2007 Model Practice Application (Public)

Enhance Public Pool and Spa Operators Safety Workshop

Columbus Public Health

The Enhanced Public Pool and Spa Operators Safety Workshop targets operators of licensed public swimming pools and spas and addressed the issue of protection of the public from recreational water illnesses. The goal of the program is to provide tools and information to empower pool and spas operators to better maintain their facilities, so as to improve the health and safety of people who work, live and play in the cities of Columbus and Worthington. The program objectives include:

• Protect the public from possible safety and health hazards.
  
  
• Provide a basic knowledge of regulations from the health code.
  
  
• Build a good relationship between public pool operators and the health department.

Outcomes of practice included increased participation of licensed pool and spa operators at educational workshops and a decrease of health and safety violations found during inspections of licensed facilities.

The Pool and Spa Operators Workshop addresses public health issues related to infectious diseases, water quality, and general health and safety concerns of the patrons, particularly children, who are a large segment of the patrons of public pools and spas and a particularly susceptible population. Concerns related to transmission of recreational water illnesses have been documented world-wide. There are approximately 750 licensed public pools and spas located in the jurisdiction. There have been significant outbreaks in nearby jurisdictions, and program staff were concerned regarding the possibility of a similar event happening at a pool or spas licensed by Columbus Public Health. The Pool and Spa Operators Workshop addresses 3 related public health issues by specifically addressing concerns to health and safety, control of infectious diseases, and prevention of cross-contamination of the water supply.

Previously Columbus Public Health had offered a short class on water chemistry twice each spring to licensees. This was in a lecture format and no materials were provided to the attendees. A basic knowledge of pool and spa operation was assumed. Attendance was voluntary and there was no charge. It was found that approximately 35-40 or 6% of licensees sent representatives, and usually the facilities that attended were ones that were better managed, and those same facilities tended to send representatives each year to the class. It was also noticed that the facilities which could have benefited most from the training were not usually attending. Program staff searched for an existing program that Columbus Public Health could offer, which would better serve licensees and benefit the health and safety of the patrons. Staff researched via the internet, and asked other departments, both local and state, and were unable to find anything suitable already in existence, other than the Certified Pool Operator Training, which was too intensive for the target audience, as well as cost-prohibitive to offer; therefore, Columbus Public Health began to develop a workshop. This practice differs from other approaches in that the attendees of this workshop are actively learning and have a reference manual that provides all the information, forms, and signage they need to maintain proper water quality and address safety concerns at the pool or spa, so as to provide a safer, healthier facility for their patrons. Not only is the public health significance of properly maintaining their pools and spas explained, but also explained is the recreational water illnesses that could occur if they do not. Safety issues are also covered, some of which are clearly marked as specific to our jurisdiction, such as the local concern with the direction that the entrance gate swings to protect children from accidental drownings.

Columbus Public Health designed and distributes the workshop materials, both in print format at the workshops, and also online at http://www.publichealth.columbus.gov/programs/Environmental_Health/poolandspa_copy.asp. The workshop is also delivered by the department, 5 times in 2006 and 6 times in 2007. The program staff have encouraged persons who are planning to open a pool or spa to attend the workshop in advance. In addition, the workshops are available free of charge to anyone who wants to attend - many times companies bring along extra employees who operate pools and spas outside the jurisdiction. The workshop materials and PowerPoint presentation is freely shared with anyone who requests it.

Funding was provided by the Environmental Health Division Funds (Environmental Health Promotions and Public Pool and Spa Programs) and included $6,000 of direct costs.

Columbus Public Health employees spent a period of about 6 months determining the need, researching the available materials and presentations, and ultimately developing the materials and PowerPoint presentation for the Pool and Spa Operators Workshop. Columbus Public Health offered the workshops 5 times in 2006 (May 10, May 17, June 15, July 25, and August 10) and schedules 6 times in 2007 (January 17, April 26, May 23, June 20, July 26, September 5).

Columbus Public Health believes there is and will continue to be sufficient stakeholder commitment to continue with this Pool and Spa Operators Workshop. At the 2 initial workshops in 2006, the workshop had approximately the same attendance as it had in past years at the lectures given in 2005 and previously. However, it was noticed that many facilities which had a representative at those early workshops sent additional staff to the later workshops in 2006. In addition, it was noticed that the attendance continued throughout the summer, both with facilities that the Registered Sanitarians referred to the workshop because they needed more education, and also from facilities that heard the workshop was considerably different and more user-friendly than the previous lecture-format. Since the Registered Sanitarians actually teach the workshop, the expense of the workshop is covered by program funds. A benefit of having program Registered Sanitarians teach the workshop is that the licensees have an opportunity to learn from the staff while not worrying about inspection results. Eventually it is hoped to build the interest and provide the Certified Pool Operators Class, for a fee of course, to operators who have already attended the Pool and Spa Operators Workshop. Based upon experience with Food Safety educational classes, it takes approximately three years before an offered training or workshop realizes its full potential.

The overall program goal is to provide tools and information to empower pool and spas operators to better maintain their facilities, so as to improve the health and safety of people who work, live and play in the cities of Columbus and Worthington.

Objective 1: Protect the public from possible safety and health hazards.

Performance Measure: Occurrence of recreational water illnesses in Columbus and Worthington.

Outcome: No outbreaks of recreational water illnesses.

Objective 2: Provide a basic knowledge of regulations from the health code.

Performance Measure: Occurrence of violations during inspections of public pools and spas licensed in Columbus and Worthington.

Outcome: Provided basic knowledge to public pool and spa operators. Staff noted an increase in proper health and safety practices among the public pool and spa operators.

Objective 3: Build a good relationship between pool operators and the health department.

Performance Measure: Attendance at Pool & Spa Workshops.

Outcome: Continued / increased attendance at workshops, and improved communication between operators and Registered Sanitarians.

Lessons learned include:

• Public Pool and Spa Operators in Columbus and Worthington were maintaining their facilities properly.
  
  
• To provide a hands-on training portion of the water chemistry section.
  
  
• Facilities sent additional employees to the workshops after attending the first one.