By Broom
Pool technicians, like many other outdoor workers regularly share their workspace with many different hazards that can bite or sting the worker. Some examples of these outdoor hazards are wasps, hornets, bees, ants, spiders, snakes, alligators, racoons, and even the customer’s dog. Outdoor workers are among workers most frequently victims of nonfatal insect and arachnid injuries and illnesses. Pool techs should know how to approach their outdoor workspace safely to protect themselves from these hazards. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration(OSHA) requires that employers provide training to their employees in order to reduce these types of workplace hazards to their employees.
pool tech these hazards?
Pool techs need to recognize potential locations of these workplace hazards. Locations could vary, but could include: skimmer baskets, under lips of surge and scum gutters, pool pump areas, pool equipment enclosures, pool equipment rooms, pool heaters, electrical panels and in even in the pool itself. Pool techs should also be aware of any landscaping around the pool and the pool equipment. Landscaping makes the perfect hiding place for these hazards.
Should a pool tech be concerned about a racoon in the pool?
Yes, pool techs should be concerned if a racoon was in the pool. The pool tech should also be concerned if the racoon left feces(poop) in the pool or on the pool deck. The steps of a pool are a magnet for racoons to wash their paws in the water.
Racoons can spread germs to humans. Racoon feces can sometimes contain eggs of a roundworm parasite called Baylisascaris procyonis, which can infect humans, especially children, and cause severe neurological illness. Swallowing a few of the roundworm eggs can result in no or few symptoms. However, swallowing a larger number of the roundworm eggs can result in more severe illness that affects the nervous system or eyes.
So what is the big deal for a pool tech? The roundworm eggs are particularly tough, so just adding chlorine to the water will not kill them. The pool tech will have to remove the feces from the pool. Next,
Lauren Broom
Lauren Broom is a Certified Pool Operator Course, CPO
, instructor and a former health inspector for the Florida Department of Health. Lauren has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and is a registered sanitarian.
She has 16-years of experience in commercial pool inspections and waterborne disease outbreak investigations.
Lauren lives in Palm Bay, Florida with her husband of 17 years and their 3 children.
Lauren can be reached at spacecoastpoolschool@yahoo.com run the minimum 24 then backwash pool Potentially, pool tech may contact the feces during from overspray different media. Always treat racoons their feces as if they potentially this roundworm best protective equipment that worn during feces removal filter cleaning at minimum would dust mask and disposable gloves. feces and contents filter should double bagged and discarded pool tech should then remove their gloves and the garbage bags. The tech should always wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water this process.
What should employers do to help their employees to this type of workplace hazard?
The employer should train all their animal and risks that their employees may the pool property what look for them. training should also include: use of proper personal protective PPE) should to prevent snake bites, how employees sting, and how contact Emergency Management EMS). and the history employees with severe allergic stings. employee an them maybe jewelry.
Emergency if employee sting
hazard?
handle or animals insects. there a dog on the property, do not enter you do not know animal The recommended method knock the door of property that the animal status unknown before entering that stated they whistle before unknown animal area where animals like snakes hide. Remember, warm weather. techs should always look an animal hide, for example: skimmer surge and gutters, pump areas, equipment enclosures, pool pool heaters, proper
protect themselves.
these hazards.
industry developed other unique keep them a safe distance to these living Skimmie one example pool tech to safely remove skimmer techs should wear clean, possible while working. use scented soaps, shampoo deodorants when clean insect an insect is inside your vehicle, the windows. stung, immediately sting reaction occurs.
aware
their surroundings. around you at all times!
