Overcrowding in the swimming pool environment

 GUIDANCE

When is a swimming pool overcrowded? 

A swimming pool is overcrowded when it exceeds a relevant occupancy limit. Each pool has differing features and dimensions, resulting in a unique set of relevant occupancy limits. A pool is overcrowded when the number of pool users exceeds:

• the maximum capability of its plant to maintain safe water hygiene or ventilation conditions (plant occupancy limits)
• the maximum number of pool users in the water at any time (pool occupancy limit). 
• the maximum number of pool users in a particular session (session occupancy limit). 
• the maximum number of pool users in the pool hall (spatial occupancy limit).

How is your pool occupancy limit calculated? 

UK guidance does not define a maximum number of persons who may be in a swimming pool at any one time, owing to their differing characteristics.  

Why does an overcrowded pool require the operator to take action? 

Because: 

• pool users increase the number and duration of obstructions to a pool supervisor's visibility such that a threshold is reached where the pool supervisor can be said to no longer have adequate visibility of the pool. 
• the excess pool users results in the quality of supervision provided by the pool supervisor falling below the minimum standard of supervision expected of a lifeguard. 
• access and egress routes become obstructed which inhibits the safe means of evacuating the building in the event of an emergency. 

Why is it important to implement an early warning system to prevent overcrowding? 

Once a pool is overcrowded, it is effectively exposing persons to a risk to their health and safety and exposure is sufficient to constitute an offence under s.2 and s.3 HSWA 1974.

Practically, it is difficult to reduce occupancy without antagonising customers and issuing refunds once the pool is overcrowded. 

How to respond to a risk of overcrowding? 

If pool user numbers are approaching a relevant occupancy limit: 

• Cease or restrict admissions. 
• Cease, restrict, modify, or substitute scheduled pool activities to accommodate additional pool users.  
• Deploy precautionary and additional pool supervision. 

If the pool becomes overcrowded: 

• Cease or restrict admissions. 
• Cease, restrict, modify, or substitute scheduled pool activities to accommodate additional pool users.  
• Deploy precautionary and additional pool supervision. 
• Ask customers to leave the area. 
• Report as a dangerous incident to top management.  
• Complete a post-incident debrief, root cause analysis, and any corrective action required. 

Citation. Jacklin, D. (2021). Water Incident Research. Database structure (Leisure Litigation Blog, 27th December).