Public Pools - Supervision Standards

Staff list indicating NLA and first aid units

Obtain a current staff list containing the relevant information

Essential

• List must be complete, applying to all poolside staff
• List must be current
• List must clearly identify expiry date of NLA and first aid units
• Every poolside staff member must be current
• NLA and first aid units or up-dates must be less than two years old

From the relevant section of the pools NOP confirm the presence of essential and desirable components

Essential

NOP must detail the way in which the pool should be supervised including reference to:

• The minimum number of lifeguards
• The area of water and physical obstacles each lifeguard supervises
• Supervision techniques and supervision of different activities
• How lifeguards communicate
• Leaving poolside

NOTE:

1. How the pool determines its supervision policies and sets out its plan are the domain of that particular pool. The assessors task is to verify that the essential components are present.
2. Some pools do not publish detailed supervision policies. If this is the case an oral discription backed up with poolside observations and lifeguard questioning will suffice.

Desirable

The NOP should give poolside lifeguards as much information as they need to make informed minute-by-minute decisions on supervising the pool without being over prescriptive and too lengthy. The following are some useful headings:

• Personal appearance and conduct of lifeguards (talking, grooming, uniform etc)
• Identification of risks
• Poolside first aid
• Customer behaviour
• Acceptable behaviour

• Unacceptable behaviour
• Supervision of different customer groups, (children, youth, intellectually handicapped etc)
• Supervision of different activities, (lane swimming, diving boards etc)

• It is desirable that the normal operating procedures be cross referenced to any other similar procedures, for instance:
• EAP
• Health and Safety policies

Visual check that pools are being watched

On the spot confirmation that pools are watched according to NOP.

Essential

• All water open for use is supervised through a direct line of sight by a lifeguard
• Any closed water is closed with a barrier or its access is supervised by a lifeguard

Question poolside staff to confirm a working knowledge of the NOP relating to pool alone

On the spot random questioning to verify that staff understand and apply pool supervision policy

Essential

• Lifeguards must have an understanding of the rationale behind the individual pools policies and a grasp of the information contained in the policies; at a level whereby they are able to make sound decisions on how they supervise the pool on a minute by minute, second by second basis

• Lifeguards are not required to know or even recognise the technical terms or even names of policies

• Lifeguards should be asked to quote actual examples of the application of pool supervision policy (unless they just do not happen)

• Lifeguards should be given hypothetical situations and asked for their response. The response should mirror the rationale behind policy

On the spot random questioning to verify the lifeguard in-charge understands supervision policy in regard to ratios

Essential

• Lifeguard in charge must have an understanding of the rationale behind the policy and a grasp of the information contained in the policy

• Lifeguard in charge should be asked to quote pool supervision ratios
• Lifeguards should be given hypothetical situations and asked for their response. The response should mirror the rationale behind policy

• Lifeguards are not required to know or even recognise the technical terms or even names of policies