It’s hot and our ratepayers need to cool off. The first place most of us head to is water: lakes, rivers, pools, or spray parks. Pools and spray parks are facilities over which we have direct control, and our ratepayers expect us to ensure they are safe. What should we be looking at, what should we be considering, and how do we keep people safe?
Outdoor Facilities, Liabilities, and Risk Assessments
The first step is to ensure your facilities are in good condition. If there is a need to repair, consider fixing prior to opening or ensure you have a solid plan for repairs while open. Ensure all chemicals and lines to the pool are clear and in good working order. The best thing to do is create a daily, monthly, and yearly checklist.
- Walls and ceiling: Is there evidence of any water damage that could indicate a leak?
- Floors: Are they levelled? Could this cause someone to trip or slip? Do you need a new nonslip coating?
- Doors: Do they lock, and should they be locked? Could someone get their foot stuck between the bottom and the floor? Is there glass in the door? Does the door have glass panels? Are all emergency exits properly indicated and visible?
- Gates: Security systems for pools are desirable especially after they are closed. What measures do you have in place to keep people out?
- Water treatment: Water safety and chemical levels should be monitored. Temperatures should be checked and recorded regularly and be available if any issues arise. Regularly test all equipment and document the results.
- Lifeguards: Ensure all training is up to date and that there are alternatives, so you have back up in case a lifeguard has an absence or is unable to be alert for you.
- Public: Ensure you have rules posted and that your staff enforces them (for example, anyone under 8 years old needs to be accompanied by an adult.)
You can also contact our team to help you review your protocols. There is a Lifesaving Society who provides a full assessment that can help you to ensure everything is up to date. Your team can complete a risk assessment each year. It’s a wonderful way to review your property and protocols. You may find it a great opportunity for your team to bond with each other.
Remember, you may also need to reach out to your local emergency authorities and update your emergency response plans (i.e. when to call an ambulance or local rescue, review your escape route, etc.)
Spray Parks
Very similar to the above, you should be reviewing spray park areas and making notes of anything major. This includes a daily walkaround to see if there are any sharp objects or issues that may cause injury, a record of the water temperature, a record of the ambient temperature, and how many people are around. Be sure to note if the spray park has signs for contacting administration if there are any issues. Some spray parks are on a timer and don’t have a person supervising daily, so it is important to ensure a team member is doing a check and walk through every couple of days. It is also important to review and confirm that the water storage of these parks is inspected for any public health risks. Is this storage underground? Are there any leaks or seepage of ground water? Are you running the water from a local treatment facility? If you are unsure, it’s a good time to check and review.
Signage – Placement and its Importance
Signs are an effective way to communicate and make the public aware of hazards within municipal owned swimming pools, spray parks, ponds, lakes and rivers. By increasing awareness and safety, municipalities fulfil their legal responsibilities and reduce liability exposures.
When facilities are open to the public, clear expectations should be communicated. Since the public may be unaware of the rules, signage is an effective way to convey them. Rules should be reviewed, prioritized by importance, and displayed in logical order. Sign placement is critical—ensure signs are in high-traffic areas such as entrances, reception desks, restrooms, and locker rooms for maximum visibility.
Sign Materials
| Material | Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Wood | – Blends with natural environment – Easy to construct – Can be individually shaped and cared for – Can be painted – Ages well | – Easy to vandalize – Difficult to carve detailed graphics |
| Fiberglass | Wide range of colours available – Good for detailed graphics – Can simulate natural features such as rocks, walls, and stone – Affordable to make duplicates – Resistant to weathering and vandalism | – Colours fade over time |
| Metal | – Resistant to fading and discoloration – Good for detailed graphics – Can reproduce black & white photos – Range of ‘earthy’ colours available – Resistant to weathering and vandalism | – Expensive to duplicate – Reflects bright sunlight |
| Porcelain Enamel | – Good for detailed graphics – Photographs can be reproduced – Wide range of colours available – Resistant to weathering and vandalism | – Expensive – Susceptible to chipping and subsequent rusting |
| Stone | – Good for black and white images – Good for detailed line art – Resistant to weathering and vandalism – Easy to maintain | – Natural contours may make words difficult to read |
If you have any questions, please email risk@rmainsurance.com