Guidance: How do I conduct a lifeguard zone visibility test?

GUIDANCE

A lifeguard zone visibility test (LZVT) is a recognised method for assessing visibility in swimming pools. The method is recognised in HSG179:2018 (para 84-86, 90-91), and a supporting extract is hosted on the RLSS UK web pages (link). 

You should first establish whether you need constant poolside supervision for your swimming pool (see our post on that topic here).

a. if you decide to provide constant poolside supervision, you may undertake an LZVT assessment to determine the number and location of the positions required to provide your lifeguards with 100% visibility of the pool water volume. 

b. If you decide to install CCTV cameras to support your provision of constant supervision, you may still conduct an LZVT to determine the number and location of any CCTV cameras required to provide your CCTV monitoring staff with 100% visibility of the pool water volume.

c. if you decide to install a drowning detection system to support your provision of constant poolside supervision, it would be better to follow the guidance provided in ISO 20380:2017:A1:2018. 

The below process guide is intended to help those with the responsibility for LZVT policy, assessment, or review design a robust process to ensure the effectiveness of the LZVTs they undertake. The below information should be considered in conjunction with applicable guidance and competent advice. 

 

Terms 

There is no requirement to use the following terms, but they have been used for consistency throughout the process which follows:

Authorized person - an independent senior representative of the employer who is responsible for approving changes to the LZVT policy or LZVT assessment results

LZVT reviewer - a competent person responsible for reporting required information to the authorized person, making technical recommendations to improve LZVT results, and seeking approval of LZVT policy changes or results

Site responsible persons - a person responsible for controlling access to the pool, implementing actions arising from LZVT assessment results, reporting the need to re-evaluate LZVT results to the LZVT reviewer

LZVT assessor - a competent person responsible for making assessment decisions in relation to the visibility of the manikin in a given section of the pool

Manikin - the object positioned in a section of the pool to enable an assessment decision in respect to visibility to be made by the LZVT assessor

Section - to refer to the section of the pool in which the manikin is placed and the assessor is required to make an assessment decision in relation to that manikin

 

PLAN - planning considerations before conducting an LZVT

The relevant pool characteristics

With respect to your relevant pool characteristics, you will have determined those conditions, features, and activities of your pool that affect visibility, such as: 

a. The time(s) of the day your pool operates.

b. The month(s) of the year your pool operates (seasonality and its effect on natural light).

c. The current positions of your lifeguards across all sessions.

d. Any booms, moveable floors, starting blocks or similar features. 

e. Any inflatables, play equipment or other moveable obstructions.

f. Any automatic or adjustable blinds which may affect natural or artificial light levels

Determine factors relevant to assessment decisions

In respect to making LZVT assessment decisions, you will have determined: 

a. The manikin to be used in the assessment.

b. The reasons for the suitability of the manikin.

c. The dimensions of each pool section for which visibility of the manikin must be determined by the LZVT assessor.

d. Whether the visibility of the whole manikin (or just any part of it) is required.

e. Whether the manikin must be visible in any position within each section of the pool assessed (or just one of the possible positions within each section).

f. Whether the manikin is required to be visible in certain parts of the pool without the aid of underwater or overhead cameras (because of CCTV/DDS blind spots). 

Process design 

In respect of the LZVT policy, you will have outlined the process of making amendments to the LZVT policy or approving LZVT results to include: 

a. the person(s) required to authorize changes ("authorized persons") to the LZVT process and approve LZVT results to include: 

(i) The competency required of those who approve changes to the LZVT process and approve LZVT results.

(ii) The duties authorized persons to owe in respect of that decision.

(iii) The decision(s) the authorized person(s) is required to make.

(iv) The criteria which determine that approval decision.

(v) The effect of approving LZVT assessment results in the safe operating condition(s) for effective constant supervision of the pool.

(vi) The manner in which they are required to record that approval decision.

b. the person(s) ("LZVT reviewers") required to determine whether:

(i) LZVT assessment results meet LZVT policy requirements.

(ii) Seek approval of LZVT assessment results.

(iii) Identify solutions where LZVT assessment results do not meet policy requirements.

(iv) Initiate re-assessment of LZVT conditions.

(v) Make recommendations to the authorized person(s) of changes, timescales, and resources required to implement LZVT assessment results.

c. the person(s) responsible for: 

(i) Conducting LZVT assessments and making LZVT assessment decisions ("LZVT assessors").

(ii) Making changes and meeting implementation timescales to implement LZVT assessment results ("responsible persons").

d. the information required to provide the authorized person(s) with confidence that the LZVT policy remains effective, including: 

(i) The frequency by which information is reported.

(ii) The circumstances which require the LZVT policy to be re-approved.

(iii) The person(s) required to notify the authorized person(s) that the circumstances which require the LZVT policy to be re-approved have arisen.

(iv) The recommendation of the LZVT reviewer(s) and responsible person(s) as to the action required by the authorized person(s) in the event the LZVT policy requires review.

(v) The assurance process (inspection, audit, etc.) in place to ensure that the LZVT policy remains effective.

e. The document control and retention requirements for LZVT assessment results and previous versions of the LZVT policy.

f. The required governance arrangements to ensure the robust independence and impartiality of LZVT assessment decisions and changes to the LZVT policy.  

Competency

In respect of the named person(s) mentioned in this process: 

a. The level of competency required to deliver the responsibilities of the position.

b. The initial information, training, supervision, and assessment required to validate the level of competency required have been demonstrated.

c. The information, refresher training, and re-assessment required to re-validate the level of competency required after a material change to a person(s) role, responsibilities, or the required level of required competency.

d. How do you inform the person(s) of their ongoing duty to report any matter which they later identify may have affected or changed their decision and which exposed pool users or others to a risk to their health and safety?

Form design 

Have you produced a form template to facilitate the effective recording of LZVT assessment results to include: 

a. The date and time the assessment decision was taken.

b. The (variable) conditions that were present at the time the assessment decision was made, including: 

(i) The relevant pool water conditions which affect water clarity.

(ii) The artificial light conditions.

(iii) Any blind or window tint (electronic or manual) present.

(iv) Any technology relied on.

(v) Any pool users who are in the water at the time of assessment.

(vi) Any manual surface manipulation deployed as part of the assessment.

(vii) Any floating leisure articles or inflatable play equipment deployed as part of the assessment.

(viii) The status of any features (waterfalls, water slides, water cannons etc.) deployed as part of the assessment.

(ix) Any foliage which is blocking natural light to the swimming pool.

(x) The weather conditions at the time of assessment.

c. The name of the LZVT assessor who made the assessment decision.

d. The section of the pool to which the LZVT assessment decision relates.

e. The assessment decision.

Equipment planning

Have you identified the equipment required to conduct your LZVT assessment, including: 

a. The manikin that assessors will be required to identify.

b. Any pool section markers used to demarcate the assessment decision for recording purposes.

c. Any equipment (e.g. inflatable play, floating leisure articles, lane ropes, high chairs) which forms part of the conditions of the assessment.

 

DO - conducting your LZVT

Setting up the swimming pool to conduct your LZVT

In respect of setting up the swimming pool to conduct your LZVT, the LZVT assessor will ensure: 

a. The required person(s), equipment, and conditions for assessment are available to conduct the assessment.

b. Any pool section markers are positioned in accordance with the LZVT policy.

c. Only LZVT assessor(s) are used to determine LZVT assessment decisions.

d. LZVT assessors are in the allocated position under assessment.

e. The variable assessment conditions present are recorded on the LZVT assessment form.

Conducting your LZVT assessment

In respect of conducting the LZVT, the LZVT assessor will ensure: 

a. The LZVT assessment policy and LZVT assessor work instructions are followed.

b. Any required deviation from the conditions under assessment is recorded and brought to the attention of the LZVT reviewer.

c. All assessment decisions are recorded (even where they will not be relied on at a later date).

Concluding your LZVT assessment

In respect of concluding your LZVT assessment, the LZVT assessor will ensure: 

a. The required assessment decisions have, where possible, been made (irrespective of the assessment result reached).

b. The recorded assessment decisions have been collated and made available to the LZVT reviewer(s).

c. The pool is returned to its known safe condition, which enables its use by others. Alternatively, where there is no known safe condition, notify responsible persons of the need to prohibit any use of the pool until such time that safe conditions for operation are identified. 

 

CHECK - review of LZVT results

Validation that the LZVT policy was followed

The LZVT reviewer will determine that LZVT assessment results conform to the requirements of the LZVT policy.  In respect of validating that the LZVT policy was followed, the LZVT reviewer(s) will: 

a. Review the LZVT policy and any records relating to the LZVT assessment.

b. Ensure that competent persons meet the required standard of competency.

c. Ensure that the LZVT assessment form(s) were completed in full.

d. Ask such questions of the LZVT assessor(s) as is necessary to establish that the LZVT assessment was carried out in accordance with the LZVT policy 

Seeking approval of LZVT assessment results

Where the outcome of the LZVT assessment results meets the requirements of the LZVT policy, the LZVT reviewer will: 

a. Recommend and seek approval of the LZVT results from the authorized person.

b. Recommend and seek approval of the changes, timescales, and resources required to implement the changes required by the LZVT results from the authorized person.

Where the outcome of the LZVT assessment results does not meet the requirements of the LZVT policy, the LZVT reviewer will: 

a. Notify the authorized person of the assessment results.

b. Where the pool has no known safe operating conditions to permit its use, notify and reinforce to responsible persons that access to the pool is not permitted until such time that safe operating conditions become known.

c. Identify the corrective action(s) required to provide a reasonable chance of meeting the LZVT policy requirements when the relevant LZVT assessment(s) are repeated.

d. Arrange for the relevant LZVT assessment(s) to be repeated until such time that the LZVT assessment results meet the requirements of the LZVT policy to enable you to: 

(i) Recommend and seek approval of the LZVT results from the authorized person.

(ii) Recommend and seek approval of the changes, timescales, and resources required to implement the changes required by the LZVT results from the authorized person.

 

ACT - implementing authorized changes to planned arrangements

Action(s) following approval being granted by the authorized person

Where approval of assessment results and any changes, timescales, and resources required to implement the changes required has been granted by the authorized person, the site responsible person will: 

a. Implement those changes, independently of the LZVT reviewer, in accordance with any guidance provided by the authorized person.

b. Seek approval of the completed implementation of those changes from the LZVT reviewer. 

The LZVT reviewer will validate and notify the authorized person that the required changes have been effectively implemented. 

 

Citation: Jacklin, D. 2021. Lifeguard Zone Visibility Test. Water Incident Research Hub, 11 April.