swimming pool safety     british safety council
         
 
Bather Load Monitor
     
   
 
 

Using coloured wristbands the Bather Load Monitor can keep track of the number of swimmers in a pool hall at any time of the day, a requirement set by the HSE*.

When a swimmer buys a session they are given a coloured wristband; the Bather Load Monitor counts how many of each band has been issued. When a session ends the Bather Load Monitor will sound a unique audio alert tone in the pool hall, attracting swimmers' attention to a flashing beacon which will display the colour of the expired session. This instructs all swimmers with the corresponding colour to exit the pool as their session is at an end. The Bather Load Monitor will automatically adjust the current bather load to allow for the swimmers which have just left the pool, whilst simultaneously adding any swimmers which have purchased a session during that time.

If the maximum bather load is reached at any time the Bather Load Monitor will alert the operator, informing them that they should halt sales until the next session expires.

bather load
 
 
The Bather Load Monitor also allows a facility to run overlapping sessions; an operating method which can actually increase revenue.

Sequentially running sessions, where a session runs from hour to hour, is the common way of operating a pool; however it is not the optimum. If a swimmers arrives when the session is already halfway through they are reluctant to pay a full fee.

This normally means that the number of swimmers entering in the last 20-30 minutes of a session is very low.

swimming sessions
Session Comparison Chart
 
   
 
There is also the few lost minutes required at the end of a session to make sure the pool is clear before the next session begins; swimmers can therefore be paying the full amount for only a very short session.

Using overlapping sessions means it does not matter when a swimmer purchases their swim they will always get nearly a full session, therefore sales can be continuously made and revenue could actually increase.

   
 
     
 
“Managing Health & Safety in Swimming Pools” HSE Book HSG179 – Para 191 & 202-206
   
     
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