Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 310 - Oklahoma State Department of Health
Chapter 320 - Public Bathing Place Operations
Subchapter 3 - Operational Provisions
Section 310:320-3-2 - Personnel
Universal Citation: OK Admin Code 310:320-3-2
Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024
(a) Transfer of ownership. Each license holder of a public bathing facility shall notify the Department upon sale, lease, or other transfer of responsibility for the premises and shall supply the Department with the name and address of the new operator and/or owner.
(b) Operation and management. The bathing place shall be maintained under the supervision and direction of a properly trained operator with duties and responsibilities outlined in (d) below. Proper training can be obtained through attendance at short courses for swimming pool operators sponsored by the state, county, and municipal health departments; state colleges and universities, and organizations such as the YMCA, YWCA, and Red Cross.
(c) Lifeguard.
(1) One (1) or more lifeguards shall be on
duty at the pool side of all bathing places open to the general public, and all
pools with diving boards or platforms higher than one (1) meter at all times
when the pool is open and in use. These individuals have authority to enforce
all rules and regulations pertaining to sanitation and safety.
(2) Lifeguards of public bathing places in
Oklahoma shall have satisfactorily completed an advanced course of instruction
in life saving and water safety equivalent to that offered by the American Red
Cross or YMCA. Except for situations that satisfy (6) of this subsection,
lifeguards shall be not less than sixteen (16) years of age. Lifeguards shall
have a current life saving certificate, be capable swimmers, shall be competent
in life saving methods, and be able to perform artificial respiration, and
shall be in good physical condition. At least one (1) lifeguard holding a
current certificate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and trained in
multi-media or equivalent first aid shall be on duty at all times the pool is
in use. The CPR and current advanced life saving certificate for each lifeguard
employed shall be prominently displayed or posted at the checking stand or
other convenient point so as to be easily read by the patrons. Bathing places
open to the general public with water depths of four (4) feet or less may
substitute persons passing an American Red Cross Basic Water Safety Course or
its equivalent, rather than the Advanced Life Saving Course.
(3) Lifeguards assigned to the pool side
shall not be subject to duties that would distract their attention from proper
observation and supervision of persons in the pool area, or that would prevent
immediate assistance for persons in distress in the water.
(4) The number of lifeguards on duty shall be
such as to provide reasonable general supervision of the activities of all
persons in the pool area, with detailed supervision and close observation of
those persons in the pool water. The number shall also be sufficient to enable
periodic relief or rest periods so that they will be alert while on duty. As a
general approximation, it is recommended that the pool management provide at
least one (1) lifeguard at the pool side for each seventy-five (75) persons in
the swimming pool, with the determining factors being the type of pool, size of
pool, ratio of surface area of deep water to the area of pool, temperature of
the water, and quality of the water. Lifeguards shall wear distinguishing suits
or emblems so that they may be easily identified by persons using the swimming
facilities.
(5) In the case of
pools not open to the general public, that limit the use of the pool to their
tenants or guests, it is recommended that a lifeguard or attendant who is
responsible to pool management be in attendance when the bathing place is in
use. Pools not open to the general public which do not have lifeguards or
attendants present during all hours of operation must post a sign at the
entrance to the pool area stating "NO LIFEGUARD OR ATTENDANT ON DUTY."
(6) If there is a shortage of
certified lifeguards (age 16 or older) due to an uncontrollable event,
including but not limited to a public health emergency, war, severe acts of
nature, or a labor shortage, adversely impacting a licensed public bathing
place (establishment), the Department may approve an establishment's request to
lower the age restriction stated in (2) of this subsection to individuals who
have reached the age of 15. Each exemption is limited to the establishment
making the request and to only one physical location operated by the
establishment. An approved exemption is valid for one year from the date of
approval and may be rescinded by the Commissioner of Health at any time. A
letter submitted to the Department and requesting this exemption, must be
signed by an individual with authority to bind the establishment, notarized,
and include the following statements:
(A) the
establishment states the nature of the uncontrollable event prompting the
request;
(B) the establishment
states how the uncontrollable event adversely impact ability to hire certified
lifeguards;
(C) the establishment
attests that the 15-year-old is in compliance with all other lifeguard
regulations;
(D) the establishment
attests that the responsibilities for 15-year-old lifeguards will be in
compliance with
29
CFR 570.34(l); and
(E) an estimate of the percentage of
15-year-old lifeguard staff.
(d) Duties and responsibilities of pool personnel. All owners, managers, operators, and other attendants in charge of any public bathing place shall be responsible for the safety and sanitation of public bathing places. Pool personnel are responsible for the following:
(1) Duties and responsibilities
pertaining to bathers and general pool operation.
(A) See that all rules and regulations
affecting the patrons are properly enforced.
(B) Report all drownings and accidents
requiring hospitalization immediately to the local health authorities by
telephone and in writing within seven (7) days. If there is no local health
department, contact Consumer Health Services at the State Health
Department.
(C) Report to the
operator or management any condition of the bathing place or equipment which
may be detrimental to its safe operation.
(D) See that showers are used and are
operating properly.
(E) See that
all persons known to be infected with a communicable disease are excluded from
the pool.
(F) See that all persons
who are under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or drugs, are excluded
from the shower rooms and the pool area.
(G) See that all doors and gates to the
bathing place are locked when the bathing place is not in use or when the
facility is closed for health or safety reasons. Signs stating "POOL CLOSED"
shall be placed at all entrances to the pool when not open for use.
(H) Submit required records of the pool
operations to the Department upon request.
(I) See that animals are not allowed inside
the pool enclosure.
(J) See that
safety equipment is not used for anything other than its intended
use.
(2) Duties and
responsibilities pertaining to the bathhouse and appurtenances.
(A) See that walk areas, overflow gutters,
counters, lockers, equipment, furniture, interior partitions, and walls are in
good repair and are clean. Where porous deck coverings are used, they shall be
disinfected with a one hundred (100) ppm solution of chlorine at least once
each day the facility is in use.
(B) See that floors of dressing rooms, shower
stalls, and other interior rooms are scrubbed, using hot water with a suitable
detergent, rinsed thoroughly, and disinfected daily or more often as needed.
The floors should be scrubbed with soap or a suitable detergent, using hot
water, then disinfected with a 3000 ppm to 6000 ppm solution of available
chlorine, or a suitable commercial cleaner and disinfecting agent.
(C) See that toilet rooms and fixtures are
kept clean, sanitary, and in good repair.
(D) See that liquid soap dispensers, paper
towel dispensers, and toilet paper holders are kept adequately
supplied.
(E) See that no food,
drinks, debris, or foreign substances are thrown or carried into the pool. No
glass containers of any type may be used in or near the pool. Beverages should
be dispensed in disposable or shatterproof containers. Waste containers shall
be conveniently located within the walk areas.
(F) Exclude unauthorized persons from the
bathing place area.
(3)
Duties and responsibilities pertaining to mechanical equipment.
(A) See that the pool finish is free from
dirt and discoloration, and that the overflow gutters and skimmers are clean
and flushing properly. See that the pool finish is brushed or suction cleaned
as often as necessary to keep the pool free of sediment, hair, debris, algae,
and slime.
(B) See that the level
of the water is maintained at such a height as to ensure a constant slight
overflow into the gutter when no bathers are in the pool.
(C) Operate the pool equipment to maintain
clear and safe water, and be responsible for maintaining the chemical
parameters as outlined under OAC
310:320-3-7
and
310:320-3-8.
(D) Keep on hand at all times at least a two
(2) weeks supply of chemicals for disinfection and pH control of bathing water.
(E) Keep on hand diatomite filter
aid sufficient for two (2) weeks operation for filtration with diatomite
filters, including diatomite skimming filters.
(F) Adjustable inlets should provide
approximately ten (10) PSI pressure on the effluent gauge when the filter is
clean. Approximately seventy (70) percent of the water should return to the
pool through the inlets in shallow portion of the pool.
(G) Provide for filtration plant operation.
(i) All bathing place operators shall know
how to properly operate the filtration system and its appurtenances. These
include hair catchers, filters, pumps, chemicals, and vacuum
cleaners.
(ii) Where surface
skimmers are provided as a means of control of floatage, bathing place
personnel shall regularly ensure that the flow of makeup water is adequate to
assure proper skimming operation. Baskets or screens provided to trap large
solids shall be cleaned regularly.
(iii) An adequate supply of septa and
diatomite filter aid shall be available at all times where skimmer filters are
provided. When two (2) or more skimmer filters are in operation, they shall be
inspected periodically to ensure balanced operation.
(iv) Pool volume and turnover rate shall be
posted in the equipment area.
(H) Post a sign indicating the presence of
chemicals on the door to any room used for pool chemical
storage.
(4) Duties and
responsibilities pertaining to water chemistry.
(A) Be responsible for taking all tests as
per OAC
310:320-3-8.
(B) No pool is allowed to remain open for use
if the free active chlorine, pH, or turbidity are not within the limits
required by these regulations as per OAC
310:320-3-7.
It is the responsibility of the pool personnel to close the pool if any one (1)
of these three (3) are not within the required limits.
(C) Store all chemicals in a safe manner and
in an area not accessible to unauthorized persons. No chemical shall be stored
in a container that does not have a complete label on it for that
product.
(D) See that the proper
chemicals are on hand for the type disinfection feeder in use. Hand feeding of
chlorine is permitted only for super-chlorination or cleaning the pool. Only
chemicals recommended by the manufacturer of solution or flow-through feeders
shall be used.
(E) Chlorine and pH
readings from an electrode type automatic controller may be substituted, with
approval of the Department for three (3) of the four (4) required daily
readings in OAC
310:320-3-8.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Oklahoma may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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