FEHD cracks down on unqualified lifeguards at private pools

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has announced plans to enhance measures to prevent the employment of unqualified life-saving attendants at private swimming pools. Starting this swimming season, the FEHD will implement stricter controls and increase inspections to ensure the safety of pool users.

Under the law and licensing conditions, private swimming pool licensees must have a sufficient number of qualified life-saving attendants on duty during operational hours. 

To enforce this, the FEHD will require licensees to verify and keep copies of identity documents, Pool Lifeguard Awards (PLA), and personal logbooks before hiring life-saving attendants. 

A standard template will also be established for recording the information from the identity documents and PLAs of attendants on duty.

The FEHD will intensify its inspection efforts, including monthly surprise checks to verify the identities and qualifications of life-saving attendants. Collaborating with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society, the FEHD will confirm the validity of PLAs to ensure that attendants possess the necessary qualifications.

During July and August, the FEHD will particularly focus on lifeguard qualifications by analyzing complaint cases and targeting specific private swimming pools for inspection. 

If a pool is found to have insufficient qualified attendants, immediate actions will be taken, such as requiring the pool to close until qualified attendants are present. 

Repeated contraventions may lead to license cancellation, and cases involving false documents will be reported to the police.

Additionally, the FEHD is working closely with the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) to increase publicity and educational efforts before the swimming season. 

This includes sending letters to property management companies (PMCs), which often manage private pools, urging them to comply with the regulations.

Licensees are also required to display at pool entrances the number of life-saving attendants required, along with their recent photographs, names, and PLA numbers. 

This allows pool users to participate in monitoring compliance. Furthermore, duty logs of life-saving attendants must be maintained for at least 90 days for FEHD inspection.

The FEHD will continue to consult with relevant stakeholders and review these measures regularly to ensure they effectively enhance the safety and regulation of private swimming pools.