Swimming facility attendant

Swimming facility attendants handle the daily activities of a swimming facility such as a swimming pool, beach and lake. They clean the facility, maintain a good attitude towards the clients and ensure the overall safety within the facility.

Swimming facility attendants may also be responsible for teaching swimming lessons, providing assistance to swimmers who need help getting into or out of the water, and even performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on anyone who might need emergency medical attention.

The duties of a swimming facility attendant include, but are not limited to:

• Cleaning the pool deck by sweeping debris and removing leaves or other debris
• Monitoring pool safety by watching swimmers for signs of distress and removing hazards such as broken glass or sharp objects
• Monitoring pool chemistry levels to ensure that they are within safe limits of chemical elements such as chlorine and pH levels
• Monitoring the condition of the pool by noting signs of wear and tear or damage
• Monitoring water quality by testing the pH balance, chlorine levels, and other chemical conditions
• Sanitizing the pool using chlorine tablets, shock treatments, or other chemical agents
• Cleaning the pool, including vacuuming the floor, brushing the walls, and scrubbing tile lines
• Testing the water temperature and adjusting it as necessary using the pool’s controls
• Cleaning and maintaining equipment such as filters, pumps, and pool heaters

Swimming facility attendants typically work outdoors in the sun near the pool area of a hotel, resort, or water park. They may also work indoors in the pool area. They typically work full time during the summer months when pools are busiest, and they may work part time or seasonally the rest of the year.

Swimming facility attendants typically work shifts that include weekends and holidays. They may work early morning, daytime, evening, or overnight shifts. Some pool attendants may be required to work overtime during busy periods.

The following job titles also refer to swimming facility attendant:

pool attendant
swimming pool cleaner
attendant in swimming pool
swimming pool attendant
beach attendant

Entry-level swimming facility attendants are typically required to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers may prefer an associate’s degree or a certificate in lifeguarding or aquatics.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Swimming facility attendant is a Skill level 1 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to swimming facility attendant.

toilet attendant
locker room attendant
cloak room attendant
train cleaner
domestic cleaner

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of swimming facility attendant. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of swimming facility attendant with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

life guard
door supervisor
passenger fare controller
crowd controller
child care worker

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of swimming facility attendant.

• Swimming pool safety guidelines: The rules and guidelines related to swimming pool safety, such as rules related to child safety, running, diving, waterslides, electrical appliances, food and drinks, water hygiene, and inflatables.
• Protective measures related to swimming pool chemicals: Type of equipment used to protect oneself to the exposure to swimming pool chemicals such as chemical goggles, impervious gloves and boots for any chemical handling activities.
• Swimming pool chemicals: Types of disinfectants and sanitizers which control the growth of certain bacteria in the pool water.

These skills are necessary for the role of swimming facility attendant.

• Communicate with customers: Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
• Maintain quality of pool water: Continuously monitoring the color, temperature and cleanliness of the pool water and take any required action to ensure high standards of water quality in the pool.
• Maintain pool cleanliness: Regularly supervise the state of the pool, remove debris or rubbish and keep the deck of the pool clean and safe.
• Clean public areas: Disinfect the areas to which the public has access.
• Dispose waste: Dispose waste in accordance with legislation, thereby respecting environmental and company responsibilities.
• Supervise pool activities: Ensure pool bathers’ activities comply with the bathing regulations: Inform bathers of pool regulations, perform rescue activities, supervise diving activities and waterslides, take action in case of harassment or trespassing, and deal with misconduct appropriately.
• Maintain cleaning equipment: Clean and preserve the equipment and material used for cleaning purposes in a proper state.
• Monitor infrastructure: Monitor and inspect on a regular basis the condition of the swimming pool and it’s surrounding infrastructure, such as diving boards, ladders and floors.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of swimming facility attendant. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Customer service: Processes and principles related to the customer, client, service user and to personal services; these may include procedures to evaluate customer’s or service user’s satisfaction.
• Resuscitation: The emergency procedure applied to individuals with no pulse to restore them to consciousness.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of swimming facility attendant. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
• Select hazard control: Perform appropriate selection of hazard control measures and risk management
• Inform on toilet facilities malfunctions: Report to the concerned services when the toilet is not functioning properly or when related equipment is broken and post “out of order” sign on the respective cubicles.
• Report on customers’ complaints related to toilet facilities: Inform supervisors of the customer’s complaints related to the toilet facilities and cleanliness and take remedy measures.
• Handle chemical cleaning agents: Ensure proper handling, storage and disposal of cleaning chemicals in accordance with regulations.
• Maintain the cleanliness of the toilet facilities: Clean the toilets and wipe the sinks, mirrors and cubicle furniture according to the required standards, providing special attention to details.
• Manage lost and found articles: Make sure that all articles or objects lost are identified and that the owners gets them back in their possession.
• Assist pool users: Offer guidance to pool users within the facility and help them with any requirements such as towel provision or restroom direction.
• Give swimming lessons: Instruct children, adults, beginners and advanced students on swimming techniques and water safety.
• Provide advice on safety: Provide advice to individuals, groups or organisation on safety measures applicable for a specific activity or in a specific location.
• Restock toilet facilities’ supplies: Make sure that toilet supplies such as soap and toilet paper are always available for customer use.
• Rescue bathers: Help swimmers or water sport participants out of the water when they get into difficulties at a beach or a swimming pool.
• Manage emergency evacuation plans: Monitor quick and safe emergency evacuation plans.
• Handle veterinary emergencies: Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.
• Swim: Move through water by means of the limbs.
• Manage theft prevention: Apply theft and robbery prevention; monitor security surveillance equipment; enforce security procedures if needed.
• Operate fire extinguishers: Understand the operation of fire extinguishing equipment and fire extinguishing techniques.

9129 – Other cleaning workers

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References

1. ESCO
2. Pool Attendant Job Description – Betterteam
3. Pool Attendant Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More – ClimbtheLadder
4. Featured image: By Marcelo Braga from São Paulo, Brasil – O Limpador de Piscinas, CC BY 2.0