Outlet Dangers
Entrapment hazards
HAZARD!
The outlets of a swimming/spa pool can be extremely hazardous!
Pool drains are connected to powerful circulation pumps which suck the water out from the pool under significant force.
This is what creates the hazard.
The suction forces are powerful enough to tear skin, trap limbs and even disembowel!
Examples of hazardous outlets
Have only one single outlet is a major risk factor. If the outlet is blocked (for example, by a person sitting on it) the powerful circulation pumps will be pulling on whatever is causing the blockage.
Having multiple outlets connected to the pumps reduced the risk. If an outlet is covered, there is still flow through the system via the uncovered outlets.
Injuries caused by suction entrapment
Abigail Rose Taylors Story
In June 2007, six-year-old Abbey suffered a horrific injury. While playing in a public wading pool, Abbey unknowingly sat on a poorly maintained drain that was unequipped with the appropriate safety devices.
“Suction entrapment sounds awful! How can the risk be reduced?”
There are various ways that suction entrapment risk can be reduced:
- Emergency cut-off devices that automatically turn off the suction pumps when an increase in suction force is detected.
- Multiple outlets being fitted so that even if one of the outlets gets covered, the remaining outlets take the increased water flow and prevent a vacuum being created at the blocked outlet (as below).
- Outlets that are impossible to cover and form a seal. This can be achieved via having the grill surface area of sufficient size. It can also be achieved by the use of outlets that are designed to prevent a seal being formed around them when they are covered. These are called anti-vortex drain covers.
- There are also fittings that can be placed over a drain cover that is not an anti-vortex type that will go some way to gaining a similar effect.
- In order to prevent children from getting fingers/toes trapped in the grill, the apertures should be no wider than 8mm.
Once the above design-based precautions have been considered, other precautions can be implemented such as providing training for all relevant staff regarding the dangers of suction entrapment.
Entanglement hazards
Entanglement hazards are slightly different from entrapment hazards. They involve hair being drawn into the outlet and then entwining on the other side due to the circular motion of the water as it goes through the outlet.
Freeing the hair from the outlet may be impossible, even if the circulation pumps are turned off.
People using spa pools are at an increased risk of suction entanglement because they will be close to an outlet no matter where they are situated within the spa pool.
For this reason, people using spa pools should be advised to tie long hair back and refrain from submerging their head under the water.
Staff responsible for supervising the spa pool should be trained to be aware of the hazards associated with outlets.
Now would be a good time to make notes about any risk factors you may be aware of with the pool outlets at your own facility.
Things to consider…
- How many outlets?
- Are they in good condition?
- How often are they inspected?
- Are they small enough to be covered by a swimmer?
- Do staff know how to turn off the circulation safely?
- Are pool users warned about the hazards?
Hair Entrapment Test
The PWTAG Code of Practice has a procedure for conducting a test to ensure that there is minimal risk of hair becoming entangled in a swimming pools outlet drain. It can be downloaded here. The procedure is at Annex D, towards the end of the document.