SV2 - Supervision Planning Principles

Purpose

To ensure the principles of Supervision Planning are understood by owners or operators of aquatic facilities.

Supervision Planning Principles

The key requirement for preparing a Supervision Plan is that the plan is tailored for the aquatic facility to which it applies.

It should be sufficiently comprehensive to cover the full range of activities at the facility (including non-routine activities such as maintenance or construction) that could result in an emergency situation.

It should be relevant, realistic and sufficiently clear to be understood by all users and reviewers of the plan.

A less hazardous facility may require a simple Supervision Plan, while a complex or more hazardous facility may require a detailed and extensive plan, involving more people and organisations in the development and consultation phases of the plan.

The Supervision Plan should be properly integrated with an aquatic facility’s safety management system (SMS). It is important that all aspects of the Supervision Plan are realistic, workable and agreed to by the relevant parties.

This includes assumptions regarding actions required, timing, effectiveness of detection methods and decision-making processes.

The Supervision Plan should take into account the ‘worst case scenario’ that may prevail in an aquatic environment and understand the difficulty in preventing and responding to such an event.

Definition of Supervision at an Aquatic Facility

Interpretations of the term ‘Supervision’ often vary depending on the background and experience of the owner or operator of an aquatic facility. In general, supervision is the measures and arrangements taken to prevent, prepare and respond to possible and actual impacts in and around an aquatic environment.

At a minimum, Supervision in an Aquatic Facility is a minimum of 1 person over the age of 18 (Lifeguards may be younger however must be supervised by a person over 18) who:

• Is directed by a set of arrangements within a Supervision Plan and;
• holds a current skill set equivalent to that of a Pool Lifeguard
• is in a position to maintain effective supervision of all persons on, below the surface and the bottom of a swimming pool (or their zone)
• is able to respond to and reach a persons in distress in the swimming pool within 30 seconds and
• Who has timely access to:
  • A Rescue Tube
  • A Spinal Board
  • A First Aid Kit
  • An Oxygen Resuscitator
  • A Defibrillator

The Role of Supervision Planning

Preparedness requires identifying what to prepare for and how to respond. It therefore involves accumulating knowledge and skills, disseminating information about the management of potential aquatic emergencies, and providing and allocating facility resources and people to deal with the possible impacts identified.

Through Supervision planning, aquatic facility personnel improve their understanding of the patrons, aquatic environment, pool plant, equipment, processes and materials, and their possible impacts in emergency situations.

They also develop an understanding of the roles of everyone involved in preventing, preparing and responding to aquatic risks. This understanding provides a basis for determining the most effective ways of using aquatic facilities resources, including the development of a management system identifying the functions required to respond automatically to an emergency. It also provides a basis for informed decision-making.

Relationship with other management systems

Supervision planning is an element of the safety management system and complements systems for risk management, asset management, safe design and emergency management. Common elements of these systems include the identification of hazards and risks, training and education, and consultation.

Risk management and Supervision Planning

Risk management is recognised as integral to effective management. It is an iterative process that involves systematically identifying, analysing, assessing, treating, monitoring and communicating the risks associated with an organisation's activities or processes.

In the case of Supervision Planning, risk management is undertaken in an attempt to prevent incidents and to minimise their impact if they do occur. Its major link with Supervision planning is in the treatment of risks. After all other risk reduction strategies (i.e. safe design, education, policies, and signage) have been adopted into the design and operation of the facility, the Supervision Plan with the Emergency Plan addresses the residual risk that remains.

References

• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk management – Principles and Guidelines
• Lifeguarding, 5th Edition – Royal Life Saving Society Australia
• SISCAQU013 Coordinate lifeguard service at an aquatic facility
• AS 3745 – 2010 Planning for Emergencies in Facilities