Introduction
To clean up affected area after water contamination has been identified as per SBCSOP OW0003 – Water Contamination’s Removal – Pools.
Notification Process
- Lifeguards
- Water Services
- Security
Procedure
1. Lifeguards are the initial response for any pool contaminants identified, including faecal matter, blood, vomit or sharps, and are to advise Security Control of the exact location of the contaminant. Lifeguards are to inform control whether it is in or out of the water.
Radio Codes:
Code Brown: Faecal Matter
Code Red: Blood
Code V: Vomit
Sharp: Sharps/Needles
2. Lifeguards, if practical and if water populations permit, are to use the pool scoop to remove the contaminate from the water, place pool scoop head with contaminants in plastic bag provided and wait for the contamination kit to arrive.
3. If lifeguards are unable to remove from the water, then they must stay in the area keeping swimmers away from the contamination until either ISS Cleaners or Water Services arrive.
Notification of contamination:
Once a contaminant is identified in a pool area the following procedure applies:
- Monday to Sunday (6am – 1:30pm) – Water Services staff to be notified and respond unless busy due to Pool Plant Room duties. If busy then trained cleaning staff member must be contacted to attend.
- Monday to Sunday (Outside 1:30pm – 6am): The cleaners will respond.
4. Lifeguards are to attempt to keep the area clear for time period specified below, if water population’s permit.
5. Immediate Response.
- Faeces Stool/Vomit – Locate faeces stool/vomit and remove all bathers within a 10 metre radius. Remove contaminant when practical.
- Faeces/ Diarrhoea – Empty entire pool of bathers. Security control to contact Duty Manager and Water Services Supervisor.
- Blood and Syringe/Sharps – Empty north or south of the pool of bathers (Security control to contact Duty Manager and Water Services Supervisor).
Note: Sharps procedure to be followed (See Lifeguard Operation Manual LS17, City Parklands – CP SOP WH003 Sharps notification/collection and disposal procedure)
- Unidentified contaminate – Empty entire pool of bathers. Water service team to attend to all unidentified contaminates. Security control to contact Duty Manager and Water Services Supervisor. Pool closed till go ahead given from Water Service team.
6. Removal and Treatment of Contaminant:
a. Faecal matter (Solid stool)/Vomit/Blood (small/uncontaminated amounts) – Affected area needs to be kept clear of bathers (10 meters radius) for 20 minutes following treatment (assistance from Lifeguards required in water population permit).
b. Faecal matter (Loose stool)/ Unidentified Contaminate/ Vomit/Blood (large/contaminated amounts) – Water Service team to attend to all unidentified contaminates when on duty. Pool closed until the go ahead given from Water Service team. Water Services to shock dose pool with Zydox, Pool should be closed for minimum 2 turnovers (approx. 4-8 hours) after shock dosing. Security/Lifeguards to assist with evacuation of pool.
c. Syringe/Sharps – Scoop needle out with net when possible.
Lifeguards role
- Lifeguards will respond to any pool contaminants they identify by contacting Security Control and advise the exact location of the contaminant. Immediate communication is critical in the event of a loose stool (diarrhoea).
- It is critical all contaminants are removed as quickly as possible therefore Lifeguards are to remove the contamination as quickly as possible with the fine mesh scoops located around pool areas, if water populations permit.
- Lifeguards are not responsible for treating the affected area post removal.
- When contaminant is in middle of pool or not easily accessible to cleaning staff/Water Services – Lifeguards should assist in removing if water populations permit.
- Where practical and water populations permit, Lifeguards should ensure others do not come into contact with affected area until water services/cleaning supervisor attends. Lifeguards should place pool scoop head and contaminant in the plastic bag attached to scoop.
- Assist with pool closures when required.
- Where an animal, i.e. dog, enters water – lifeguards should ask for animal to be removed immediately and check area for faecal matter and/or associated contaminants. Lifeguards should inform Water Services who will perform chlorine level checks and enter into incident management system.
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