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23 August 2005 - HSE Note Clarifying Health
and Safety Management of Pools
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In response to requests from operators of public paddling pools,
tidal pools, segregated river areas, lakes and sea as to the health and safety
management in these areas, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have issued a
clarification guidance.
The guidance note from the HSE, will be an accompaniment to the
existing guidance, Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools (HSG179) and
will clarify concerns over legal requirements relating to other types of
swimming facilities.
Mr. Justin McCracken, Deputy Director General of HSE, said:
"Sensible health and safety is about managing risks, not
eliminating them. Proper risk assessment should result in precautions
appropriate to the particular circumstances.
"HSE aims to be open and helpful. We recognised that some
managers believe that health and safety law may impose excessive restraints on
the way facilities such as paddling pools are used, so we have issued this note
to clarify their responsibilities.
"HSE believes that swimming and paddling pools are valuable recreational
facilities and learning to swim is a vital part of children's education. It
would be a sad day if misplaced risk aversion deprived them of such
opportunities.
"If people choose to swim in open water where swimming is not
actively encouraged, it is reasonable to assume that they take greater
responsibility for their own personal safety."
The clarification note can be accessed from the HSE webpage by
clicking the following:
HSE - Entertainment: Managing health and safety in swimming pools (HSG179)
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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