august 2020 - healt and security
The risks of the sun
This summer, take advantage of the free literature from the Tout baigne au soleil program, which promotes the adoption of healthy sun protection habits among young patrons and lifeguards.
Summer is fast approaching; it’s not only time to take advantage of the good weather around pools and beaches, but it’s also time to be more vigilant about the harmful effects of the sun. The Lifesaving Society provides all the literature for the Tout baigne au soleil program to help you do this.
Tout baigne au soleil is a skin cancer prevention program for users aged 6 to 12 and lifeguards. It’s an excellent way to encourage good sun protection habits while offering supervision to the facility’s patrons.
Are you an aquatic manager at a facility affiliated with the Lifesaving Society? Consult the Aquatic Manager’s Guide, available via the extranet, for more information.
THE MASK AND THE FACE SHIELD: information on bathing areas
Since July 18th, it has been mandatory for people aged 12 and over to wear a mask in closed or partially covered public areas, including indoor aquatic centres and the washrooms and changing rooms of outdoor aquatic facilities throughout Quebec.
The Lifesaving Society would therefore like to give you a quick reminder about wearing face shields and quality procedural masks in aquatic environments:
Impacts on indoor pool lifeguards
- The obligation to wear a face shield or a quality procedural mask in enclosed or partially covered public areas does not apply to people working in indoor swimming pools, except for lobbies, reception areas and elevators in the building. The sanitary rules issued by the CNESST, for indoor aquatic centres include:
- Wearing a quality procedural mask is not mandatory when the lifeguard is stationed on the lifeguard chair;
- Wearing a quality procedural mask is not mandatory if a supervised area is delineated to respect the physical distance of 2 metres between patrons and staff;
- Wearing a quality procedural mask is mandatory if the 2-metre physical distance between patrons and staff cannot be respected unless there is a physical barrier (e.g., Plexiglas);
- The lifeguard must wear the quality procedural mask and eye protection when working within 2 metres and out of the water or in shallow water;
- The lifeguard, instructor and coach must not be hindered by wearing the quality procedural mask while working. Wearing the procedural mask is therefore not to be encouraged, but physical distance must be respected.
What this means for patrons
- It is patrons’ responsibility to respect the requirement of wearing a mask as soon as they enter the aquatic facility and when moving around;
- It is patrons’ responsibility to wear a mask when going on the side of the pool to drop off personal belongings. They can remove their mask before taking a shower and entering the pool;
- It is patrons’ responsibility to wear their mask when going to the sanitary block;
- It is patrons’ responsibility to wear their mask; otherwise, access to the aquatic facility will be denied.
Roles and Responsibilities
The aquatic manager:
- It is aquatic managers’ responsibility to enforce the use of masks in their facility. They must ensure that patrons wear their masks upon arrival when moving around and when leaving.
- e.g.: Mandate an employee to make rounds in the locker rooms to ensure that patrons respect the health and safety of everyone.
- e.g.: Ask a user to leave the premises if he or she refuses to wear a mask.
- It is aquatic managers’ responsibility to ensure that their lifeguards are not affected by the enforcement of social distancing and mask-wearing rules. These tasks must be assigned to employees who are not lifeguarding.
- It is aquatic managers’ responsibility to train and inform their staff on how to enforce social distancing and mask-wearing rules, including the procedure for complaints and dealing with difficult customers.
The lifeguard:
It is lifeguards’ responsibility to ensure that their pool scan is not affected by the enforcement of social distancing and mask-wearing rules. These duties must be assigned to employees who are not on duty.