SV26 - Supervision of Diving Towers and Springboards
| Issue Date | Effective Date | Version |
|---|---|---|
| 20/01/2018 | 01/09/2019 | 1.0 |
Purpose
To provide guidance on the supervision of diving towers and springboards at an aquatic facility.
Description
Risk Assessment is central to establishing a policy on the use and supervision of diving towers and springboards. As part of a risk assessment concerning safer diving, consideration must include all hazards and risks associated with diving. Refer to the general risk management section for further advice on applying a risk management assessment.
Maintenance
The diving tower(s), platform(s) and springboard(s) should be inspected and checked as suitable for use prior to being opened on each day of operation.
Defective or faulty equipment should be isolated, signposted and reported for repair under normal operating procedures.
Height of Springboards and Platforms
It is recommended that recreational users be restricted when diving to a maximum height of 3 metres on either springboards or platforms.
It is recommended that recreational users be restricted when entering the water feet first (i.e. jumping or bombing) to a maximum height of 5 metres.
Any recreational use at 5 metres or above should only be considered if appropriate risk assessments have been conducted and mechanical surface agitation is installed under the diving facilities; this aids the users in their visual perception and location of the surface of the water, and to break surface tension.
Supervision
The supervising lifeguard must be able to recover a person from the deepest section of the pool.
Diving towers and springboards should be supervised at all times they are open for use.
The lifeguard supervising the dive pool when the diving tower or springboards are open should, in no circumstances, have the additional responsibility of supervising any other pool space at that time.
The supervising lifeguard must be able to recover a person from the deepest section of the pool. Additional equipment to assist deep water rescue should be provided in close proximity to the pool e.g. Swim fins.
Access to the diving tower should be restricted except during periods when the tower is in use for diving.
Queuing and congestion on narrow stairways should be avoided.
Entry
Entry to the diving area from poolside should not be allowed when the diving boards are in use, thus minimising the risk of a collision.
Entry off the tower or spring board should only be allowed when the previous user has exited the pool.
Signs which encourage safe use of diving towers and springboards should be displayed.
When a diving tower and springboard, or similar combination, share a dive pool, users of the tower should have the right of way, entering the pool feet first. This is an area of supervision where a lifeguard may need to take direct control of the diving activities of patrons, co-ordinating the order of dives.
Multiple Springboards/Platforms
Recreational users should only use one board or platform in any one session.
Springboards and towers located on opposite sides of a diving pool should not be used at the same time.
Particular care should be taken in open air pools on windy and busy days to avoid injury.
Water clarity in diving pools should be regularly monitored.
Users
Only one person should be on any board or platform at any one time.
A maximum of two (2) bounces per dive from a springboard should be allowed.
The diving pool must be free from any obstruction e.g. lane ropes, polo nets when in use for recreational diving activity.
Where diving boards are installed at the deep end of a multi-use pool, there must be at least 2.5 metres of clear space on each side of the board.
References
- Guideline SU5, Lifeguard Duty Periods
- Guideline SU9, Encouraging Responsible Behaviour
- Guideline GO2, Emergency Action Plan
Previous Versions
- SU12 Supervision of Diving Towers and Springboards, Issue 2, July 1996
- RS9 Diving Towers and Springboards, Issue 1, August 1991
