This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
92


SPN DEC 2010 InMyView


www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk


Elizabeth Wilkinson, Marketing Executive from water analysts Tintometer Ltd, feels strongly about proper training and procedures when it comes to making sure swimming pool water is safe


sn’t winter great? Remember the days of snowball fights, puddle skidding, sledging and making ice slides in the playground? Oh, wait a minute – that was before Health and Safety fever took over and these simplest childhood pleasures were banned from school. Yet we’re happy to pack off our children to the local pool every week where far greater dangers may lie in wait than a bit of snow and ice in the playground. We rely, in the old fashioned way, on human nature. We implicitly trust in the maintenance of the pool and cleanliness of the water. Sure, Health and Safety looms here too and – without a doubt – should a problem occur we’d all hear about it. Indeed, the facility would make the tabloid headlines in minutes. But that’s locking the proverbial stable door long after the horse has bolted.


I


guidelines for you – to help you help them make testing as accurate as possible:


Taking the sample: Always Take from a depth of 300mm from within the pool


Always Try to take from the same place each time and make sure sufficient sample is collected


Always Take samples at times stated in your operating procedures


Fortunately, that should be a very rare occurrence since everyone connected with the leisure industry knows how important water hygiene and balance is. And, when we think about it, we know that balanced water can only be achieved with good pool water testing. Yes, we all know this goes without saying but is the level of testing being carried out and the training given adequate to meet today’s demands?


In other words, have the personnel carrying out your testing been given the correct level of training or have they been thrown in at the deep end and been told to ‘get on with it’? No, this is not a rant on the cleanliness of public pools! Not at all. But, being Lovibond® Tintometer®, we feel it is our duty to remind everyone just how precise the procedure of water testing needs to be. After all, new employees join all the time.


Do they realise, for example, that the measurements taken are at very low levels and normally measured in parts per million – the equivalent of trying to measure approximately an inch on the height of Mount Everest? So we thought we’d put together some


Always Use a clean non-glass bottle and rinse out several times before taking the sample


Carrying out the test: Always Carry out the tests immediately after taking the sample


Always Wash and dry hands before commencing testing


Always Make sure the tubes, tablets etc are correct for the equipment being used


Always Use good quality tablets Always Use a clean dry sample bottle Always Ensure all equipment is clean and dry Always Rinse tubes three to four times with sample water before carrying out the test


Always Carry out tests in a suitable location away from the pool side


Always Check the tablet prior to testing and reject any suspect tablets


Never Handle the tablet Always Make sure there is adequate lighting Always Always test chlorine (or bromine) and pH before using the pool


Always Record results


After testing: Always Empty cells and clean and dry all equipment immediately


Always Return tablets to correct boxes and equipment to boxes for safe storage


Always Discard any scratched cells and/or crushing rods


Always Empty, wash and dry the sample bottle Always Check readings and carry out any necessary corrective actions


And remember – taking the test is only part of the operator’s duties. Reverting to childhood memories again: Remember the three Rs: READ – RECORD – REACT.


These are only guidelines but they will help operators eliminate errors in measurement and achieve good results. If you’d like a copy to hang in your facilities room, please contact us using the details below.


However they are only guidelines and those carrying out the testing should ideally also be sufficiently trained on what they are testing for and why. Unsurprisingly, Lovibond® Tintometer® runs just such a course focusing on pool water testing. For further details and dates of upcoming courses, again please contact us.


Don’t let the Health and Safety police have cause to catch your facility out and make you the tabloid headlines. Leave them alone to destroy the little pleasures of childhood. That’s our rant over! spn


i FOR FURTHER INFORMATION


F TINTOMETER LTD ( 01980 664800 : sales@tintometer.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96