SV4 - Supervision Risk Assessment

Purpose

To ensure supervision planning is based on sound risk management practices and objectives.

Conducting an Aquatic Risk Assessment

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should conduct an aquatic risk assessment in accordance with the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations - Aquatic Risk Management to determine what is required for the supervision at an Aquatic Facility.

When conducting a risk assessment for supervision at an Aquatic Facility, an owner or operator should consider all relevant matters including:

• The history of deaths, serious injuries/illness and accidents/near misses within aquatic facilities and external information including coronial recommendations, regulations, Australian Standards and the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations
• The size, location and nature of the physical environment of the Aquatic Facility
• The number, characteristics and behaviour of users of the Aquatic Facility at different times and within different activities
• The type and frequency of activities in the aquatic environment at the Aquatic Facility
• The extent of other aquatic risk treatments in place for the aquatic facility
• The barriers that may be in place for effective supervision including the non-supervisory tasks that Lifeguards may play that would impede effective supervision of the aquatic environment. (i.e. Water Testing, Facility First Aid)

They should analyse and evaluate these risks at different times of any given period relevant to the activities of the aquatic facility.

History of Incidents

A record of incidents and other information that has already been obtained to assist in controlling risks at an Aquatic Facility should be considered. This includes:

• The history of deaths, serious injuries/illness and accidents/near misses within aquatic facilities in Australia
• Coronial and civil liability cases and recommendations
• Regulations, Australian Standards and the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations

N.B. Royal Life Saving Society Australia maintains the National Fatal and Non-Fatal Drowning Database and combined with the Aquatic Industry Safety Hub collects and published a wide range of documents for consideration by aquatic facilities

Type and frequency of activities

Certain aquatic activities have greater risks of injury and illness and require additional supervision to effectively supervise.

For each of the different activities the following information should be taken into consideration:

• Time of activity
• Duration of Activity (i.e. Hour, Half Day, Full Day)
• Type of Activity (Fitness Test, Carnival, Sports, etc.)
• Locations within the Aquatic Facility which will be used for the Activity
• Equipment within the Activity (Rescue Equipment, Manikins, Scoreboard)
• Stakeholders who impact or are impacted by the activity (participants, spectators, parents, regular patrons, clubs etc.)

Types of activities may be structured or unstructured and may include:

• School Carnivals, Excursions and activity Days
• Birthday Parties and Celebrations
• Sporting Competition and Events (i.e. Water polo)
• Running, Jumping and Diving
• Any underwater aquatic activities (i.e. Helicopter underwater Escape Training, Underwater Sports, Hypoxic Training, Scuba Diving, Synchronised Swimming)
• Lifesaving activities
• Aquatic exercise activities
• In water filming
• Introduction and use of temporary amusement equipment
• Hire of the facilities
• Ball games
• Floating play equipment or inflatable play equipment

Size, location and nature of the Aquatic Facility

In relation to the size, location and nature of the Aquatic Facility, you should take into account the:

• The quantity, dimensions, nature, capacity, depths and characteristics of all swimming pools and other aquatic environments
• Distance between different aquatic environments, work areas and facilities and the response times for Lifeguards and other staff
• The location of other areas requiring supervision (i.e. change rooms, isolated areas)
• The quantity, dimensions, nature and capacity of all the swimming pool features and aquatic amusement devices

N.B. The Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations – Supervision of Aquatic Environments provides additional supporting information for owners and operators of aquatic facilities about how specific aquatic environments should be supervised.

N.B. The Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations – Swimming Pool Design provides additional supporting information for owners and operators of aquatic facilities in relation to the safe design of swimming pools and other aquatic environments.

The number and composition of persons at the Aquatic Facility

The types and total number of people in attendance of the each of the aquatic environments within an aquatic facility should be estimated for different times of the day.

When considering the number of persons at your aquatic facility, you should include any contractors, subcontractors, and volunteers you engage as workers as well as groups and teams that use the aquatic facility.

You should also consider the events (seasons, weather, programs and activities) both internally and externally that have an impact on the number of persons that may be at your aquatic facility at any given time.

Special consideration should include those user groups who through drowning and injury research are more prone to need Supervision. This includes:

• Cultural and Linguistics Diverse (CaLD) patrons
• Children
• Older Australians (55 years old and over)
• Persons with a disability or medical conditions
• School Groups
• Sporting Groups
• Non-Swimmers, Weak Swimmers and persons unfamiliar with the environment
• Aquatic Exercise and Program groups
• Parents / Carers / Guardians
• Large Groups (as they often divert attention and require specific supervision resources.)

N.B. The Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations – Supervision of Aquatic Users provides additional supporting information for owners and operators of aquatic facilities in how specific aquatic environments should be supervised

Barriers affecting Supervision of the Aquatic Facility

The Supervision Plan will usually be based upon assumptions about matters such as the availability of resources and services, and the execution of supervision within estimated timeframes. These assumptions should be evaluated and contingency planning developed to minimise any barriers for effective supervision. Examples include:

• Glare
• Low light or poor light
• Loss of artificial lighting
• The day blind spot
• Disturbance on the surface of the water
• Physical obstructions
• Refraction
• Unavailability of staff
• Staff fatigue, rosters and breaks
• Failure or unserviceability of equipment
• Distractions
• Poor communications
• Complacency
• Excessive workload
• Misperception

N.B. The Royal Life Saving Society - Australia Pool Lifeguard Manual and Aquatic Industry Safety Hub provides additional information on barriers affecting the Supervision of an Aquatic Facility.

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