What is the standard of supervision?

GUIDANCE

What is the standard of supervision?

What is it reasonable to expect our lifeguards to achieve whilst supervising a swimming pool? This is an important question, and we refer to it as the standard of supervision. 

The standard of supervision is context-dependent and multi-dimensional. It comprises what a lifeguard is expected to achieve (outcome dependant) and is non-prescriptive about how a lifeguard achieves it (means dependant). 

 

Why should we define the standard of supervision?

What is expected of a lifeguard varies across culture, geography, environment, and jurisdiction. When a lifeguard's conduct is called into question, these competing expectations can prolong any resolution. This hurts all parties involved, and it is in the interest of operators, training providers, members of the public and lifeguards to ensure a fair and equal standard is applied across swimming pools in the UK. 

Take a few of the examples below and consider the extent of the lifeguard's duty. In what situations would the duty be fair? Can you think of situations where it would be an unfair expectation? 

• A duty to intervene to prevent accidents. 
• A duty to educate pool users on the safe use of the pool. 
• A duty to scan the pool continuously. 
• A duty not to leave the allocated lifeguard position. 
• A duty to identify a drowning casualty. 
• A duty to rescue pool users. 

 

What features of supervision could support the development of standards? 

There is no clear definition of the minimum standard of supervision expected of a lifeguard published in industry guidance applicable to the UK. 

Features of supervision that could support the development of standards may include: 

Scanning. The lifeguard must observe pool users in order to identify hazards, educate pool users and prevent incidents. 

Hazard identification. The lifeguard must seek to identify hazards, which may be situational or dynamic in nature, in order to educate, prevent and rescue pool users.  

Education. The lifeguard has a role in educating pool users about how to enjoy the water safely, such as reinforcing pool rules and safety messages. 

Behaviour management. The lifeguard has a role in facilitating pool users' shared use and enjoyment of the swimming pool. 

Prevention. The lifeguard has a role in intervening to prevent harm from occurring, particularly where early warning signs have been observed by the lifeguard. 

Equipment. The lifeguard has to be suitably equipped to act quickly, safely, and effectively to educate, manage, or prevent harm to pool users or promote their enjoyment of the water.  

Collaboration. The lifeguard has to work effectively to share responsibilities, work together to perform a rescue or intervention and exchange key safety messages.   

These features are a starting point for developing a standard around supervision, but they need refining to balance competing expectations in a way that is fair and consistently understood. 

 

Example standard of supervision

The following statements could form a definition of the minimum standard of supervision to be achieved by lifeguards: 

1. The lifeguard is suitably equipped to perform their duties safely and effectively. 

2. The lifeguard continuously monitors the safety of all pool users within their allocated zone using any technology provided to assist their supervision. 

3. Where a lifeguard communicates with pool users, they should communicate how to use and enjoy the water safely in accordance with the pool rules.  

4. The lifeguard must remain in the position, or on the patrol route, allocated by the operator, leaving the position only where it is necessary to intervene, rescue, or change over with a colleague. The lifeguard must minimise any time away from their allocated position.

5. The lifeguard must intervene where there is an opportunity to prevent harm to a pool user or colleague or reduce its severity. 

6. Duties must be carried out promptly, without undue delay. Operators and lifeguards must avoid conducting or assigning activities that may compromise a lifeguard's ability to perform their duties promptly. 

7. Lifeguards must notify their managers if environmental or personal factors would result or may put at risk their ability to meet the standard of supervision to enable the operator to take additional precautions. 

8. Lifeguards have a duty to ensure they maintain their competency by complying with any training or assessment requirements set by their employer. 

Using the situations where you thought a duty might be an unfair expectation of a lifeguard that you identified above, would these eight statements provide a fairer result?

The aim of defining and agreeing on the standard of supervision expected of lifeguards is to take account of a diverse range of expectations and produce a consensus that balances these expectations in a way that is fair and consistently understood. 

 

Citation: Jacklin, D. 2022. What is the standard of supervision? Water Incident Research Hub, 4 February.