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School Pools |
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School
Pools - Board of Trustees Obligations
Boards of Trustees are legally obliged to ensure the safety of
all people who use school facilities, including the pool. Boards
of Trustees must ensure they reduce the chances of people drowning
or injuring themselves while using the pool.
In addition to the Ministry of Education’s Swimming Pool
Policy, there are two key pieces of legislation which reflect this
obligation – Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, and
the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987. There are also a number
of standards that outline the minimum requirements for managing
a swimming pool and the training of staff – NZS 5628:2000
and Unit Standard 20046.
The checklist below provides a quick and simple means of determining
whether your school swimming pool complies with the appropriate
legislation and minimum standards.
It is recommended that Boards of Trustees establish policies for
the use of the school swimming pool, both during school hours and
outside of school hours. Recommended policies are provided within
this guide to assist Board of Trustees to develop their school pool
policy.
Access to school pools outside of school hours is often a concern
for Boards of Trustees, however, through the development of a sound
policy addressing obligations and expected behaviours of pool users,
this use can be better managed and the risks minimised.
| Key Questions |
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No |
Hints |
| Does your school have a pool, which is currently used? |
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| Has your school pool been disused/decommissioned? |
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Even when empty, the pool must comply with the
Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987. |
| Is your school pool fenced? |
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Schools are required to comply with the Fencing
of Swimming Pools Act 1987. |
| Do the fence, gate and lock comply with the Fencing
of Swimming Pools Act 1978? |
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| Does the pool water management comply with the
New Zealand Standard NZS 5826:2000? |
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Copies of the Standard are available from Standards
New Zealand |
| Is the swimming pool identified as a potential
hazard under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992? |
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| Have you a dedicated person to manage and maintain
the pool (caretaker or teacher)? |
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One staff member should have the responsibility
for managing the pool, and should be suitably trained. |
| Has this person had formal training in water
quality management? |
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Unit Standard 20046 has been designed for schools. |
| Do the school teachers have formal training in
teaching swimming? |
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WSNZ ‘Swim For Life’ initiative
Swimming New Zealand’s SwimSafe Programme |
| Does the school have a policy for swimming pool
use? |
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A sample policy and user code is provided in
these guidelines. |
| Does the school have a code of behaviour for
swimming pool users? |
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| Does the school allow after of hours access? |
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Does the school allow after of hours access?
Ensure users are aware of the school policy for swimming pool
use and the code of behaviour. |
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