Assessment of the maintenance, safety practices and liability control in Kampala swimming pools

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the maintenance, safety practices and liability control of Kampala swimming pools. The study was guided by three main objectives; - Assess the maintenance practices at swimming pools in Kampala. - Evaluate safety practices around swimming pools in Kampala. - Analyse liability control strategies implemented by Kampala swimming pool managers. A self administered questionnaire was used to collect data relating to swimming pool maintenance, safety practices and liability control from thirty swimming pool managers. A public swimming pool safety, maintenance and liability control checklist covering specific features of the Swimming pool, pool deck, locker rooms, pool maintenance personnel, chemical storage areas, emergency action plans was used to collect data pertinent to each swimming pool facility. The study findings show that most swimming pool facilities are poorly maintened due to failure to hire competent specialist pool maintenance personnel, fervent desire by the facility owners to maximise profits has undermined efforts to ensure safety of swimmers, most swimming pool staff are not familiar with the legal aspects of their profession. The study concludes that incentives availed to most swimming pool staff are low yet the handling of pool chemicals is associated with various health hazards, swim coaching and lifeguarding are both physically and mentally taxing. The study recommends that each swimming pool facility should hire competent specialist pool maintenance personnel, specialist lifeguards and competent swimming pool managers so as to alleviate various risks associated with the use of swimming pool facilities.