Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM › Title 178 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH › Chapter 2 - DESIGN CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS › Section 178-2-007 - POOL OPERATING STANDARDS

Current through June 17, 2024
007.01
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
The following safety requirements
				must be met at all pools unless otherwise indicated:
(1) Water in unbreakable containers is
				permitted in the swimming pool. Food and beverages are permitted in designated
				areas of the pool deck if they are in unbreakable containers;
(2) Class A, B, and F pools must have a
				boundary line per 178 NAC 002.05. During swimming lessons, lap swims, and swim
				meets, ropes and floats may be moved to enable those purposes to be
				accomplished if the pool is under the direct supervision of an individual
				responsible for supervising the group;
(3) Water depth must be plainly marked at or
				above the water surface on the vertical pool wall and on the edge of the deck
				at maximum and minimum points of break between the deep and shallow portions
				and at intermediate increments of depth, spaced at no more than 25-foot
				intervals. Depth markings must be in numerals at least 4 inches high and in a
				color contrasting with the background. Where depth markings cannot be placed on
				the vertical walls above the water level, or space does not allow 4-inch
				letters, other means must be used so that markings are plainly visible to
				persons in the pool;
(4) Each
				lifeguard on duty must have within arm's reach a rescue tube equipped with a
				6-feet long strap or tow rope. Class B and Class F pools must provide either a
				rescue tube or a ring buoy, United States Coast Guard approved, or its
				equivalent, with an attached rope at least as long as the width of the
				pool;
(5) Class B pools must
				provide a shepherd's crook type of pole having blunted ends with a minimum
				length of 12 feet;
(6) Class A
				pools must have a backboard equipped with at least three straps.
(7) First aid kit
(a) Each Class A pool must have a first aid
				kit which contains the following materials:
(i) 3 units triangular bandage;
(ii) 2 units 1" tape;
(iii) 6 units 3" x 3" plain gauze pad;
(iv) 2 units 2" x 6 yds. gauze
				roller bandage;
(v) 1 unit tweezer,
				bandage scissor;
(vi) 1 unit Red
				Cross First Aid Book or an equivalent substitute;
(vii) 1 unit assorted bandages, such as
				Band-aids;
(viii) 1 unit latex-free
				gloves (or equivalent);
(ix) 1 unit
				rescue breathing face shield or mask; and
(x) 1 unit emergency response pack for
				cleaning up blood.
(b)
				All other pools must have a first aid kit;
(8) Lifesaving equipment must be mounted in
				conspicuous places, accessible, its function plainly marked, and kept in repair
				and ready condition. Bathers or others must not be permitted to tamper with,
				use for any purpose other than its intended use, or remove such equipment from
				its established location;
(9)
				Swimming pools must have an accessible working telephone in the pool enclosure
				or easily visible from the pool enclosure with emergency telephone numbers
				prominently posted. If a cellular phone is used, service must be reliable, the
				phone charged at all times, and be equipped with 911 locations
				services;
(10) All Class A swimming
				pools must conduct an emergency drill within 30 days of opening for the season.
				Additionally, an emergency drill must be conducted with new pool employees
				within 30 days of employment. Pools operating year round or seasonal pools that
				operate for more than 6 months a year, must conduct emergency drills at least
				once every 6 months;
(11) The pool
				owner or the Nebraska swimming pool operator must immediately notify the
				Department of any drowning or near drowning. Any accident occurring on the pool
				premises requiring hospitalization or medical treatment must be reported within
				24 hours on forms provided by the Department;
(12) Footbaths are prohibited;
(13) Ladders, ladder rungs, ramps , and
				handrails must be securely anchored;
(14) During hours of operation, unsupervised
				entrance areas and gates for fences separating wading pools, spas, and swimming
				pools within the perimeter fence must not be locked but must be self-closing
				and self-latching;
(15) A
				thermometer must be available for each Class C pool;
(16) Decks must be clear of bags and personal
				items in an area large enough to allow emergency personnel to reach a
				victim;
(17) A properly operating
				carbon monoxide detector is required in the pool enclosure for indoor pools
				where gas or propane is used for heating and in enclosed mechanical rooms where
				there is a gas or propane fueled water heater;
(18) Water temperature in a pool must not
				exceed 104 º F;
(19) An
				emergency shutoff switch must be located within sight of the spa, at least 5
				feet horizontally from the inside walls of the spa, and must be clearly
				labeled. This control must disable all spa circulation, agitation, air
				induction systems, as well as other associated mechanical, chemical feed, and
				electrical devices, not including lighting;
(20) Skimmers and drain covers must be kept
				clean and operational;
(21) The
				chemical feed system must be maintained and operational;
(22) All gauges associated with the operation
				and maintenance of the pool must be properly maintained;
(23) Covers on outlets that create suction
				must be properly maintained;
(24)
				The bottom and sides of a pool must be white or a light color, with a smooth
				and easily cleanable surface;
(25)
				Pool lighting must be secure and in good operating condition;
(26) The barrier surrounding the pool must be
				maintained so that any openings will not allow a 4-inch sphere to pass
				through;
(27) Backflow or cross
				connection devices must be in place where required and must be properly
				maintained;
(28) All pools must
				have main drain systems, suction outlets or anti-entrapment devices or systems
				that comply with 178 NAC
				2-005.11(H) and
				2-005.11(I);
(29) Chemical safety;
(a) Chemicals that are toxic or irritating to
				humans must not be added to a swimming pool from the deck of the pool while the
				pool is in use. This includes, but is not limited to, disinfectant chemical, pH
				control chemical, algaecide, and shock treatment chemical. When chemical
				additions are made from the deck, the Nebraska swimming pool operator must
				follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper use of the product. The
				Nebraska swimming pool operator must test the water as appropriate before
				allowing use of the swimming pool. The chemical addition and the test results
				must be recorded in the swimming pool records;
(b) Chemical storage containers must be
				clearly labeled and treatment chemicals must be stored and handled in
				accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations;
(c) Material safety data sheets (MSDS) for
				the chemicals used at the pool must be at the facility in a location known and
				readily accessible to the facility staff;
(d) A warning sign stating "AUTHORIZED
				PERSONNEL ONLY" must be placed on the door of rooms where chemicals are used or
				stored, or where bulk containers are located. Rooms must be kept locked at all
				times except when occupied by authorized personnel;
(e) Where chlorine gas is used, chlorine
				cylinders and proportioning equipment must be housed in a separate,
				well-ventilated enclosure. All full and empty chlorine cylinders must be
				secured to the scale or to the walls to prevent accidental tipping. The
				enclosure must have a vent at floor level which terminates out-of-doors and
				must contain:
(i) An approved scale for
				weighing the chlorine cylinders to determine the amount of chlorine fed over
				any period and to permit the Nebraska swimming pool operator to know when the
				supply of chlorine in the cylinder is nearing exhaustion;
(ii) An ammonia fume dispenser bottle to be
				used to check for chlorine leaks;
(iii) An approved chlorine cylinder valve
				stem wrench. This wrench must be maintained on the valve stem of the
				cylinder(s) in use so that the chlorine supply can be shut off quickly in the
				case of an emergency; and
(iv)
				Valve protection hoods kept in place on all cylinders except those attached to
				the chlorinator.