Make a Splash with Pool Safety at Your B&B

While relaxing and fun, swimming pools present unique risks and liabilities to your bed and breakfast facility. To keep patrons and staff safe at your swimming pool, it’s crucial to implement rules to ensure that health and safety are top of mind and to reduce liability exposures.

Consider implementing these regulations at your inn to ensure the health and safety of patrons and staff

• Any person with a visible infectious disease should not be permitted to use the pool.
• Individuals who excrete bodily fluids in the pool should be asked to leave immediately and the pool should be closed for disinfecting as required by state regulations.
• Provide lifeguards for the establishment during all hours of operation to supervise and observe swimmers. The lifeguards should be able to do the following: 
  • Be capable swimmers and able to perform lifeguarding tasks as authorized by their certifications.
  • Be wearing a uniform that properly identifies them as a lifeguard on duty for patrons and other staff members.
  • Be prepared to immediately enter the water for a rescue.
  • Have a valid lifeguard certification from the American Red Cross or other organizations with comparable training.
  • Possess valid certification for infant, child and adult CPR, including pocket mask, bag valve and two-person CPR.
• Provide first aid equipment in an accessible location for use by lifeguards and patrons. As a minimum, the kit should include unused disposable gloves and sufficient materials to stop bleeding and clean and bandage minor wounds.
• Have at least one backboard on-site for use during spinal injuries. These boards must have straps and head immobilizers.
• Place a telephone within 500 feet of the swimming pool with emergency phone numbers clearly posted next to the phone.
• Use a diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) testing kit for measuring the concentration levels of chlorine or bromine, pH, total alkalinity, cyanuric acid and water temperature in the pool.
• Ensure that the pool water temperature does not exceed 90° F.
• Conduct a manual test of chlorine and pH at the beginning of each shift before swimmers enter the pool.

Rules for Patrons

Just like the rules implemented at your inn to maintain health and safety, the rules provided for swimmers will also reduce the risk of accidents and will increase the enjoyment of all who frequent your establishment. Taking extra precautions to help protect yourself and guests from accidental falls or slips is as important as making sure the water is safe to swim in. Implement the following rules for your patrons:

• The rules and requests made should always be respected and followed.
• Always walk, not run, on a pool deck and around the facility.
• Acceptable swimming attire must be worn by all patrons when entering the water.
• Patrons who appear to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol will be asked to leave the facility immediately.
• Diving in the shallow end is strictly prohibited.
• Back dives, somersaults and dangerous jumps are not permitted.
• Swimmers must leave the pool area immediately when advised by staff due to inclement weather, a chemical emergency or bodily fluids in the pool.
• Patrons who are verbally warned by a lifeguard of unacceptable behavior will be asked to leave the facility if a second offense occurs.

Install a “Pool Rules” Sign

To help minimize your liability, hang up a sign stating all of the pool rules. According to inspection regulations, this sign must be kept at the entrance of your pool. These signs should provide information such as diving warnings, shutoff switch labels, sanitation rules and occupant capacity. Don’t forget to address your state’s required pool signage as well.

If you are looking for a pool sign for your property, Signs.com has many customizable templates to create your own.

Take the Plunge – Risk-Free!

Use these suggestions as a starting point, but also take your facility’s individual risks and exposures into consideration when crafting policies and rules for your swimming pool. CBIZ Innkeepers Insurance Program can help you evaluate your unique risks and advise you on strategies to reduce those risks. For more business safety guidance and innkeeper insurance solutions, connect with a member of our team.