swimming pool cleaning risk assessment
Sorry, no page or file exists at that address:https://www.lga.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/JSA%20Template%206%20-%20Swimming%20Pool%20inspections%20(1).docThis page explains what the person in charge of a swimming pool needs to do to comply with health and safety law. The most important thing swimming pool operators should know is that they are legally required to protect the health and safety of workers and pool users. A visit to a swimming pool should be an enjoyable experience, so operators need to protect pool users from real risk without wrongly restricting beneficial pool activities. HSE’s Risk management principles are therefore important in swimming pool management. There are no swimming pool specific health and safety laws. However, swimming pool operators must comply with their general duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the associated regulations. Operators must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the health and safety risks to workers and users to help decide what they must do to make their pool safe.
This is known as risk assessment. The law does not state what safety measures an operator must put in place. Such judgements must be made by each operator, based on the particular risks in their pool. More information on the law, your duties as a swimming pool operator and conducting a risk assessment are detailed in: Managing health and safety in swimming pools. Managing health and safety in swimming pools has been produced to help pool operators comply with health and safety law. Following the guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. But if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law. The guidance is meant for swimming pools used by the public but also covers segregated areas of rivers, lakes, the sea and other non-standard swimming facilities. It applies anywhere swimming is actively encouraged. However, it does not apply to swimming in open water (eg a lake or pond), which is not maintained as a swimming facility.
The guidance may also apply to paddling pools, depending on the particular circumstances. See: Swimming pools FAQs for further information. Please note, a review of Managing health and safety in swimming pools by HSE, in collaboration with key stakeholders, is currently planned. The Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG) produce detailed guidance on swimming pool water quality and treatment. HSE recognises their guidance as a useful resource for pool operators when drawing up their operating procedures. Enforcing authorities (HSE and local authorities) consider this guidance as the standard to be achieved in effectively managed swimming pools.The syllabus comprises the knowledge requirements – this is what people studying for PWTAG-approved SPTO qualification should be taught: 1 What is a pool a Types of pool and uses b Types of pool tank and finish c How swimming pools work – the recirculation cycle: a Pollution from bathers – why people are the main source of pollution bathers:
h PWTAG Code of Practice – Swimming Pool Technical Operations’ role in written procedures a Design issues impacting on water quality b Awareness of BS EN 15288 1 & 2, the design, management and operation of swimming pools
copper pool cleaning system c Sport England design guide e Safe access – including people with disabilities f The plant room – location, size and access h Temperature and humidity 5 Hydraulics and water circulation a Bather load – calculating the factors for safety and water quality b Circulation rate – calculations c Turnover period – calculations and alignment with PWTAG standards d Hydraulic design – different design solutions e Surface water removal – focusing on removing pollution: f Balance tanks – purpose, design and maintenance g Outlet and inlet safety – the entrapment: PWTAG Code, BS EN 13451–1 and 3
h Moveable floors and booms – effects on hydraulics and water quality i Circulation pumps – the principles, variable speed drives j Valves – types, uses and safe operation k Flow meters and pressure gauges – calibration, maintenance l More than one pool – separate treatment systems m Dye testing – why and when a Clarity of water – importance b Filtration rates – pros and cons: c The sand bed – grades and depths d Underdrains – how they work, how they are best constructed e Other types of filter: f Backwashing – the principles: g Filter design – materials, sizes and fittings Filter maintenance – the annual programme h Coagulation – what it is a Suitability and compatibility of disinfection types b What is disinfection – in a swimming pool setting c Oxidation – what it is, and does d CT rates – an appreciation e Choosing a primary disinfectant – chlorine, hypochlorite, chlorinated isocyanurates, bromine (soft water, hard water, costs and impurities)
f The chemistry of chlorine disinfection – an understanding: g Free and combined chlorine i Electrolytic generation of chlorine – the systems and applicability j Chlorinated isocyanurates – when and how to use: k Bromine based disinfectants BCDMH – what it is and the residuals: l Other forms of residual disinfection and new treatments m The importance of dilution – why disinfection and filtration is not enough a When secondary disinfection should be considered b The effects of secondary disinfection c Dealing with Cryptosporidium d Ozone – what it is, how it is applied, the pros and cons e UV – what it is, how it is applied, maintenance and monitoring, pros and cons a Principles – key requirements when dosing chemicals b Components – the system design and infrastructure c Dosing practice – where, when and how d Hand dosing in emergencies e Diluting chemicals – how and when to dilute
f Dissolving dry chemicals g Dose strength – calculations h Day tanks – use, construction and fittings i Dosing pumps – type, construction and capacity j Pipework – construction and application k Valves and fittings – that may be incorporated into the dosing system l Calibration – checking the dosing rate m Faults – fail safe systems n Automatic control – optimising dosing treatment: o Circulation feeders – what they are and how they work: p CO2 installation and dosing requirements a Source water quality b Alkalinity – the effect on pH c Hardness – PWTAG guidelines, grout and scale d Dissolved solids – Corrosion, erosion and PWTAG guidelines e Water balance – what it is f Disinfection by-products – the health effects: 11 Testing and controlling pool water chemistry a Comparator and photometer – how to use them b How to sample and test for: d pH value – measuring and checking:
g Dissolved solids – measuring and control h Langelier and water balance – measuring and control – in context i Documentation and record keeping and storing test results 12 Healthy swimming – the health risks a Infectious hazards, including transmission: a What goes wrong – definition of an outbreak b Problems that have lead to outbreaks c Dealing with a faecal incident – The PWTAG Code, technical note and NHS UK Cryptosporidium Reference Unit: Guidance for Investigators and Health Professionals: a Sampling – must include chemical tests b Aerobic colony counts (TVC) c Coliform and E coli – potential faecal or environmental pollution d Pseudomonas aeruginosa – the reasons for testing e Legionella – testing for spas, showers and water storage f Test requirements – monthly analysis g Interpreting results – assessing microbiological quality, i Gross contamination and closure of the pool a Material safety data sheets – provision and use
b Risk and COSHH assessment – the process and elimination d Bulk deliveries and storage f The chemical store g Storage of disinfectants and other chemicals including: a Servicing and frequency c Daily monitoring and maintenance, fault finding a Floor surfaces – dirt, slips trips and falls and bacteria b Around the pool – PWTAG technical note d Pool covers – cleaning both sides to control mould and Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Transfer channels and balance tanks – regular maintenance f The pool bottom –particularly deck-level pools g Moveable floors and booms – the need to clean under structures
h Stainless steel – preventing corrosion i Inflatables and swimming aids – prevention of Pseudomonas aeruginosa j Safeguarding the fabric of the building – preventing steel corrosion cracking, pool grout, filling and emptying pools
k Algae 18 PPE and plant room emergency procedures a The regulations – assessment, provision and use
b Harmful effects – the potential risks to health from chemical exposure c PPE – what to use and when, use of MSDS d In an emergency – what to do for chemical contact/inhalation/ingestion e Emergency showers and eye baths f Toxic gasses, fires and explosions g Spillages – PWTAG Code and technical guidance (sodium hypochlorite) h PWTAG Code and emergency procedures – chemicals emergency part of the EAP a Commercial spas – definition and comparison with domestic b Basics – loading, turnover, filtration, and dilution c Hydraulics – water flow and air flow d Inlets and outlets – the risks from booster pumps e Disinfection – types, levels, dosing and monitoring f Microbiological testing – regulations, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella
g HPA/HSE guidance The SPTO qualification course assessment The assessment comprises both practical tests and an examination to test the knowledge of the candidates A wholly written exam shall at a minimum cover a fair representation of the essential topics as outlined in the theory element of the syllabus (above).
A pass mark for the knowledge examination is determined by the approved training organisation in their application for approved status but is usually set at 70%. There are four basic areas of practical ability that can be taught in any suitable location, and should then be assessed in the student’s workplace, as part of the exam: 1 Doing a full set of water tests for swimming pool water 2 Drawing a schematic diagram of the layout of a swimming pool plant This should indicate clearly (using arrows to indicate the direction of flow) each of the main components, including: 3 Demonstrate how to backwash the filtration system This should be of a chosen pool, in accordance with normal operating procedures. It should include an explanation of why and when this must be carried out. 4 Making a risk assessment for one pool chemical This should refer to a chemical stored in the plant room of a chosen swimming pool. It should include identifying the requirements for storage, handling and use of the chemical.