POOL & SPA INDUSTRY Hot Tub News
In this issue, we highlight a range of topics relating to hot tubs and a number of these topics will be explored in more detail at the BISHTA annual conference on Tuesday 29 September, in Andover
Public Health Research Into Hot Tubs
Public Health England (PHE) scientists at Porton Down have been carrying out research on an inflatable hot tub to investigate the aerosols that are released. This research was undertaken to better understand whether the aerosol could be carried in the wind and affect a large area, or whether the distance was more limited. The reason for this research was to better understand domestic spa pools as a source of Legionella and the potential risk to those in and/or around the pool.
For obvious safety and ethical reasons, the scientists could not purposely add Legionella to the pool and so a marker organism (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was used instead. Although, P. aeruginosa was present in the
spa pool in high numbers, it was not recovered from the air when the air-injection system was
inactivated. When the air-injection system was activated, P. aeruginosa was detected in air samples taken close to the water surface, but the number of P. aeruginosa colonies recovered decreased with increasing height and/or distance from the
spa pool. These results imply, that should Legionella be present in the water, susceptible individuals either in, or at the edge, of the spa pool may be at risk of acquiring legionellosis. However, the risk of aerosol transmission is reduced with increasing height and/or distance from the spa pool.
Further insight into this research is being presented at BISHTA’s annual conference and more discussion is needed to identify whether larger hot tubs (with more powerful jets) will produce different results when compared to inflatable hot tubs.
Workforce Qualifications
Richard Lamburn from the STA has been hard at work with BISHTA developing the first of what is intended to be a series of qualifications for the hot tub industry to help recognise the excellent work that is already done by most companies. The ‘Hot Tub Site Surveyor’ qualification will provide recognition of customer care and health & safety information and also the importance of a site survey within the process of selling hot tubs. Plans are currently underway to write the installer and technician qualifications. More information on workforce qualifications is to be shared with BISHTA members at their annual conference on 29 September and there will also be information available at SPATEX 2016.
Management Of
Spa Pools Revision BISHTA has been working with colleagues from wet leisure (such as PWTAG and ISPE) as well as colleagues from Public Health, HSE, Environmental Health and the holiday industry to revise the guidance on managing spas, first produced in 2006. Since then, there has been a vast increase in the numbers of hot tubs being sited with holiday accommodation and many owners follow the current guidance, while others are not aware of the guidance (or choose to ignore it) and this has concerns for public health officials that need to be addressed by the industry. It is anticipated that a revised guidance document will be available in the autumn for industry comment, and a greater emphasis on a risk assessment based approach is understood to be under consideration.
Common Water Hygiene Management Training Syllabus
BISHTA’s Technical Committee has formed a sub group to revise and update the syllabus required to ensure that water hygiene management courses meet the current expectations. A number of companies have expressed an interest in helping to revise the materials and will be considering offering courses when the new syllabus is in place. The syllabus involves the following topics:
• Types of spas and hot tubs (including exercise/swim spas and settings – domestic/
36 October 2015 SPN business/commercial)
• Why does water need to be treated and filtered?
• What can grow and how to kill it • Products for water treatment • Sanitisers • pH and Water Balance • Risk Assessments • Record keeping • What happens when it all goes wrong? • Practical water testing
• Written test paper and certification • Troubleshooting tips • Health & Safety advice, including the storage, safe handling and use of chemicals
• Insurance.
The course will be held in one day, with the morning devoted to the relevant theory of water hygiene management and the afternoon dealing with practical water testing and a written test, with an expected pass mark of 90%.
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
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