We are urging aquatic facility managers to ensure they are ready for summer by implementing important health and safety policies and procedures that will be in force through 2024, in honor of Safe Work Month, which is observed nationwide. These modifications are intended to improve safety precautions for staff members and visitors to public aquatic facilities. They address the usage of crystalline silica, child safety, training & qualifications, chemical handling, and water quality management.
Key Updates
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Psychological Risk Management:
In 2024, psychosocial risk management became a central focus for regulators of Australia’s workplace health and safety laws.
Psychosocial hazards are now formally defined in Workplace Health and Safety laws as aspects of work that may cause psychological harm. This includes exposure to traumatic events, excessive job demands, poor support, workplace bullying, violence, harassment, and poor organizational change management.
Employers must identify, assess, and control psychosocial risks in the same way they would manage physical hazards., This is particularly important in roles where employees witness or respond to distressing events, such as in frontline emergency response and public safety. This involves consulting with workers, monitoring working conditions, and taking proactive steps to minimize stressors.
The new regulations require organizations to implement formal risk management processes for identifying psychosocial hazards. This includes regular assessments, consultation with staff, and effective controls to mitigate identified risks.
Safe Work Australia introduced a Model Code of Practice to guide managing psychosocial risks. It outlines practical steps for assessing risks, implementing controls, and ensuring ongoing monitoring and review. Employers are encouraged to promote workplace cultures that prioritize mental health and well-being.
Training programs focusing on mental health awareness and the management of psychosocial hazards are now encouraged. Organizations are expected to raise awareness among employees about recognizing and responding to workplace stressors.
Scott Vanderhayden, Acting Group Manager – Work Health and Safety at Belgravia Group, highlighted the increasing focus on managing psychosocial risks in the aquatic sector:
“Psychosocial risk management is an area that can’t be ignored. The mental well-being of staff is as critical as their physical safety, especially in high-pressure environments like aquatic facilities. We’re adopting new protocols to support our teams, helping them manage stress, reduce burnout, and build resilience. These measures are essential for maintaining a healthy, productive workforce.”
2. Crystalline silica
Crystalline silica is the crystalline form of silicon dioxide and is a naturally occurring mineral that forms a major component of most rocks, soil, sand, and clay. It is found in natural stones like granite and sandstone and is used to create manufactured products like bricks, pavers, concrete, and tiles. Crystalline silica is defined in the model WHS Workplace Health and Safety Regulations as crystalline polymorphs of silica, and it includes quartz, cristobalite, tridymite, and Tripoli.
Crystalline silica particles that are less than 10 µm in diameter are known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS). RCS is invisible under normal lighting or with the naked eye and stays airborne for long periods of time. When breathed in, RCS can travel deep into the lungs and cause damage. Some pool filter media can contain RCS.
Starting 1 September 2024, Safe Work Australia’s revised regulations on crystalline silica introduce stricter controls, including mandatory dust management measures and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). These changes are particularly relevant for technical operators and maintenance teams working with ultrafine pool filtration systems.
Health, safety, and risk managers should consult the safety guidance and material safety data sheets to ensure filter media processing is conducted safely.
3. Child Safety
In Victoria, from 1 July 2024, child safety oversight was transferred to the new Social Services Regulator, ensuring organizations working with children, including aquatic centers, follow structured guidance aligned with the Royal Commission’s recommendations on child protection.
In Queensland, new child safety laws were introduced in September 2024 under the Child Safe Organisations Bill, aligning with other states by adopting the 10 national child safety standards.
Tasmania and Western Australia have also introduced new regulatory frameworks that reinforce the need for organizations to create child-safe environments, reflecting the national standards.
Kate Barnett, Health, Safety & Environment Manager – Recreation at the Y Victoria, commented:
“While the Y has long been a leader in child safety management, these new regulations have provided us with an opportunity to reinforce our commitment. Enhanced staff training and robust reporting mechanisms are key to safeguarding children and young people across all of our facilities.”
4. Safety Signage
The Australian Standard for Water Safety Signage AS2416 has been replaced by the International Standard ISO 20712, which guides the design and application of water safety signs. These changes emphasize consistency in signage with global conventions.
Craig Roberts, General Manager – Drowning Prevention & Education at Royal Life Saving New South Wales, notes:
“While the international standards bring some subtle changes, there is no need for aquatic facilities to update recent signage already in place solely to replace diamond warning symbols with triangle-shaped symbols for example if all of the information remains accurate.”
Royal Life Saving – Australia supports that existing safety signage compliant with AS2416 remains effective and there is no immediate requirement for updates, though facilities should review their signage periodically as part of ongoing continual improvement safety practices.
5. Pool Fencing
While aquatic facilities rarely contain internal pool fencing, some do and should ensure these are maintained in line with standards and local regulatory requirements.
6. Industry Guidelines, Codes of Practice & Safety Assessments
Royal Life Saving – Australia released new Guidelines for Child Safety in Aquatic Facilities and Guidelines for Training and Qualifications in Aquatic Facilities in December 2023. These guidelines provide detailed recommendations to enhance safety and operational standards in aquatic environments, specifically designed to address the unique risks faced by pool operators.
RJ Houston, General Manager – Capability & Industry at Royal Life Saving – Australia, explained the importance of continual vigilance and alignment in safety management:
“The management of safety at aquatic facilities is constantly evolving, with new risks emerging as the industry advances,” said Mr Houston.
“The new guidelines represent an important step forward in aligning our sector with best practices for safety and qualifications. They offer facility managers clear, actionable guidance on ensuring their operations meet the highest standards of safety and staff competency.”
In Western Australia, amendments to the Code of Practice for the Design, Construction, Operation, Management, and Maintenance of Aquatic Facilities were introduced in March 2024. Changes include updated safety protocols and updated terminology to reflect changes to training packages, Australian Standards, and industry guidelines.
Travis Doye, Acting Executive Officer at the Leisure Institute of Western Australia Aquatics said updates to the Code of Practice helped ensure all Western Australians were accessing the safest possible aquatic facilities across the state.
“Whether attending a pool in the Kimberly, Esperance, or the suburbs of Perth, Western Australians have a right to expect the highest standards of safety delivered by the Western Australian aquatic sector. The sector has been actively engaged not just in ensuring local operations and codes of practice reflect the highest standards of safety but have actively advocated for improvements to national guidance and resources with positive effect, equally reinforcing the importance of local and national collaboration.”
Victoria has published the third version of the Safer Public Pools – Code of Practice, developed by Life Saving Victoria and supported by Emergency Management Victoria (EMV). This Code offers practical guidance for those with responsibilities under the Occupational Health & Safety Act and Regulations, aiming for consistency in the application of industry standards, benchmarking, and reporting.
Alek Olszewski, Manager – Aquatic Industry Services at Life Saving Victoria, stressed the importance of the Code:
“The Safer Public Pools Code is a critical tool for facility managers, providing them with a comprehensive framework to manage risk and comply with public health and safety laws. It helps ensure pools across the state remain safe environments for all users, regardless of the challenges that may arise.”
Royal Life Saving – Australia has recently updated its Aquatic Facility Safety Assessment to include provisions for child safety and training and qualifications. However, broader regulatory changes like psychosocial risk management and crystalline silica are yet to be integrated into the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPOs).
7. Draft Model Code of Practice: Managing Fatigue Risks at Work
Safe Work Australia welcomes submissions from all interested stakeholders, including duty holders, regulators, government agencies, unions, workers, legal professionals, researchers, members of the public, and other parties.
If approved by Safe Work Australia Members the draft model Code will be provided to the Commonwealth, state, and territory WHS ministers for approval. If approved, it will become a model Code of Practice. It is expected this process will be finalized in the first half of 2025.
