Pillars of Risk Management for Aquatic Supervisors
It’s no secret that managing aquatic facilities is a complex challenge. The variables that need to be monitored at all times range from personnel oversight to mechanical systems and everything in between.
On top of juggling variables, aquatic supervisors are responsible for the safety of everyone that comes into contact with the pool on a regular basis. This burden of responsibility is quite substantial, especially since the consequences of even the most minor oversight could lead to injury, or even worse, death.
The best way to fight against any negative outcomes is to look squarely at the risks and implement a risk management plan. Risk management is an important business concept that helps managers and administrators think through all potential negative scenarios that could happen and, in the process, design the most robust and resilient systems.
Thinking about the future is valuable for a lot of reasons, but in the case of risk management, it provides the gift of foresight, allowing managers and operators to implement changes in their day-to-process that will decrease risks and mitigate the damage if anything does go wrong.
Here are two pillars of risk management for aquatic supervisors to consider:
Have A Central Control System to Manage All Tasks and Flag Risks
There is no doubt that most aquatic managers and supervisors are using some combination of often outdated management tools. A common situation has supervisors tracking day-to-day activities on paper and then logging the new data into digital recording systems that provide minimal if any, analytical insight.
There are also many situations in which only paper is being used or, in the opposite case, multiple applications are used to track separate things. From the perspective of risk management, these ways of tracking are functionally unsustainable and pose grave threats to safety.
A better alternative is a software application like DigiQuatics that tracks every critical metric minute-by-minute from a single platform. From a risk management perspective, this type of technology provides clear benefits. Uncertainty is eliminated, simple tasks that used to take a long time are automated, and the statistics logged in the system help make predictions about the future. All this means a decreased exposure to risk and lots of time saved.
For example, logging chemical records over time will give the user a much clearer idea of the quality of their water over long stretches of time, helping them make better business decisions. Parameters can be set in the software that flag risks and notify users about problems immediately, saving time and resources.
Practice Vigilance, Teach Safety
The second pillar of risk management for aquatic supervisors is to practice vigilance in their work and, if they manage people, to teach safety to their employees. Vigilance and education are the cornerstones of risk management for good reason. They give everyone tasked with maintaining the aquatic facility the training and confidence to do their job well.
For supervisors, vigilance in every task is critically important because when the rubber meets the road it's the supervisor that is responsible. Supervisors that can keep systems running smoothly are vigilant in their work - but they also need to be excellent at instilling a sense of vigilance amongst their employees that work in and around the pool.
Risk Management Cannot Be Ignored
There is no shortage of issues related to risk management for aquatic managers to consider. The two pillars mentioned above pertain to many areas of the job but also indicate how much variables and contingencies are at play. Aquatic supervisors that understand the risks will be better able to prevent them and ensure a functional and safe swimming environment.
DigiQuatics is a simple tool that aquatics facilities can use to modernize their operation. Visit www.digiquatics.com to learn more.