Pool chemicals are required to keep pools safe for swimming, however for operators, pool chemicals can be the most dangerous part of the job. *Only allow those who have been trained in pool chemical safety practices to handle pool chemicals.
What to do when Handling Chemicals
| Always use personal protective equipment when handling chemicalsCheck chemical levels before adjusting chemicals - You do not want to handle or add unnecessary chemicals into a body of water. Read Labels- Always know what chemicals you are handling. Labels also will give instructions for specific products.Pour slowly- If you add liquid chemicals too quickly to other liquids, they could splash up and you could get chemicals on your skin or in your eyes. Work in an area with well ventilation- Some pool chemicals have harmful fumes so you want to make sure to have sufficient ventilation to avoid breathing in the fumes. Add chemicals when the pool is on and water is circulating.Make sure no swimmers are in the water.If mixing with water- add the product to the water, never water to the product. If large quantities of chemicals are required- work in stages. | Personal Protective Equipment
|
What not to do when Handling Chemicals
| Rush through adding chemicalsHandle chemicals in a dimly lit areas- If you can’t see well, you risk making errors, misreading labels, spilling, etcHave a cluttered chemical area- this can lead to spills, trips and falls. Move chemicals into other storage containers- Chemical manufacturers put chemicals into containers for a reason. Those containers can block out sunlight, air, moisture, etc.. Think all chemicals come in the same container everytime- Manufacturers and chemical suppliers change containers often. This includes the color of the container. Ignore instructions or procedures. |
Common Injuries from Swimming Pool Chemicals
|
Respiratory Problems
|
Eye Damage
|
Burns
|
Other issues
|
Download Chemical Handling Sheet HERE