When a potentially overlooked or unknown hazard led to a terrifying ordeal for schoolgirl
What happened?
A seven year-old girl was swimming with her great-grandfather at a local authority pool. Her hair was sucked into a swimming pool vent, which was so powerful that the schoolgirl was unable to pull herself free. She was trapped underwater for more than two-and-a-half minutes, but was saved from drowning by her great-grandfather when he tore a clump from her head.
She was taken out of the pool ‘limp and blue’ and at first it was feared the youngster had drowned. However she eventually regained consciousness at the side of the pool.
The HSE investigated and said there were too few lifeguards on duty. Of the two working, one was cleaning and the other one could not see the whole pool because of the glare of the sunlight on the water. The HSE also said the pool should have had two vents so if one got blocked the other vent would take the pressure off the suction.
The Borough Council responsible for the pool was prosecuted by the HSE.
Legal Outcome
The Council pleaded guilty to health and safety failings and the authority was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay £7,500 in costs.
What can we learn from what happened?
This case study brings back memories of one of my first jobs in leisure, at a hotel leisure club whose facilities included a small pool and a jacuzzi. On my very first day, I was told where the scissors were kept. Why was this information important? In case you need them if someone’s hair was caught in the jacuzzi’s powerful suction vent located at its deepest part. The suppliers of the chemicals, who also installed and maintained jacuzzis, had previous experience of a near miss, and had passed on their wisdom.
The club wasn’t very well run when I started, and I refer to my experiences there in another case study, but everyone knew where the scissors were and everyone checked to make sure they hadn’t been moved. It would obviously had been better, looking back, to deal with the root cause of the problem, ie the hazardous vent, but this was a long time ago, and nobody really knew what they were doing.
I am very happy to say that I think I know more than I did in my callow youth, but this prosecution serves as a reminder that it is still be a hazard that may be missed, so all pool operators need to include it in their hazard spotting, and follow the appropriate guidance.
Source of Information
Swimming Pool News