MANAGING CRYPTOSPORIDIUM IN SWIMMING POOLS
This in turn provides safer and more attractive pools. STA, as the lead awarding body for pool plant management, assisted in the research and trained the Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) involved in the pool audits. Richard Lamburn, STA’s Technical Manager for Pool Plant said that as a result of this research, they have seen a substantial increase in the number of candidates undertaking STA’s suite of pool plant qualifications. STA deliver a wide range of pool plant qualifications from a Level 2 Water Treatment qualification to the Level 3 Pool Plant operator’s qualification.
It is recommended that all PPOs who have responsibility for any pool, spa or interactive water feature attain the Level 3 qualification and this is supplemented by site based training. By comparing the period prior to the research commencing and the period after the research, the increase in the number of Pool Plant Operator qualifications STA awarded was between 120% and 150% over the suite of qualifications. Thanks to the EHO teams in Wales carrying out research into the management of Cryptosporidium in swimming pools, STA now has the much-needed evidence, and opportunity, to be more targeted in its education and focus.
The findings from the research are indicative of the whole UK, not just Wales, and STA’s aim is to use this evidence to raise standards and reiterate the importance of training, as the research document highlighted that ‘Pools with suitably trained pool water operators are more effective in the management of Cryptosporidium’. Robbie Phillips concluded by saying:
“We applaud the EHO teams in Wales for proactively raising awareness of this
qualification aims to enable candidates to understand the basic principles of the treatment of swimming pool water. It provides candidates with the knowledge and skills to test water competently and maintain safe bathing conditions.
STA LEVEL 2 AWARD IN SWIMMING POOL WATER TESTING (QCF) The Pool Plant – Water Testing qualification aims to provide the basic information needed and skills necessary to test swimming pool and spa water competently, and to provide a basic understanding of the outcomes of those tests.
All the awards are supported with extensive learning materials too, including a comprehensive Operator’s manual that covers all of the unitised courses in detail, supported with user-friendly colour images and diagrams.
REVALIDATION
For Pool Plant operators wanting to revalidate or convert to the Pool Plant
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk Once the doors are opened to
customers, members and guests there is a legal requirement to provide a safe hygienic environment
important issue via this detailed 2-year study and report. As an industry we can no longer brush the problem of Cryptosporidium under the carpet; we now have hard concrete evidence of where the key critical issues are and together we must take decisive action. “Bearing mind that pools and similar water based facilities are the main source of major outbreaks, this report should be a major wake up call for the industry. It serves to illustrate that by investing in training we can effectively manage Cryptosporidium and other pathogens in swimming pools. It’s very pleasing to see that the research is already having a positive impact on pool plant training, with rising numbers of pool plant qualifications being awarded.”
ABOUT THE STUDY This two-year project evolved from the
– Operations qualification, STA also offers a revolutionary online programme that improves accessibility and offers
candidates the flexibility to complete the required course elements online at their own convenience, around their current work schedules. The programme, which is undertaken on STA Online, provides an alternative to face-to-face courses, saving
both time and money, and serves
positively to help those candidates who have issues with course accessibility. For those who would prefer to attend a traditional course, the Pool Plant – Revalidation / Conversion is available as a face-to-face course as well.
SITE SUPPORT STA’s innovative
STAadmin.co.uk risk management software also provides
investigation of an outbreak of swimming pool associated Cryptosporidium and elevated numbers of sporadic Cryptosporidium in South East Wales in 2009, and a follow up National Study into sporadic swimming pool associated Cryptosporidium in 2010.
The Members of the Project Working Group are: • Dr Sarah Jones, City of Cardiff Council • Samantha Hancock, Pembrokeshire County Council
• Kelly Lee, Newport City Council
For a copy of the full report please contact Richard at STA on 01922 645097. STA will also be hosting a free workshop at SPATEX 2015, where the contents of the report will also be discussed further.
support for operators by helping them
proactively to control and maintain the correct water chemistry levels in their pool or spa. The system covers hygiene testing (free, combined
chlorine and pH), water balance and bacterial sample analysis. All results are uploaded and analysed, and if any dangerous readings are detected specific alerts are transmitted to key personnel immediately. STA’s new STA Digital Photometer – the next generation in pool water testing – also uniquely links to
STAadmin.co.uk.
For further information visit
www.sta.co.uk or visit SPATEX 2015 where STA will be reinforcing why pool plant management should be made a priority, and why it is so important for leisure operators to have properly qualified staff.
SPN February 2015 47
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