Swimming Pool Chemical Safety

image: lesliespool.com

Swimming pools pose a number of health and safety risks. Commonly we talk about the potential for disease transmission and injury related to swimming pools. However, the risks associated with the hazardous chemicals used in the sanitation and chemical adjustment of swimming pools is often overlooked or understated. Hazardous chemicals are a necessary part of the proper operation and maintenance of swimming pools. These chemicals include compressed gases, oxidizers, corrosives, and poisonous substances. In addition to the hazards these chemical pose in and of themselves they can create dangerous situations in event of accidental chemical mixtures. This risk was demonstrated in an incident at an Indianapolis, Indiana pool in the summer of 2012 where dozens of children were transported to local hospitals for chlorine gas exposure. It is important for pool operators, pool regulators, and even pool patrons understand the risks associated with these chemicals and how those risks can be minimized. The storage, use, disposal, transportation, and spill response involving these substances cross multiple jurisdictions. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s rules and regulations deal with training and personal protective equipment, the Department of Transportation’s regulations cover the transportation of hazardous chemicals, the Environmental Protection Agency has requirements for properly disposing of hazardous wastes, and many state and local rules may apply to the proper handling of these chemicals as well. This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of the hazardous chemicals used in swimming pool operation, the health and safety risks associated with them, good chemical hygiene practices that can reduce the risk of illness or injury related to chemical exposure, and ways environmental health inspection programs can better identify and remedy poor management practices that increase the risk of chemical accidents.