POOL SAFETY OFFICERS GUIDELINES
Use of pool facilities for Sub Aqua activities
Activities:
Sub aqua branches of the British Sub Aqua Club and other scuba diving organisations use pool facilities for a variety of skills training. These skills include the following:
- Swimming
- Snorkelling - surface & underwater
- Diver training surface and underwater
- Lifesaving
- Octopush - Underwater hockey
Approved Codes of Practice (ACoP)
Two Codes of Practise cover scuba-training activities and these are the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) "Safe Diving" booklet and in the case of commercial training by schools, the HSE Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) 'Recreational Diving Projects' (1997).
Equipment
Most of the above activities include the use of basic snorkelling equipment of mask, fins and snorkel. These items of equipment are lightweight, portable and do not generally present a high risk factor. The mask glass must be made of tempered glass to reduce risk of injury.
Scuba equipment consists of a cylinder, regulator, buoyancy compensator, weight belt & weights and may include diving suits. These items of equipment are heavier and can increase the risk factor, however, through their training, divers should help to reduce this factor considerably.
Cylinders, whether separate or attached to a buoyancy compensator, should be laid down flat if being left unattended. This action reduces the likelihood of them toppling over and causing physical or structural damage.
Weight belts containing metal weights maybe released and ditched as part of diver training. To reduce the risk of physical damage to the pool tile surface it is recommended that the weights either be coated with a plastic coating or covered with towelling/other suitable material.
Lifeguards
In the publication Managing Health & Safety in Swimming Pools, jointly published by the Health & Safety Executive and the Local Authorities Enforcement Liaison Committee, recommends that lifeguards require specialised skills to adequately supervise sub-aqua activities.
Rescue Divers
To this end the BSAC recommends that lifeguard duties should be assigned to qualified members of the user group. The minimum qualification that gives a diver the necessary skills is the BSAC Sport Diver. This grade includes diver rescue, AV and CPR skills. The BSAC provides additional skills training through the BSAC Lifesaver Award. This award is NOT a time limited qualification however the BSAC would strongly advise that refresher courses are advocated to holders of this award. Where those who hold the award and are also actively teaching Rescue skills as an Instructor this would be deemed adequate to maintain their own skill levels. BSAC members should note that where the Lifesaver Award is required for other qualifications (such as First Class Diver) there may be a requirement for the award to have been gained within a specified period.
Rescue Divers to Pool Users Ratios
Due to the nature of the sport training ratios should take account of pool dimensions, configuration, pool user numbers and diversity of the activities. As guidance it is recommended that the ratio of rescue divers to pool users for scuba diving activities should be 1:15. For snorkelling activities or surface training the ratio could be increased to 1:30. Thus for a training session of 25 - 30 pool users the recommended minimum number of duty diver rescuers should be 2.
The rescue diver should be in readiness to enter the water at any time during the session. This would entail having quick access to basic snorkelling gear and wearing suitable swimming gear while on duty. The Rescue Divers should also be familiar with local emergency evacuation procedures.
Instructor to Trainees Ratios
Scuba Diver Training is carried out in small groups both on the surface and underwater. The maximum ratio recommended by the BSAC to its instructors is not more than 4 trainees to one Instructor for underwater instruction. Trainees having problems can be taught individually if the need were to arise, in which case the ratio is 1:1.
Snorkel Diver Training can involve larger groups and is considered less of a risk than underwater training. To this end the ratio can be increased to not more than 8 trainees to one Instructor.
Risk Assessment
| Main Hazard/Danger | Who? | Worst Case | Existing Controls | Max. Risk | Additional Controls Needed |
| Ear damage | All | Burst Ear-drum | Help from instructor or Diver Rescuer | Tolerable | None |
| Mask squeeze | Trainees | Black Eye | Help from Instructor | Tolerable | None |
| Mask breakage | All | Lacerations | First Aider on site | Tolerable | None |
| Panic | Trainees | Lack of Self-control | Help from Instructor | Tolerable | None |
| Rapid ascent | Trainees | Burst Lung | Control by Instructor | Tolerable | None |
| Running out of air | Trainees | Embolism | Control by Instructor using his/her Alternative Air Source (AAS) AASs carried by ALL Trainees and Instructors |
Tolerable | None |
| Drowning | All | Death | Aid from Instructor in water Aid from rescue diver on poolside |
Tolerable | None |
| Slipping | All | Broken limbs | Instructor & Self | Tolerable | None |
| Falling cylinders | All | Crushed bones | Instructor & Self | Tolerable | None |
| Heart Attack | All | Death | Help from Instructor | Tolerable | None |
Insurance Cover
Third Party insurance is in place for up to £10,000,000 for civil liability compensation awards for personal injury to Third Party or members of the Public or damage to their property as a result of negligence by any BSAC member. Details of this cover can be found in Synopsis of cover can be downloaded from this site using this link.
A copy of the current Certificate can be downloaded here.
This policy will cover any damage caused as a result of scuba diving activities by members of an affiliated BSAC branch using your pool and facilities.
Further Guidance
This can be obtained from The British Sub Aqua Club, Technical Department at HQ on 0151 350 6200
Page last modified: 6th Jun 2008 - 14:33:20