A program to ensure the safety of public swimming pools recently won a commendation at the New South Wales Statewide Risk Management Excellence Awards for Local Government. The awards promote awareness and innovation leading to risk reduction.
Lake Macquarie City Council was commended for its Swimming Centres Risk Management Program.
Council’s Manager Library, Leisure and Cultural Services, Narelle Reichert, said the commendation recognises Council’s priority to public safety.
“This program is a collection of systems and processes that help identify and control risks to the public and staff at Council’s six swim centres,” she said. “The success of this program is a result of the dedication of all our swimming centre staff. The culture of their workplace regarding risk management issues has changed and we are now preemptive rather than reactive. Risk management issues are now an integral part of our staff’s daily activities.”
Gradually implemented over the past six years, the risk management program has raised staff awareness of potential risks to both themselves and pool users.
Under the program, staff fill out a daily checklist, which features predetermined times to check each facility for dangers, such as unravelled hoses which present a tripping hazard, unlocked doors to plant rooms where dangerous chemicals are stored, leaking chlorine vats and correct placement of lane ropes and flags. If a problem is found, the inspecting staff member can either act immediately or take preventative action until the problem is able to be corrected.
For further information contact Narelle Reichert telephone (02) 4921 0219.
