Eight Easy Steps for Addressing Trip Hazards at the Pool

On Saturday, I was looking forward to swimming a mile at my favorite lap pool. To my surprise, I opened the door that separates the women’s shower from the pool and immediately tripped over a hazard that was right in front of the door. There were 2 cones (blue, not orange) stacked and placed in front of the door! I picked up the cones and put them off to the side about 5 feet from the door. Shaken, I walked up to the lifeguard and a swim instructor and told them that I had tripped over cones that had been placed in front of the door. I was told that I should tell the front desk. I limped away to reserve my lane with a kickboard and was surprised that no one inquired as to whether I might be hurt or whether an incident report might be necessary.

I walked back to the shower and as I was coming out, the swim instructor was placing the cones so that they would hold the shower door open. I then discussed my concerns with this individual: 1) the cones are a trip hazard; 2) leaving the door open violates (naked) members’ privacy. She said that she was just a swim instructor and denied any power to do anything. I suggested that since she claimed no ability to report the “problem” herself that she should ask the lifeguard to address the issue.

After swimming, I got out of the pool and observed a little girl running at full speed the length of the pool with no lifeguard intervention. I then walked to the locker room and observed that the 2 stacked cones were again placed in front of a closed door, waiting to trip up little old ladies who frequently take senior aquatics. Fortunately, the pool manager appeared and after I complained bitterly, he moved the hazardous cones to a storage closet. I’ve since had a discussion with the pool manager and he agreed that this is a good teaching opportunity for his staff on a number of issues:

1. Do not put trip hazards (even cones) in front of closed doors
2. Do not prop doors open with trip hazards
3. Do not prop doors open where there is a privacy concern (i.e., shower doors)
4. If a trip hazard is pointed out, do not move the trip hazard back into position. Rather, remove the trip hazard
5. If a participant reports that he or she tripped over a trip hazard, take action by removing the trip hazard and preparing an incident report, if appropriate
6. If a participant reports that he or she tripped over a trip hazard, inquire if the person needs medical attention
7. If a trip hazard is reported, do not claim that addressing the trip hazard is not your job (even if it is not)
8. Do not let kids run at full speed along the side of a swimming pool.

Hopefully, by addressing this issue, trip hazards can be minimized.