Guidelines for Safe
Pool Operation

Operators have a responsibility to ensure their facility meets the standards outlined in a range of legislation, Australian Standards, Codes of Practice and industry standards.

These requirements need to be implemented across the entire facet of operations from supervision and programs through to pool water quality, plant operations and chemical storage.

Royal Life Saving Society - Australia publishes a range of Guidelines to help facility and learn-to-swim operators fulfil their obligations and ensure they offer the safest swimming environment possible by bringing together these requirements in single, easy-to-read and interpret documents.

The Guidelines for Safe Pool Operation (GSPO) was
developed as a result of the need for a consolidated document to provide standardised advice to those designing, developing or operating aquatic facilities. Developed locally, the GSPO draws on expertise and examples of best practice from Australia and overseas to provide practical guidelines for the safe operation of aquatic facilities.

The GSPO was first published in 1991 and over the years has been updated to reflect changes in industry practice. Examples of areas covered within the GSPO include the provision of supervision, accreditations for staff, elements of safe facility design, first aid provision, safety considerations in programming and pool plant operations.

The GSPO currently includes 92 Guidelines across the following seven sections:

        1. General Operations
        2. Technical Operations
        3. First Aid
        4. Facility Design
        5. Supervision
        6. Low Patronage Pools
        7. Programs

Guidelines for Water Safety -
Commercial Learn to Swim & School Pools

In order to address and respond to the level of risk associated with aquatic amenities in the Commercial Learn to Swim and School Pool industries, Royal Life Saving has produced the Guidelines for Water Safety - Commercial Learn to Swim and School Pools.

These Guidelines have been specifically developed for any swimming pool that is used primarily for the running of swimming lessons or other aquatic educational programs (specifically supervised activities), whether they be available to members of the public, for club members or previously enrolled children, or strictly for the children attending the school at which the pool may be located.

The Guidelines for Water Safety - Commercial Learn to Swim & School Pools include 32 Guidelines in the areas of: