During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic swimming pools were closed as the nature of the business meant it was too hard to control the spread of infection and adhere to social distancing rules – making them high risk areas. As lockdown eased Sarah Bates School of Swimming (SBSOS) had to look at new safety procedures and measures to be able her to restart lessons in a safe and controlled manner. The school, which owns its own swimming pool complex, primarily delivers swimming lessons to children ranging from parent and baby to advanced swimmers in their early teens. With varying age ranges, requirements for changing spaces and class sizes it was necessary to relook at every stage of the lesson experience to implement a safe system for restarting lessons which complied with the new government swimming pool guidance and changing social distancing requirements.

SS Safety met with SBSOS for an initial site visit and consultation. We talked this through with both the Managing Director and staff to understand client expectations, business facilities, equipment and building layout. We then reviewed all of the current procedures to ensure practical integration of standard health and safety and COVID-19 controls. Class sizes were reviewed with start and finish times for lessons amended to prevent any overlap. Cleaning and sanitisation rotas were reviewed and then a detailed pre-start information pack produced. The pack, which details all of the necessary changes in a clear and concise fashion, highlights procedures that swimmers, parents and teachers must follow. Full training was then delivered to prepare staff for opening as soon as government regulations allowed swimming pools to open.