SE1 - Determining Safety Equipment Requirements

Purpose

To ensure there is adequate safety and rescue equipment used in an Aquatic Facility.

Description

When considering the type, quantity and location of safety equipment needed for an Aquatic Facility the owner or operator of an aquatic facility must consider all relevant matters including:

• The nature of the activities at the Aquatic Facility
• The nature of the hazards at the Aquatic Facility
• The size, location and nature of the Aquatic Facility
• The number and composition of persons at the Aquatic Facility

The Nature of the Activities and Aquatic Facility Hazards

Certain work environments have greater risks of injury and illness due to the nature of work being carried out and the nature of the hazards at the Aquatic Facility.

Records of injuries, illnesses, ‘near-miss’ incidents and other information that has already been obtained to assist in controlling risks at the Aquatic Facility will be useful to make appropriate decisions about first aid.

Check the safety data sheets (SDS) for any hazardous chemicals that are handled, used or stored at your Aquatic Facility. The SDS provides information about the chemical, possible health effects, controls that may be used to reduce exposure and first aid requirements.

Manufacturers, importers and suppliers of hazardous chemicals have a duty under the WHS Regulations to ensure that the current SDS is provided to a person at the Aquatic Facility if the person asks for it.

Size and Location of the Aquatic Facility

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

• The distance between different aquatic environments, work areas and facilities
• The response times for emergency services and lifeguards

Rescue and First aid equipment and facilities should be located at convenient points and in areas where there is a higher risk of an injury or illness occurring.

A large pool may require first aid to be available in more than one location if:

• The aquatic Facility is a long distance from emergency services
• Small numbers of persons are dispersed over a wide area
• Access to a part of the Aquatic Facility is difficult or obstructed
• The Aquatic Facility has more than one floor level

Where there are separate work areas (for example, a number of buildings on a site or multiple floors in a large aquatic facility), it may be appropriate to locate first aid, rescue and safety facilities centrally and provide first aid kits in each work area.

The distance of the Aquatic Facility from ambulance services, hospital and medical centres should be taken into account when determining your first aid, rescue and safety requirements. For example, if life-threatening injuries or illnesses could occur and timely access to emergency services cannot be assured, a person trained in more advanced first aid techniques (such as the provision of oxygen) will be needed.

Additional first aid considerations may be necessary for aquatic facilities in remote or isolated areas. For example, where access is difficult due to poor roads or weather conditions, arrangements may need to include aerial evacuation.

In minimising the risks to health and safety associated with remote or isolated work, you must provide a system of work that includes effective communication with the worker. This will assist in enabling an immediate response in an emergency.

The Number and Composition of Persons at the Aquatic Facility

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 different times of the day, seasons, weather and events that have an impact on the number of persons that may be at your aquatic facility.

This may mean the number of persons at the aquatic facility may vary over time. For the purposes of deciding who requires access to first aid, rescue and safety equipment, you should consider the maximum number of persons that you may engage at any one time. Generally, a larger aquatic facility and number of persons requires more first aid, rescue and safety equipment.

You should also consider the particular needs of persons at the aquatic facility who have a disability or a known health concern.

Sitting and Placement of Safety Equipment

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should ensure that some equipment is placed within specific locations. This includes rescue, first aid and safety equipment as follows:

Rescue Equipment

Rescue Equipment should be placed as follows:

• Rescue Equipment should be located and readily available within the immediate vicinity of each pool tank / aquatic environment and the Lifeguards supervising
• Aquatic facilities with more than a single pool tank must ensure that rescue equipment is readily available in each location
• Rescue Tubes should be placed in the most appropriate and ‘ready’ position which may be held, on the pool edge or within close proximity to a Lifeguards position
• Throw Ropes/Bags or Reaching Poles (where used) should be placed on the water’s edge in the most appropriate and ‘ready’ position
• Rescue boards (where used) should be placed on the water’s edge in the most appropriate and ‘ready’ position
• Additional Rescue Equipment should be easily accessible at all times within an appropriate storage facility

If any rescue equipment is intended to be used as ‘public access’ rescue equipment, appropriate signage highlighting the position of the rescue equipment should be installed.

First Aid Equipment

First Aid Equipment should be placed as follows:

1. 1 x spinal board should be kept preferably at or near the water or in the first aid room/lifeguard unit/mobile — easily accessible at all times
2. First aid kits should be kept in the first aid room/lifeguard unit/mobile — easily accessible at all times
3. Oxygen resuscitation should be kept in first aid room/lifeguard unit/mobile — easily accessible at all times
4. Defibrillators should be kept in first aid room/lifeguard unit/mobile — easily accessible at all times
5. First Aid, Eye Wash and Shower and additional Burns kits should be located at, in or near the Pool Plant Room
6. Pain Management (if applicable) should be stored in a locked and secure location in accordance with Licensing requirements
7. Lifeguard Bumbags should be carried by Lifeguards when on duty in an aquatic environment
8. Other equipment should be placed with consideration to local operational requirements

Pool Plant Rooms Equipment

Safety Equipment for Pool plant room should be as follows:

• Personal Protection Equipment should be located at, in or near the Pool Plant Room — easily accessible at all times
• First Aid, Eye Wash and Shower and additional Burns kits (if applicable) should be located at, in or near the Pool Plant Room
• Spill Kits should be located at, in or near the Pool Plant Room

References

• Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools, 3rd Edition, 2003, Sports England Publications, Wetherby
• Pool Operations Manual, 2nd Edition, 2003, Lifesaving Society, Toronto
• Practice Note 15 Water Safety, 2005, Department of Local Government, NSW
• The Complete Swimming Pool Reference, 1994, Mosby Lifeline, St Louis
• Aquatic Facility Management, 2005, Human Kinetics, Champaign
• Australian Standard AS 3745-2002 Emergency control organization and procedures for buildings, structures and workplaces, SAI Global, Sydney
• Guide to Ontario Public Pools Regulation, 2nd Edition, 2004, Lifesaving Society, Toronto

Previous Versions

• GO3 Rescue Equipment, Issue 3, August 2010
• GO3 Rescue Equipment, Issue 2, July 1996
• RS13 Rescue Equipment, Issue 1, August 1991