved throughout the day to adjust for glare. Emergency training Lifeguards and attendants should be trained in the proper use of both the shepherd's crook and the ring buoy. Emergency procedures should be reviewed with all pool employees. Procedures for chlorine leaks, and employee/visitor evacuation and emergency care should be developed and reviewed with all employees. Drills should be conducted periodically to acquaint all employees with these procedures. Pool rules should be placed on placards provided by the Department of Public Health, and they should be installed at the entrance and at other strategic locations throughout the pool area. At a bathing beach operation, diving boards shall meet the same requirements as pools or, If water platforms or floats are used, and diving is permitted off these floats, the depth around the float must be at least 91/2 feet. This would require periodic measurement of depth levels around the floats to allow for pool or bathing beach drainage, as well as shifting of the beach floor. If no lifeguards are provided and swimming has been observed, a sign must be posted which states,
Illinois Parks and Recreation 20 May/June 1988 Pool requirements
No person may enter the beach water alone or swim alone. Any concern noted by lifeguards or pool or beach management should not go unattended. If there is even the slightest possibility of a chlorine leak, or other type of injury or emergency, the pool should not be opened until the hazardous situation is corrected. A sample Pool Safety Self-Appraisal accompanies this article. All the answers should be "yes." If, in going through this, you find some questions answered "no," you should reference the MSR to check on the specific requirements. Pool, waterslide, and bathing beach management should become acquainted with the MSR. These requirements should be reviewed with your pool staff before the opening of each year's swimming season. This brief review is not intended to be a substitute for your reading and understanding of the MSR. Rather, it is hoped that this review will serve to highlight some of the features of the MSR in order to help you avoid accidents and injuries at your water facilities.
Illinois Parks and Recreation 22 May/June 1988 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|