LGS SBPP 7.3 Barriers Affecting Supervision of the Aquatic Facility

Impacting Factors on Pool Supervision

• Weather – Storms, Floods procedures
• Power Outage
• Water Quality – tests and procedures
• Lightening
• Safety – QPS, QFS, QAS
• General Statements about water evacuation procedures
  

Glare

As lifeguards are restricted to the pool deck when carrying out their duties glare is a major barrier to affective supervision of the Main pool in the morning from the main tower and from south tower looking across the pool. The glare is at its most prominent at mid-morning and mid-afternoon effectively rendering entire sides of the pool unusable for supervision depending on where the sun is positioned.

How this barrier is addressed
Lifeguards are encouraged to communicate this to the lifeguard team if they are having visual issues from the locations and move to a better viewing point that still has full pool coverage. This could be along the pool edge or in a different tower on back wall if it doesn’t already have another lifeguard in it. If there are any issues that compromise pool safety, the pool is to be closed as soon as possible. Please refer to LGS SB 2.8 Lifeguard Duties for further details.

Loss of Artificial Light

For nighttime operations at South Bank, there is a heavy reliance of artificial light to complete lifeguard duties in a safe manner. Loss of artificial light would mean very limited viewing of swimmers in the pool.

How this barrier is addressed
If there is loss of the lighting towers on the pools, lifeguards are to notify control and follow pool closure procedure in conjunction with the pool staff.

Loss of in Pool Lighting

As per LOP LGS SB 5.4 Lifeguard Position and Main Pool Low Light Procedure.docx while on duty around the water area, Lifeguards are to position themselves in the most efficient manner. It is the Lifeguard 9’s responsibility to ensure that the Lifeguards are in the most efficient position. This may vary slightly from time to time depending on the location of swimmers around the pools with a ratio of 1 Lifeguard per 100 swimmers as well as any incidents that may happen.

How this barrier is addressed
If there is a loss of the in-pool lighting on the pools, lifeguards are to notify control and follow the pool closure procedure in conjunction with the water services staff.

The primary purpose of the additional Lifeguards will be as follows:

• Ensure Main Lagoon remains open in the event of complete or partial underwater lighting failure.
• Patrolling water’s edge along back wall (between north and south lifeguard towers) to ensure safe swimming environment during complete or partial underwater lighting failure.
• During all other times, i.e., when underwater lighting is functioning, patrols should still take place along back wall supporting rostered lifeguards.
• Additional lifeguards can also attend to other priority areas as directed by Lifeguard 9 when underwater lighting is functioning correctly.
  

Water Clarity

Time to time there maybe water clarity issues due to high water populations and high temperatures during the period of September to April and at major events.

How this barrier is addressed
The Lifeguard 9 is to check the water clarity, with the Water Clarity disc between 3pm – 4pm or when required, between September – April and during major events. If there is any issues, the Water clarity procedure LGS SB 5.21 Water Clarity Testing is to be followed.

Blind Spots

There are some small blind spots in the main pool which would make it hard to see if a small child needed assistance. These are identified in the very corner on the beach side north and south along the beach.
Aquativity and Boat pool have blind spots if lifeguards are roving and not in a fixed location like the tower or viewing chair.

How this barrier is addressed
SLSQ have identified these blind sports in the revised Local Operating Procedure ensuring all lifeguards are aware of these zones. SLSQ have implemented a roving supervision strategy which is found to be most effective for getting close to a number of these blind spots allowing lifeguards to closely monitor these locations within each lagoon.

Staff Fatigue / Rosters

There are three main shifts across any given day, these include a morning shift, senior shift, and afternoon shift. When numbers warrant it, additional guards can be rostered on to uphold the safety of patrons. Shifts can vary from 4 – 9 hrs. It is common for there to be little shade in some locations at certain times in the day, hot decking/concrete and copious amounts of glare from the water. Not only this but the longest shifts coincide with that of summer with top temperatures frequently reaching above 30 degrees and above. Lifeguards should not work more than 10 days in a row and no more than 38 hours in one week where possible.

How this barrier is addressed
This has been addressing by utilising a summer rotating roster to give blocks of shifts 4 days on and 2 days off, mixing between morning shifts and afternoon and evening shifts. The lifeguard supervisor is to ensure lifeguards do not work more than 10 days in a row whilst monitoring how many hours worked.

Events and Activations

As previously mentioned South Bank is home to many events and programs across the year. While these events offer fun for families, they prove to be very distracting for lifeguards. Often these events will incorporate loud music and extravagant displays, a good example of this is aqua aerobics which will often utilise music. Larger events such as cultural festivals or sporting events will take the attention of lifeguards away from the pools even if for a moment.
Unsupervised kids are a major distraction from the supervision of the rest of the lagoons, more often than not lifeguards will be forced away from the pool deck trying to locate the parents of young children. This not only puts these children at a much greater risk of drowning but also puts every other user of the lagoon at an increased risk due to the lifeguard unable to supervise while locating parents.
Lifeguards are often put in a difficult position trying to enforce the rules so that everyone can be safe and enjoy the lagoons and ignoring the same offenders to provide the greatest level of supervision for the rest of the bathing public.

How this barrier is addressed
Distractions caused by that of surround events will also have some level of effect on lifeguards and will never be completely eliminated. SLSQ have addressed repeat offenders through the revised Local Operating Procedures. A clear escalation method has been developed so to allow lifeguards to address the problem via security or other team members, while not taking their eyes off the water.
The Safety Ambassador Program is one of the major intervention programs implemented across the year. This program helps with managing unsupervised children swimming in the main pool. The program helps with pairing unsupervised children with parents and ensure parents are supervising their children properly.

Complacency

Incidents and rescues at South Bank occur mainly in the summer and it is this rarity that drives the complacency of lifeguards. This leaves periods of relatively little activity. During this ‘quiet period’ complacent habits may start to creep in and may drag into the busy summer period if not addressed year-round.

How this barrier is addressed
SLSQ endeavours to provide staff with a variety of different shifts across a roster period to combat complacency at any one site. SLSQ have implemented specific training to combat this, and to implement a 5-minute sitting, 5-minute standing and 5-minute walking process where possible for each patrolling location to ensure lifeguards stay fresh and focused. There is also a rotation policy in place that lifeguards rotate positions regularly.

Uneven Sand Bottom Due to Sand Pumping

There have been a couple of rescues of people needing assistance due to a sudden drop off due to sand being pumped from the floor back to the beach. This creates an unexpected drop-off that is not measured, which could catch children off guard.

How this barrier is addressed
SLSQ, in conjunction with the City Parklands pool staff, have implemented temporary signage that is to be placed out when the pumping is taking place and after it has been completed advising of the uneven bottom. The pool staff will try not to take too much sand from one location to assist in mitigating this.

First Aid Incidents Away From the Pool Area

Lifeguards are positioned around the pool areas (Main Lagoon, Boat Pool, Aquativity) and required to administer first aid at South Bank Parklands to patrons and staff where possible. This may take lifeguards away from the pool area which may lower the supervision of the pool. LGS SB 5.22 First Aid Response

How this barrier is addressed
Pool supervision comes first. If the risk is too high, lifeguards are to let security know that the pool is too busy and safety would be compromised. If there are lifeguards available, which usually will be the case due to the way lifeguards are rostered, there is usually a rotating lifeguard and in peak periods, a lifeguard that can come off their lunch break or the lifeguard Supervisor can also attend. The lifeguards will respond as per the above procedure has outlined. Lifeguards are well resourced and can respond to major first aid incidents that occur in the parkland. The lifeguard roster is set up in a way that enables a comprehensive response to as effective as possible.