AS1 - Signage for Aquatic Facilities

Purpose

To establish guidance for the management of signage in and around aquatic facilities.

Description

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should ensure that signage within an aquatic facility is appropriate to the hazards, risks and information needs of potential and actual patrons at the facility.

Safety signs draw attention to objects and situations affecting health and safety.

Safety signs do not replace the need for proper risk and incident minimisation measures.

All safety signage should be in accordance with the Australian and International Standards listed within the references.

Signage Policy and Procedures

The owner or operator of an Aquatic Facility should identify its position with signage by designing and development an Aquatic Signage Policy and supplementing procedures. The Policy and/or procedures should outline how signage at the aquatic facility is assessed, managed, maintained and reviewed in line with the Australian Standards and the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations - Aquatic Signage.

This may be a stand-alone document or may for part of the Asset Management Policy and procedures. (See Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations - Asset Management).

Signage Induction and Education

Explanations of the functions and meanings of all signs at an aquatic facility should be included in employee induction training programmes. Where it is proposed to display a new sign or to change the location of an existing sign, employees should be consulted where possible, informed beforehand, and an explanation given for the introduction of the new sign or the change in location of the existing one.

Service and Maintenance

Signs should be cleaned and visually inspected at regular intervals, and action should be taken to remedy any defects in line with for Safe Pool Operations - Asset Management.

A sign which has been damaged for faded should be replaced as soon as reasonably practicable.

A sign should be removed when its function is no longer needed.

References

• Guidelines for Aquatic Risk Management
• AS 1319-1994 Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment
• AS/NZS 2416.1:2010 Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 Water Safety Signs and beach safety flags
• ISO 7001 Graphic Symbol – Public Information Symbols
• AS 2419 Fire Hydrant Installations
• AS 2293.3 2005 Emergency Escape Lighting and Exit Signs for Buildings
• National Construction Code of Australia 2016 (NCC)