CRITERIA: All lifeguards must hold current and valid PLSA or PLPC.

HOW: Sight current and valid PLSA and PLPC certificates for all lifeguards.

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS:

• Evidence that all staff have undergone PLSA or PLPC training and assessment has taken place and paperwork sent to Skills Active.
• Evidence that all PLSA lifeguards have completed an induction PRIOR to working on Poolside.
• The PLPC assessment has taken place and paperwork sent to Skills Active within one month of starting work on Poolside.
• NOP must clearly state that lifeguards who do not hold a current and valid PLSA (for one month from date of starting on poolside) or PLPC will not be included in any supervision ratios.
• All qualified lifeguards must have completed First Aid units 26551 and 26552 as a minimum first aid qualification.

NOTE: Assessors must be satisfied that the correct process has occurred and an honest attempt has been made to recover any missing certificates. Some lifeguards may still have the NPLA until the next revalidation to PLPC.

Total number of lifeguards on the facility roster = a) PLSA                  b) PLPC  

CRITERIA: Every body of water is supervised by a qualified lifeguard (when open for use) at all times.

HOW: Review facility normal operating procedures (NOPs) relating to supervision.

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS:

NOP must detail:

• A PLPC lifeguard must be rostered on and available at all times (this is the minimum, it is recommended that a PLPC lifeguard is rostered on and POOLSIDE at all times).
• All lifeguards must be able to retrieve an object from the deepest part of the pool.

NOP must detail the way in which the pool should be supervised including reference to:

• The minimum number of lifeguards
• The area of water and physical obstacles each lifeguard supervises
• Supervision techniques and supervision of different activities
• How lifeguards communicate
• Leaving poolside
• After-hours groups must be lifeguarded within supervision ratios by a facility employed PLPC lifeguard

A facility schematic/s should be included detailing:

• Recommended Static Positions
• Patrolling routes 

The NOP should give poolside lifeguards as much information as they need to make informed minute-by-minute decisions on supervising the pool without being over prescriptive and too lengthy.  The following are some useful headings:

• Personal appearance and conduct of lifeguards (talking, grooming, uniform etc)
• Identification of risks
• Poolside first aid
• Customer behaviour

• 1. Acceptable behaviour
• 2. Unacceptable behaviour

• Supervision of different customer groups, (children, youth, special needs etc)
• Supervision of different activities, (lane swimming, diving boards etc)
• It is desirable that the normal operating procedures be cross referenced to any other similar procedures, for instance:

• 1. EAP
• 2. Health and Safety policies

NOTE: Evidence will be required to back up the written policies in the NOP - eg training schedule showing induction. How the pool determines its supervision policies and sets out its plan are the domain of that particular pool.  The assessors' task is to verify that the essential components are present. Some pools do not publish detailed supervision policies.  If this is the case an oral description backed up with poolside observations and lifeguard questioning will suffice.

Facilities with dedicated Learn to Swim Pools, Private Pools and/or Spas

• Learn to Swim pools, Private pools and spas must have signage clearly visible to say the area of water is not supervised by a lifeguard
• NOP must clearly state procedures for dealing with the private pools/spa relative to the facility, for example (but not limited to):
•  Time restriction in heated pools
• Hydration advice
• How pools are monitored (eg, alarms, regular checks)
• Minimum age for bookings
• Minimum number of people
• Who is in charge in an emergency
• How staff communicate with each other (ie from the LTS pool to the lifeguards in the main pool)

The above list is a guide only - the detail is the domain of that particular pool.

Dedicated stand-alone Learn to Swim Facility (ie not within a complex that has other aquatic activities and is ONLY open for structured lessons)

• NOP must clearly state either qualified lifeguards are on pool deck or LTS instructors are qualified lifeguards, in the water teaching but within the supervision ratios
• Signage to say the area is not actively supervised by a lifeguard
• Clear documentation procedures covering (but not limited to):
• What happens if an instructor has to leave the water
• Who is in charge of an emergency situation
• How staff communicate with each other

CRITERIA: Confirmation that all pools are supervised according to NOP.

HOW: Visual check and questioning to verify that staff understand and apply pool supervision policy.

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS:

• All water open for use is supervised by a lifeguard
• Any closed water is closed with a barrier or its access is supervised by a lifeguard
• Lifeguards must have an understanding of the rationale behind the individual pools policies and a grasp of the information contained in the policies; at a level whereby they are able to make sound decisions on how they supervise the pool on a minute by minute, second by second basis
• Lifeguards are not required to know or even recognise the technical terms or even names of policies
• Lifeguards should be asked to quote actual examples of the application of pool supervision policy (unless they just do not happen)
• Lifeguards should be given hypothetical situations and asked for their response. The response should mirror the rationale behind policy
• Lifeguard in charge must have an understanding of the rationale behind the policy and a grasp of the information contained in the policy
• Lifeguard in charge should be asked to quote pool supervision ratios
• Lifeguards should be given hypothetical situations and asked for their response. The response should mirror the rationale behind policy
• PLSA Lifeguards will be asked to confirm a PLPC staff member is always rostered on with them
• Lifeguards should be asked about after hours bookings and who is rostered on.

Facilities with dedicated Learn to Swim pools/Private Pools/Spas

• Learn to Swim/Private pools/spas must have signage clearly visible to say the area of water is not supervised
• Lifeguards should be familiar with the guidelines of use as per the NOP

Dedicated stand-alone Learn to Swim Facility

• Lifeguards and/or instructors should be familiar with the guidelines of use as per the NOP
• Signage clearly visible to say that the facility is not supervised by a lifeguard